Consumption festivals in Europe and the United States are coming, "Made in China" is selling well

Observations from Quanzhou, an important manufacturing town

　　Our reporter Pang Mengxia and Wu Jianfeng

　　Colorful string lights to decorate the Christmas tree, ceramic cups for mulled wine, toys for children and other holiday gifts... Thanksgiving, Christmas and other traditional western consumer festivals are coming intensively. These "Made in China" cross the sea are An indispensable figure among them.

A reporter interviewed in Quanzhou, Fujian, an important manufacturing town, and found that although rising shipping costs and shortage of capacity have brought certain impact on foreign trade, as the holiday economy of European and American countries ushered in the peak of the year, "Made in China" is selling well overseas. Undiminished, the momentum of going to sea is still strong.

"Made in China" is going to sea with strong momentum

　　On Friday, November 26, Jiali strollers from Jinjiang achieved outstanding sales in many stores in the United States. Within five or six hours, more than $8 million of goods were sold out.

"This year our overall sales have doubled compared to last year." Chen Yijuan, general manager of Jiali Children's Products Co., Ltd. said joyfully.

　　In the factory of Jinjiang Lili Toys Co., Ltd., the machine is running at full speed, preparing for next year's order.

According to Xu Binbin, general manager of the company, overseas consumers have a stronger demand for Chinese products during Christmas and other holidays in European and American countries. The third quarter is the traditional peak season for toys and Christmas products exports.

There is not much stock of popular products in the warehouse, and the production of orders for 2022 has already begun.

　　"The goods exported this year have now arrived in the U.S. and have been placed on the shelves of Wal-Mart and Openers as in previous years." Xu Binbin said that the epidemic has affected the global supply chain, and China's production capacity is relatively stable. Some orders have been placed since last year. After returning, the company's performance rose against the trend of the epidemic, and this year's export volume reached more than 10 million U.S. dollars.

　　Quanzhou Hongda Crafts Co., Ltd. is mainly engaged in ceramics and resin crafts. Its snowman ornaments, pumpkin lanterns and other products are exported to the United States, Germany, the Netherlands and other countries.

The company’s general manager Lin Keshan said, “From January to October this year, the company’s performance increased by about 30% year-on-year. Driven by the demand for Western festivals, China’s distribution channels and comparative advantages on the supply side, production orders have been scheduled for next year’s May and June."

　　According to industry statistics, about 80% of the world’s Christmas products come from China.

"Without Made in China, Santa Claus may be unemployed" is not a joke.

From January to September this year, the export of ceramic products in Quanzhou was 6.64 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 71.4%.

The "report card" handed over by the toy industry is particularly eye-catching: from January to September this year, Quanzhou's toy exports increased by 290% year-on-year.

There are more than 70 toy companies in Anhai Town, Jinjiang alone. It is an important domestic production and sales base for toys and gifts. It has formed a complete industrial chain covering raw materials, research and development, molds, processing, painting, hardware, and packaging.

The epidemic has spawned new developments in foreign trade

　　The business owners interviewed stated that under the influence of the overseas epidemic, shortages of dockers, line suspensions, and port congestion have occurred from time to time. The resulting shortage of space and the hard-to-find situation of one container have also produced a certain degree of foreign trade dynamics. Influence.

　　"The most obvious feeling is that the delivery time of major customers is much earlier." Xu Binbin said that the toys and other products prepared by the company for Christmas in previous years were shipped from August to September at the latest. This year, the delivery time for major customers is generally About 3 months earlier, the new delivery time forced companies to make preparations early to improve the efficiency of supply chain management.

　　Wu Qingbiao, chairman of Jinjiang Bandaihao Optoelectronics Lighting Co., Ltd., said that the original products exported by the company to the West Coast of the United States only took 15 days to arrive, but now it takes about 90 days to "drift".

At present, 15% of the orders that the company has issued are "floating on the sea and stuck in ports". Because the goods only charge 30% of the advance payment, the importer's delay in picking up the goods has caused the account period to lengthen, and it has proposed a higher level of capital management. Require.

　　"Christmas products are time-sensitive products with strong sales cycles. Some foreign customers are too late to pick up the goods and put them on the shelves. This year's goods may be backlogged until next year, which may have an impact on the company's sales next year." Wu Qingbiao said.

　　What impressed Lin Keshan most was that due to logistics, the warehouse stocked a lot of goods.

"This requires us to do a good job in inventory management." Lin Keshan said, "but this does not have much impact on our cash flow. Because large customers rely on Chinese goods, they will send a quality control team directly to the domestic warehouse to inspect the goods. After acceptance, the customer pays for the goods first, and then ships the goods."

　　Chen Yijuan said that since the beginning of this year, due to factors such as raw materials, labor costs and exchange rates, the manufacturing industry has encountered considerable difficulties, but companies are still full of confidence in the present and the future.

Chen Yujuan said that in the past, Chinese companies often needed to look at the expressions of foreign manufacturers, even if the other party was just a small foreign trader, but in recent years, the relationship between the two sides has become equal and the bargaining power of Chinese companies has increased.

　　"Previously, Western countries used to transfer production capacity to Southeast Asia to replace Chinese manufacturing. At present, this idea is no longer realistic." Chen Yijuan said that due to the epidemic control measures in place, now high-efficiency and high-quality Chinese manufacturing has thrived in the cold winter of the epidemic. Chinese companies stop production, and Western countries' livelihood products are bound to usher in price increases.

"Made in China" upgrade usher in more business opportunities

　　"Made in China" is indispensable for products sold all over the world. In the past two years, Chinese products have continued to go overseas, reflecting the improvement of their own hard power such as "Made in China" craftsmanship, and also demonstrating the full vitality and vitality of the Chinese economy in the context of the epidemic. toughness.

　　"In recent years, the safety and creativity of'Made in China' has established a good reputation in the European and American markets. We have many'returning customers and old customers'." Xu Binbin said that the company did not follow the traditional foundry model, but established Own brand has a series of standardized management systems such as independent design, factory certification, and intellectual property infringement management and control systems.

　　"The company's R&D investment accounts for at least 3%-5% of sales revenue. In terms of product design, we develop new products every year. In terms of product production, we insist on benchmarking against high global standards." said Zheng Pengfei, general manager of Quanzhou Shunmei Group In recent years, it has been felt that traditional Chinese crafts have broken the stereotype of "low-end" and "cheap", and their position in the international market has gradually improved.

　　Chen Yijuan also feels the same.

In recent years, Jiali has changed its original foundry model, established its own brand and increased R&D investment, and at the same time cooperated with large supermarkets such as Wal-Mart. At present, the company's products have entered more than 4,000 stores in the United States.

　　"Bandai Hao is a company name that means'very good' in Hokkien, and the English homonym is'wonderful'." Wu Qingbiao said, the company has always followed the quality orientation in product manufacturing, and has made a breakthrough in the European and American decorative lighting market. .

Christmas lights were previously monopolized by Taiwanese companies. The company is determined to improve its quality and use LED lights instead of small glass bulbs.

Wu Qingbiao said, "Although the unit price of LED lights is relatively high, they have the advantages of beautiful appearance, good quality, and power saving, and they are quickly welcomed by the market. This year, the company's revenue is close to 40 million U.S. dollars, an increase of more than 20%."

　　In the first three quarters of this year, Quanzhou’s exports reached 152.47 billion yuan, which has exceeded that of last year, with an increase of 51.1%.

"The overseas market for Chinese manufacturing is still huge, and the future space is still vast." During the interview, many export companies were optimistic about the future development.