Exports doubled in '06,China raises export threshold

From 1 March, a large number of poor quality domestic auto export enterprises will be eliminated. The Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, the General Administration of Customs, General Administration of Quality Supervision, the State commission of Inspection and Quarantine, the five departments jointly issued a notice recently, decided that from 1March, 2007, the product of complete vehicles (including passenger cars and commercial vehicles. Chassis and sets of spare parts) will be under export license management, and motor manufacturers are in the mode of export quality management. Production of vehicles for export enterprises are under the mode of operating authorization management.

The notice points out that the reason for these measures, the main purpose is standardizing the automobile export order, and change the mode of growth, improve the quality and efficiency of export growth, and promote the healthy development of the automotive industry.

In recent years, China's export increased rapidly, especially in car exports. An officer in charge of Commerce recently revealed that in 2006, China's auto exports is expected to reach a record 340,000 vehicles. 100% growth over the previous year, export of cars is expected to reach more than 90,000 vehicles, an increase of 200%. After accession to the World Trade Organization, the China's automobile export growth is rapid. According to customs statistics, in 2002 China's export of complete vehicles (including the complete sets of spare parts) was 20,000,000, 48,000 cars in 2003, 78,000 cars in 2004 and 172,000 in 2005. It is expected to export 340,000 in 2006.

Wei Jianguo, Vice Minister of Commerce announced that China will export cars and spare parts from 11 billion U.S. dollars to 120 billion U.S. dollars in 10 years; At present, the annual output value of China's auto industry exports accounted for only 0.7% of the global market volume, and in the next 10 years, China's export of automobiles and auto parts will account for 10% of the world.