China’s toy exports in high demand during coronavirus lockdowns, especially in the United States

The industry document offers new insight into China’s strong position in global trade, while also highlighting the extent to which the West has relied on Chinese products amid the pandemic.

The Beijing-based association attributed the robust export growth to increased demand for products to keep people entertained indoors when they were forced or encouraged to stay home to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

“Foreign demand for Chinese ‘stay-at-home economy’ products is likely to continue for a period of time,” the association had earlier forecast in a note early last month, adding that “uncertainties” still remained in the industrial and supply chains due to overseas outbreaks.

Compared with the same period last year, exports of Chinese toys grew 96.8 per cent in the January-February period, while toy exports to the US soared by 159.9 per cent, even though the first two months of the year are traditionally a slow season for the industry, according to the CTJIPA.

In addition to toys, products for infants and children have also seen strong demand overseas, according to the CTJIPA. Exports of prams increased 23.5 per cent in the January-February period from a year earlier, totalling US$210 million. Again, the US was the top destination.

For all of 2020, China’s exports of prams increased by 28.3 per cent to US$4.34 billion, according to the white paper. And shipments to the US were up 22.9 per cent to US$1.1 billion.

On Tuesday, Chinese customs is expected to release preliminary trade data for March and for the first quarter. These figures will help gauge how well the world’s second-largest economy has recovered this year.

Gao Feng, a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, said China’s foreign trade got off to a good start in the first quarter, and a survey of more than 20,000 companies by the ministry showed that they had more orders in hand compared with the same period last year.

“[But] companies also report that there are still many [obstacles] facing trade this year, such as uncertainties involving the pandemic; instability in the international industrial chain and supply chain; and complexities in the international environment,” he said at a press conference on Thursday.

“We will maintain the continuity, stability and sustainability of the policy … doing everything possible to push forward the stable development of imports and exports.”