Shifting to domestic demand

A growing number of Chinese exporters attending the 113th Canton Fair - the annual barometer of China's foreign trade, which finished on Sunday in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province - report they are successfully shifting their traditional export-focused businesses to chasing sales at home.

Chen Zhiyu, vice-general manager of Fujian Meinkind Baby Products Co, for instance, said there is enough demand in China for its child car safety seats.

"More than 80 percent of our products were shipped overseas last year.

"But we are keeping our eyes now firmly on the domestic market, as the overseas market has limited demand for our products," Chen said.

The company, based in Zhangzhou in Fujian province, designs, builds and sells a range of child car safety seats.

"The awareness of Chinese parents to use safety seats in cars is growing, and there will be a increasing demand for our products in domestic market."

Chen said China currently has around 40 manufacturers specializing in making child car safety seats.

"Most of their products are shipped overseas.

"But we plan to shift to the domestic market as early as possible so we can achieve sustainable development in future."

This year's fair organizers reported transactions with traditional buyers from the European Union, the United States and Japan were down 4.9 percent, 0.5 percent and 12.6 percent year-on-year, respectively.