HONG KONG, Dec. 1 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mainland China
eyewear exports were US$612 million in the first six months of 2006, up 35
percent from the first half of 2005, according to Global Sources' (Nasdaq:
GSOL) China Sourcing Report: Eyewear
(http://www.chinasourcingreports.com ). Exports are expected to top US$1.2
billion by the end of 2006 if growth continues at the current rate.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030303/LNM011LOGO-b )
The report indicates buyers sourcing eyewear from mainland China can
expect slightly higher prices and more upscale, value-added designs in the
next 12 months. These findings are based on in-depth manufacturer
interviews, factory visits and supplier surveys.
"Due to higher labor and raw material costs, most makers are planning
prices increases. But intense competition should see manufacturers
increasing prices by 10 percent or less," said Global Sources general
manager of Content Development, Michael Kleist. Among surveyed manufacturers:
-- 46 percent expect to increase prices by up to 5 percent in the next
12 months;
-- 44 percent project increases of 5-10 percent; and
-- 10 percent expect price increases of greater than 10 percent.
Mainland China Eyewear Manufacturers Focusing on EU, Exporting Upscale
Models
"In 2007, the EU could potentially overtake the US as mainland China's
main market for eyewear," Kleist said. "Nearly half of surveyed suppliers
identified the EU as the market with the best growth potential. To attract
more orders from the region, suppliers are developing more upscale,
value-added designs." Among surveyed manufacturers:
-- 48 percent plan to produce lightweight models;
-- 23 percent say they will add trimmings;
-- 11 percent are planning models with oversized frames;
-- 11 percent say they plan to produce turtle shell frames; and
-- 7 percent plan to include multiple lens coatings.
In-Factory Interviews, Detailed Supplier Profiles and New Eyewear Models
The 118-page China Sourcing Report: Eyewear provides proprietary market
information from in-person factory visits to 15 manufacturers and interviews
with 47 more suppliers. The surveys, price trends and supply forecasts aim
to help buyers make better-informed purchasing decisions.
China Sourcing Reports (http://www.chinasourcingreports.com ) are part
of Global Sources' sourcing and product information services. These include
Global Sources trade magazines, Global Sources Online
(http://www.globalsources.com ), Global Sources Direct
(http://www.globalsourcesdirect.com ) and the China Sourcing Fairs
(http://www.chinasourcingfair.com ). For more information, visit
http://www.corporate.globalsources.com .
China Sourcing Report: Eyewear is available at
http://www.chinasourcingreports.com/eyewear .
Information about Greater China eyewear suppliers and products can be
found at http://www.globalsources.com/manufacturers/eyewear.html .
About Global Sources
Global Sources is a leading business-to-business (B2B) media company and
a primary facilitator of two-way trade with Greater China. The core business
is facilitating trade from Greater China to the world, using a wide range of
English-language media. The other key business segment facilitates trade
from the world to Greater China using Chinese-language media.
The company provides sourcing information to volume buyers and
integrated marketing services to suppliers. It helps a community of over
544,000 active buyers source more profitably from complex, overseas supply
markets. With the goal of providing the most effective ways possible to
advertise, market and sell, Global Sources enables suppliers to sell to hard-
to-reach buyers in 230 countries.
The company offers the most extensive range of media and export
marketing services in the industries it serves. It delivers information on
1.8 million products and more than 130,000 suppliers annually through 11
online marketplaces, 10 monthly magazines, over 100 sourcing research
reports and 14 trade shows, including six China Sourcing Fairs. Suppliers
receive more than 8 million sales leads annually from buyers through Global
Sources Online (http://www.globalsources.com ) alone.
Global Sources has been facilitating global trade for 35 years. In
mainland China it has over 1,500 team members in 44 locations, and a
community of over 1 million registered online users and magazine readers for
Chinese-language media.
Global Sources Press Contact in Asia:
Camellia So
Tel: +852-2555-5021
Email: cso@globalsources.com
Global Sources Investor Contact in Asia:
Eddie Heng
Tel: +65-6547-2850
Email: eheng@globalsources.com
Global Sources Press Contact in U.S.:
James W.W. Strachan
Tel: +1-602-978-7504
Email: strachan@globalsources.com
Global Sources Investor Contact in U.S.:
Moriah Shilton & Cathy Mattison
Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc.
Tel: +1-415-433-3777
Email: cmattsion@lhai.com
