digital camera

China digital camera manufacturers are forecast to boost production by 20％ in the next 12 months. Prices are expected to remain flat or to fall. The global digital camera business was estimated to be a US$24-billion industry in 2004. Global digital camera shipments in 2005 grew by 20.8 percent to 72.2 million units. Latest forecasts by US-based imaging industry analyst Lyra Research, put digital camera shipments at 100 million units by 2008. China has become the major supply bases of digital camera products in recent years. Mainland China is a key source of low-cost digital cameras, with an estimated production output of 73 million units in 2004 and around 61 million units in shipments, according to the China Culture and Office Equipment Professional Association. Around 80 percent of digital cameras produced on the mainland are exported, with 81 percent as OEM/ ODM orders.