Reliable exporters: find them and meet them

HONG KONG, January 18, 2011 – Greater China suppliers of household and kitchen appliances are enhancing product appeal, by incorporating extra functions and even adding intelligent features to attract more orders. This is according to Global Sources' (NASDAQ: GSOL) China Sourcing Report: Household & Kitchen Appliances (http://www.chinasourcingreports.com/householdkitchenappliances).

The Report covers toasters and toaster ovens, water dispensers, coffee makers, electric kettles, electric cookers, food processors, water heaters, electric fans, vacuum cleaners, electric irons, and air treatment and heating appliances. It shows that suppliers of these products are launching a range of measures to boost competitiveness, including an upmarket shift for higher margins.

Publisher of the Report, Livia Yip, said: "Greater China's household and kitchen appliance suppliers anticipate strong exports in 2011. An overwhelming 98 percent of companies surveyed foresee growth in the year ahead, with 37 percent expecting their overseas sales to rise by more than 20 percent.

"Besides the strengthening demand, surveyed suppliers are optimistic about sales growth, due to steps they are taking to improve product performance. In addition to increasing energy efficiency, they are releasing intelligent models such as robotic vacuum cleaners that navigate the room on their own and electric cookers with microcomputers that enable pressure adjustment automatically."

Export industry caters to full spectrum of buyers

Even with the trend for upscale designs, China Sourcing Report: Household & Kitchen Appliances reveals that some companies are keeping their focus on inexpensive units.

Yip added: "In certain segments, models with only basic functions still make up the bulk of exports. There continues to be sufficient demand for such products. This is the case even in the United States and the EU, although most basic models are now sold to emerging markets such as Southeast Asia and South America."

Despite such diversity, a common thread among surveyed suppliers is that prices are going up, due to higher production costs. In fact, 81 percent of suppliers surveyed chose to increase their prices in recent months. To maintain competitiveness, however, over half of companies limited the increases to 5 percent.

Other trends revealed by China Sourcing Report: Household & Kitchen Appliances include:

• 48% of suppliers see rising labor and material costs as their biggest challenge
• 42% of suppliers are developing multifunction models
• 70% of companies are increasing expenditure, whether to improve operating efficiency, to accelerate design time or to reduce defects

Supplier profiles, price forecasts, and the latest household and kitchen appliances for export

The 177-page China Sourcing Report: Household & Kitchen Appliances provides detailed profiles of 43 suppliers with verified manufacturing and export credentials, plus contact details of 20 more suppliers. It also includes a Product Gallery featuring 195 of the most popular export models, with key specifications and full-color pictures.

The Report's surveys, price trends and supply forecasts aim to help buyers make better-informed purchasing decisions.

Specialized Global Sources websites, face-to-face events, trade magazines and research reports

China Sourcing Reports are part of Global Sources' sourcing and product information services. These include Global Sources Online (http://www.globalsources.com), China Sourcing Fairs (http://www.chinasourcingfair.com), Private Sourcing Events (http://www.PrivateSourcingEvents.com) and Global Sources monthly magazines (http://www.globalsources.com/SITE/MAGAZINES.HTM).

For more information about Global Sources' products and services that connect quality buyers with verified suppliers, visit http://www.corporate.globalsources.com.

China Sourcing Report: Household & Kitchen Appliances is available for purchase at http://www.chinasourcingreports.com/householdkitchenappliances .

Free information about China suppliers of household and kitchen appliances can be found at http://www.chinasuppliers.globalsources.com/china-suppliers/Kitchen-Appliances.htm .