Hi-tech gadget sales double in China

Sales of some consumer electronics products have more than doubled in China over the past year as the country's new middle class becomes increasingly affluent.

Personal media player sales almost tripled to 590,000 in the first six months of 2007, according to Beijing-based CCID Consulting, while sales of flat-screen TVs more than doubled to 3.3 million.

First-half revenues in seven key hi-tech product sectors tracked by CCID rose 46 per cent on average to exceed $5.9bn.

Consumer electronics products tracked by CCID include entertainment-related devices such as digital cameras and MP3 players, but do not include computing or communications products such as PCs, mobile phones and video games.

"Dramatic price cuts greatly stimulated LCD TV sales, while plasma TV sales also rebounded strongly," CCID analysts wrote in a recent report.

"HD digital TVs have replaced the previously more common TVs, while flat-panel TVs and digital TVs are becoming the two major cores of the TV market.

"The Chinese state is actively pushing forward LCD panel projects, and offering enterprises greater support."

Flat-panel TV sales generated revenues of $3.8bn in the first half, while vendors made just over $1bn from digital cameras.

While unit sales grew 40 per cent compared to the first half of 2006, sales revenues were up 46 per cent over the same period.

CCID analysts said that, unlike more mature markets, the average price consumers pay per product is increasing in China despite a global downwards price trend for consumer electronics.