China - Recent Storyline: China's strong home appliance exports drive growth in key component sales [Voice_over] China's home appliance manufacturing industry closed 2024 on a high note with large appliances, kitchen and bathroom appliances and small household items all showing strong export numbers. According to the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery, an increase in overseas demand for appliances created a surge in demand for upstream components like compressors and motors, which are vital to small machines. At a factory in Suzhou City that makes motors for home appliances, the engineering manager said they've even scheduled workers for night shifts so they can keep up with demand. [Sound_bite] Yang Wei, Engineering manager, intelligent home appliance company: "Starting the second half of 2024, we have added six additional production lines, mainly for robotic vacuum cleaners. We have day and night shifts." [Voice_over] Chinese companies say their appliances are getting a reputation for being high quality at low prices. [Sound_bite] Li Gang, General manager, Americas region, service robot company: "Our robotic lawnmowers sell for around 1,500 euros for each in Europe, and ground cleaning robots are priced at around 1,000 euros for each. In both Europe and the United States, Chinese brands have effectively captured the market of high-end cleaning appliances." [Voice_over] According to data from China's General Administration of Customs, from January to November of 2024, cumulative home appliance exports reached nearly 4.1 billion units, representing a growth of more than 21 percent year on year. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]