Sports Balls - etude de marche

The majority of China's sports ball manufacturers plan to expand capacity in 2008 as exports continue to increase, topping US$596 million in 2007 and posting double-digit growth in both volume and value. The high demand for inflatable and solid-core balls is driven by buyers who have shifted sourcing from India, Pakistan and Thailand to the mainland.

Although many China suppliers will upgrade existing facilities or build new ones, they still face rising production costs. Labor shortages in coastal provinces and escalating raw material costs are the main factors behind markups on finished product prices.

Specifically, additional expenses spent on attracting and retaining employees and on complying with the new Labor Law implemented in January 2008 have impacted export prices. Moreover, the costs of rubber and synthetic leathers, the main materials used for sports ball covers, have jumped an average of 15 percent.

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

This report will answer questions such as: � Where are labor shortages occurring?
� Which suppliers are increasing subcontracting?
� How will rising production costs affect pricing in the next 12 months?
� What kind of environment-friendly cover materials will new sports balls feature?
� And much more...

With profiles of 40 suppliers, a comprehensive industry overview, detailed product and pricing information as well as a full-color product gallery, this report will help you qualify suppliers before your next sourcing trip to China.

Sports ball exports from China continue to rise as more overseas buyers source from the country and more suppliers enhance product quality while keeping prices comparatively low. Between January and November 2007, China makers shipped out nearly 1.2 billion sports balls worth US$596 million, up by 4 percent in volume and 11 percent in value. The US, Japan, South Korea and the EU were the top overseas destinations.

The following are some of the key trends in China's sports ball industry: � The majority of suppliers will increase capacity by up to 20 percent to meet steadily growing overseas demand. Most makers are upgrading existing production facilities or building new ones.
� Labor shortages and escalating raw material costs will continue to trouble China companies. As a result, export prices, particularly of inflatable models, are expected to increase by up to 10 percent in coming months. This is due mainly to adjustments in the cost of rubber and synthetic leather, which went up by 10 to 20 percent in the past 12 months.
� Even though many large companies are shifting toward high-end, competition-use products, the majority of sports balls exported from China will continue to be entry-level models for promotional and recreational use.
� The output of sports balls that are made of new materials is expected to increase in the next 12 months. More companies now use environment friendly cover materials such as TPU and low-phthalate PU leather. China suppliers offer a range of sports balls. For the purpose of this report, these have been divided into three categories: inflatable, solid-core and tennis balls. In the inflatable segment are footballs, rugby balls, soccer balls, basketballs, volleyballs and water polo balls. The solid-core line comprises baseballs, softballs and golf balls.

While most suppliers specialize in one line, some offer a range of products across all categories. Companies that offer all major types of sports balls concentrate mainly on the production of one line and subcontract the others.