Shenzhen is now the world's largest manufacturing base and export
center of Christmas-related products, with an annual export volume
of over US$2 billion, according to an official with the city's
Foreign Economic and Trade Bureau.
Statistics show that the United States is now the largest consumer
of Shenzhen's holiday items, such as artificial trees and tree
trimmings, cards, and toys, which bring to the city an annual
export volume of over US$300 million.
Among the various products exported to the United States, Christmas
trees alone reached an export volume of more than US$100 million
per year, according to the statistics.
In
recent years, seven out of the 10 Christmas trees purchased by
Americans were made in Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong
province. The Christmas trees sold at chain stores of Wal-Mart,the
world's largest retailer, are all supplied by Shenzhen
manufacturers, according to the statistics.
The White House in Washington D.C. has also used Christmas trees
made at a particular processing plant of Shenzhen for many years,
said the official.
Other Shenzhen-made Christmas products, including stuffed Santas
and other Christmas characters, cards and ornaments, are also very
popular in overseas markets, including Europe and Australia.
Shenzhen now has about 300 enterprises producing Christmas items,
of which 20 specialize in making artificial Christmas trees.
An
increasing number of Hong Kong and Taiwan manufacturers haveopened
production lines in Shenzhen.
Many enterprises of Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) engaged
in making Christmas products are also vying to set up subsidiary
companies here.
(eastday.com December 18,
2001)