golf ball

Over the last several decades, golf has become an increasingly popular leisure activity in the business community and beyond in China. At present, there are an estimated 1.2 million golf players in China and this number is expected to grow slowly at around half a percent per year. Sports ball (including golf ball) exports from China are rising steadily as more overseas buyers are sourcing from the country and more suppliers continue to enhance the quality of their products while keeping prices relatively low. If current growth rates are sustained, overseas shipments in the line could exceed US$500 million by the end of 2006. In the first quarter of 2006, China suppliers exported 319 million sports balls (including golf ball) worth almost US$145 million, an increase of 25 percent in volume and 37 percent in value terms. In 2005, exports from the country amounted to 1.1 billion sports balls (including golf ball) worth US$465 million. These figures translate to a 20 percent increase in value and 10 percent volume growth.