With just 20 days to go before Christmas the large shops in western countries are busy stocking up for the annual shopping rush.  

According to Jinhua Customs in Zhejiang Province from May to October this year, Yiwu, a city renowned for its small commodity trade, exported Christmas products worth US$10 million a month to over 200 countries and regions in the world. These include the United States, Germany, Holland and Brazil. Among many others they've identified Yiwu as their main source of Christmas goods.  

Since May the city's export of Christmas products has been increasing rapidly and reached a peak in September when the monthly volume exceeded 2,200 tons with a value of US$10 million. The  goods for export are no longer only limited to traditional colorful decorative lights and packing paper but include clothes, toys and household appliances of higher added value.

The workshop of the Yiwu Festival Arts & Crafts Co. Ltd is now working on an order of Christmas products from Korea. A sales person from the company said this was a recent contract from a Korean customer and the orders for western countries had been completed and delivered earlier. "Over 95 percent of our products are for export and more than 50 countries ordered our goods," he said proudly. "We're now working on new designs to satisfy customers' needs and cater for the market."

To simplify export procedures the Yiwu Office of Jinhua Customs has opened a "green channel" for companies to export their Christmas products. A 24-hour examination service is provided to ensure the goods arrive on time. Customs declarations can also be made at weekends by appointment.

(China.org.cn by Xu Lin December 5, 2006)