Baby Toys - etude de marche

China continues to be the world's largest supplier of baby toys with exports still achieving double-digit annual growth. New product standards and more stringent enforcement of existing regulations, however, will shake up the industry in 2008.

In response to the series of high-profile toy recalls in 2007, new domestic and foreign policies have been implemented to improve toy safety and quality. Many mainland suppliers, particularly small and midsize companies, report that meeting these standards are their biggest challenge.

Baby toy prices are expected to increase, mainly due to compliance with these measures and to higher material and labor costs. According to the Supplier Survey conducted for this report, 82 percent of respondents plan to increase prices during the next six months.

With the help of this report, you too can profit from this rapidly changing industry.

This report will answer questions such as: � Which suppliers are capable of meeting new toy standards?
� How are suppliers changing sourcing strategies, manufacturing techniques and QC tests to comply with new regulations?
� How can you determine which suppliers will survive the industry's restructuring and consolidation period?
� How will rising production costs affect pricing in the next 12 months?
� What kind of multifunctional baby toys will be released in 2008?
� And much more...

With profiles of 45 suppliers, a comprehensive industry overview, detailed product and pricing information as well as a special quality and safety section, this report will help you qualify suppliers before your next sourcing trip to China.

China continues to be the world's largest supplier of baby toys despite a series of high-profile recalls last year. Customs statistics show that during the first 10 months of 2007, total toy exports rose more than 20 percent to US$7.1 billion.

New product standards and tightened enforcement of existing regulations, however, are forcing the industry into a period of restructuring. In the domestic arena, among the new policies that were implemented last year was the compulsory certification of six toy categories before these are allowed to leave the factory.

Overseas, one of the most recent developments is the enforcement of the EU's directive on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals.

Many small companies, and even some midsize operations in China, are expected to stop the manufacture and export of toys, or cease operations altogether, due to the large investment and additional costs that compliance will necessitate. In fact, approximately 1,000 suppliers have already been forced to stop exporting because they were unable to meet the requirements of China's compulsory certification.

Despite a smaller supplier base, China's toy exports are expected to remain strong, as large makers fill the gap. North America and the EU are still considered the key markets.

Most companies, however, project that export growth will not exceed 20 percent in 2008.

The following are some of the other key trends we see in China's baby toy industry: � Prices will increase in the next six months due to escalating raw material and labor costs, and higher testing fees. Further reductions in the export tax rebate and the appreciation of the yuan will also push quotes upward.
� China's baby toy selection will expand to include more high-end, multifunctional designs. Suppliers are improving R&D capability to facilitate new product development and the creation of samples.
� To keep manufacturing outlay down, many suppliers will upgrade management systems and automate cutting and other key processes for a more streamlined operation. They will also be reducing product defects and raw material wastage.

This report covers the major types of baby toys manufactured in China. In the Products & Prices section, these have been classified into five categories: activity mats, soft toys & books, bath toys & books, mobiles, rattles, and developmental toys. This part of the report provides detailed product descriptions and discusses the factors influencing price.

The Industry Overview discusses how growing concerns about safety and environment protection, particularly in the US and the EU, are affecting suppliers in China. The section also details the composition of the supplier base, highlighting key characteristics of small, midsize and large makers.