China women's wear suppliers optimistic about sales, but profit remains difficult in 2010

USA - English

China Sourcing Report: Women's Wear covers blouses, sweaters, pullovers, shorts, pants, skirts, dresses, suits, business separates, coats and jackets

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Global Sources

Jan 25, 2010, 02:00 ET

HONG KONG, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- After sales declines last year, 67 percent of China women's wear suppliers expect sales to grow by more than 10 percent in 2010. However, due to fierce price competition, 60 percent of companies surveyed said they plan to either maintain or decrease prices this year, according to Global Sources' (Nasdaq: GSOL) China Sourcing Report: Women's Wear ( http://www.chinasourcingreports.com/womenswearreport ).

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The Report covers women's blouses, sweaters, pullovers, shorts, pants, skirts, dresses, suits, business separates, coats and jackets.

"About half of companies cited price competition as their biggest challenge ahead," said Livia Yip, Publisher of the Report.

"But, having already cut staff and overheads to bare bone levels last year, most companies are left with few options but to streamline operations and production."

More than half of surveyed companies said they are mainly focused on improving operating efficiency to reduce costs.

Suppliers moving to upscale garments

Yip said: "In view of the intense competition, suppliers are enhancing their R&D capability to increase their output of high-end garments that can generate higher margins. Some companies are also introducing or expanding their ODM and OBM lines. Such measures were in place even before the global economic crisis hit, but efforts are now being intensified.

"Buyers' response toward China-made upscale apparel has been positive. In many cases, women's wear suppliers in China have been able to turn out stylish models in premium fabrics at competitive prices. Buyers sourcing from China can expect to find a wider range of garments in functional and environmentally-friendly fabrics in coming months."

Supplier profiles, price forecasts and the latest women's wear products for export

The 124-page China Sourcing Report: Women's Wear provides detailed profiles of 30 suppliers with verified manufacturing and export credentials, plus contact details of 14 more suppliers. It also includes a Product Gallery featuring 118 of the most popular export models, with key specifications and full-color pictures.

The Report's surveys, price trends and supply forecasts aim to help buyers make better-informed purchasing decisions.

Specialized Global Sources websites, face-to-face events, trade magazines and research reports

China Sourcing Reports are part of Global Sources' sourcing and product information services. These include Global Sources Online ( http://www.globalsources.com ), China Sourcing Fairs ( http://www.chinasourcingfair.com ), Private Sourcing Events ( http://www.PrivateSourcingEvents.com ) and Global Sources monthly magazines ( http://www.globalsources.com/SITE/MAGAZINES.HTM ). For more information about Global Sources' products and services that connect quality buyers with verified suppliers, visit http://www.corporate.globalsources.com .

The China Sourcing Report: Women's Wear is available for purchase at http://www.chinasourcingreports.com/womenswearreport .

Free information about China women's wear suppliers can be found at http://www.chinasuppliers.globalsources.com/china-suppliers/Wholesale-Women- Clothes.htm . (Note: If the URL above wraps to a second line, please paste both lines into the browser and delete the space in-between.)

About Global Sources

Global Sources is a leading business-to-business media company and a primary facilitator of trade with Greater China. The core business uses English-language media to facilitate trade from Greater China to the world. The other business segment utilizes Chinese-language media to enable companies to sell to, and within Greater China.

The company provides sourcing information to volume buyers and integrated marketing services to suppliers. It helps a community of over 854,000 active buyers source more profitably from complex overseas supply markets. With the goal of providing the most effective ways possible to advertise, market and sell, Global Sources enables suppliers to sell to hard-to-reach buyers in over 240 countries.

The company offers the most extensive range of media and export marketing services in the industries it serves. It delivers information on 4.5 million products and more than 247,000 suppliers annually through 14 online marketplaces, 13 monthly magazines, over 100 sourcing research reports and 12 specialized trade shows which run 30 times a year across 10 cities.

Suppliers receive more than 96 million sales leads annually from buyers through Global Sources Online ( http://www.globalsources.com ) alone.

Global Sources has been facilitating global trade for 39 years. Global Sources' network covers more than 60 cities worldwide. In mainland China, Global Sources has about 2,500 team members in more than 40 locations, and a community of over 1 million registered online users and magazine readers for its Chinese-language media.

    Global Sources Press Contact in Asia:
     Camellia So
     Tel:   +852-2555-5021
     Email: [email protected]

    Global Sources Press Contact in U.S.:
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    Global Sources Investor Contact in Asia:
     Investor Relations Department
     Tel:   +852-2555-4777
     Email: [email protected]

    Global Sources Investor Contact in U.S.:
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     Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc.
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SOURCE Global Sources