China’s toy exports rocket despite recalls

BEIJING – Exports of Chinese toys rocketed in the first 10 months of last year despite a wave of high-profile recalls of products made by the Asian nation, state media said Sunday.

In the period from January to October, China shipped 7,1 billion US dollars’ worth of toys abroad, an increase of 20,1 per cent from the same period a year earlier, the Xinhua news agency reported. It compares to a growth rate of just over six per cent in the corresponding period of 2006 from the preceding year, according to Xinhua.Even exports to the United States, which had been rattled by a series of widely publicised recalls, rose 13,3 per cent in the first 10 months of 2007 from a year earlier, Xinhua said.China is the world’s top toy exporter, selling 22 billion toys overseas in 2006, or 60 per cent of the globe’s total.However, it came under embarrassing international pressure last year after millions of toys exported to the United States and Europe were found to have dangerous defects.In one of the most high-profile cases, the US toy giant Mattel recalled 18 million toys amid concern over items made with toxic lead paints and magnets that posed a choking risk to children.Nampa-AFPIt compares to a growth rate of just over six per cent in the corresponding period of 2006 from the preceding year, according to Xinhua.Even exports to the United States, which had been rattled by a series of widely publicised recalls, rose 13,3 per cent in the first 10 months of 2007 from a year earlier, Xinhua said.China is the world’s top toy exporter, selling 22 billion toys overseas in 2006, or 60 per cent of the globe’s total.However, it came under embarrassing international pressure last year after millions of toys exported to the United States and Europe were found to have dangerous defects.In one of the most high-profile cases, the US toy giant Mattel recalled 18 million toys amid concern over items made with toxic lead paints and magnets that posed a choking risk to children.Nampa-AFP

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