car lighting

China's exports of car lightings are on the rise as demand from Asia, its largest market, continues to grow at double-digit levels. Overseas shipments to North America and Europe are also increasing, as policies such as the Block Exemption Regulation 1400/2002/EC of the EU expand the customer base for generic automotive parts. China's exports of car lightings are on an uptrend. In 2005, total shipments of vehicle lighting equipment and filament-type light bulbs grew 24 percent in terms of value, reaching more than US$234 million. Trade statistics for the first eight months of 2006 point to another strong year for these lines, with exports already 28 percent higher than the same period in 2005. Outbound products in 2005 were worth about US$0.16 per unit, 23 percent more than the average value of products shipped in 2004. Exports in the period January to August 2006 were valued at US$0.19 per unit, 28 percent higher than that of the previous period. In fact, growth in terms of volume, which is much lower than the value growth rate, has slowed considerably from 2004. In 2005, the country exported 1.5 billion car lightings and filament-type bulbs, an increase of only 4 percent, in contrast to the 16 percent gain in 2004. Nevertheless, the export growth rate is expected to rise during the remaining months of 2006 and through 2007. In the first eight months of this year, shipments have already increased about 7 percent year-on-year.