CRI听力:Domestic Toy Industry Growing

Rebecca Tan-Harmon from British company Kookidz Education is selling toys at a recent toy fair in Beijing.

There was a time when sophisticated toys like this only left China for export. But now the demand at home is growing fast.

Figures from the Chinese Toy Association show toy imports into China for the first 5 months of 2011 are up over 20% compared to the same period in 2010.

Rick Li is General Manager for Bachmann China, which produces expensive toy trains. These used to be just for export, but now that's changing.

"The increase in Chinese market has increased much over the last few years… 3'34 "The Chinese market for us is very important for us right now. Every year almost 50% increase."

China's growing domestic market may help shield its toy industry if exports drop. And some say this may happen soon. Last month the European Union raised standards for materials and chemicals that can be used in toys. A quarter of China's toy exports go to the EU. The move will mean these toys will now cost more to make.

May Liang heads China's Toy Association. She says the new EU standards will make it more difficult for Chinese companies exporting to the EU for the first time.

"The new directives will have some effect but 6.45 "I would say for those companies that have exported toys to the European market before should be no problem for them to comply with the new standard, 7.00 but for those companies that exported to Europe before, if they want to get into the European market the standard will make it more difficult for them to get into."

Back at the toy fair, Chinese consumers are also growing more aware of safety.

I trust bigger brands, such as goodchild or Disney.

"safety is the first thing I think about…"

the quality of toys made in foreign countries is better than those made in China.and they care the quality earlier than Chinese.

About eight thousand companies operate in the Chinese toy industry employing 300 million people. But their focus could now be turning to the domestic market.
 
For CRI, I'm Dominic Swire.