Chinese small appliance makers boost production to meet overseas demand (Voice_over) Overseas demand for small home appliances made in China is heating up during what's traditionally the off-season. Some manufacturers in Cixi City of east China's Zhejiang Province, known as the country's small home appliance capital, say they're either producing at capacity or scaling up to meet demand. One company that manufactures sandwich makers, pancake griddles and other kitchen appliances says since the beginning of this year, their export orders have increased by 30 percent, with production already scheduled through May. (Sound_bite) Chen Haijun, Production supervisor, small home appliances manufacturer: "Our products are exported to Europe, the United States, Japan and Southeast Asia. And we're working to bring in new clients. Currently, we have nine production lines running, with a monthly output of over 20,000 units. We've been working overtime to keep up with demand." (Voice_over) Elsewhere in the city, another home appliance manufacturer has also seen an uptick in overseas orders with demand already outpacing supply. As a result, the company is expanding its production capacity, with new lines expected to be operational later this year. (Sound_bite) Chen Huayin, workshop director, small home appliances manufacturer: "With strong customer demand, we're constructing a new facility. Four additional production lines are set to begin operations in the second half of this year." (Voice_over) According to Cixi Customs, the export value of home appliance products in the city exceeded 4 billion U.S. dollars last year, an increase of more than 13 percent year on year. [Restriction: No access Chinese mainland]