IN DEPTH China
Chinese tableware sector enjoys steady growth
The Chinese tableware sector is steadily growing, thanks to improved local economics and the ever-rising living standards in the country, reports contributing columnist Eugene Gerden who explores how the local market is performing... While China has the status of the world’s largest producer of tableware, prior to the beginning of 2000s the overall industry’s range was rather limited, primarily consisting of inexpensive tableware, made from ceramics and other relatively cheap materials. More recently, the situation has changed. According to a report, prepared by the Chinese Zhiyan Consulting agency “20242030 Chinese tableware industry market trends and investment potential research report”, an improvement in living standards in China observed in recent years has led to a significant growth in demand for high-quality tableware in the country as more and more local customers are ready to pay more for products with high-added value. The penetration of Western culture has also led to a
sharp growth in demand and consumption of stainless-steel tableware, aluminum tableware, glass tableware, etc. A significant expansion of the industry’s range, which has been observed in China in recent years, has resulted in the growth in the number of manufacturers operating in the local market. At present the Chinese tableware market is characterised by a high level of competition and low saturation, with hundreds of producers operating and producing tableware from various materials including ceramics, glass, metal, wood, and plastic. In addition to the domestic market, many local producers have long operated in the markets of some foreign states. An example is the Russian market, where many major Chinese tableware producers have significantly strengthened their positions in recent years. In addition to Russia, since the beginning of 2010s, supplies of Chinese tableware Eugene Gerden is an international to the EU market has freelance writer, who specialises in increased by several covering the global tableware and times, which creates furniture sector. He works for several serious problems for industry titles and can be reached at some local producers. gerden.eug@gmail.com Perhaps the biggest problems are observed
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44 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL
in Germany where – according to experts of the Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI), which is the federal economic development agency, Chinese tableware manufacturers have gained a significant share of the local market. According to experts of GTAI, in recent months several major Chinese tableware manufacturers have expanded into the German market, including companies such as Chaozhou Jingmei Craft Products Co., Ltd., Shenzhen M&G Ceramics Co., Ltd and others. Many of these receive direct support from the Chinese government allowing them to offer attractive prices for their products. A similar situation is observed in other major Western European states, including Italy and France. Analysts anticipate, due to the current trade war between the US and China, supplies of Chinese tableware to the EU market will continue to grow. In accordance with the Zhiyan Consulting report, the current value of the Chinese market is estimated at about 260 billion yuan (US$35 billion), of which about 53 per cent accounts for metal tableware, while about 38.56 per cent for disposable tableware as well as other types of tableware. The current