Chinese suppliers are responding to buyers' increased concerns about quality following recent recalls of China-made products from the United States, according to a Global Sources survey.
More than 60 per cent of mainland suppliers are increasing their spending on quality control, according to the survey which polled more than 200 manufacturers last month.
Global Sources chairman and chief executive Merle Hinrichs said that although the legal responsibility mostly rested with the importer, which should ensure products met the standard of the country where it was being sold, mainland suppliers were investing heavily to help buyers meet those requirements.
Ten per cent of the respondents in the survey said they were spending 20 per cent more on quality control this year. Twenty-six per cent said they were increasing it by 10 to 20 per cent. Another 26 per cent said they were going to increase it by up to 10 percent.
Also, 20 per cent of suppliers thought that working closely with quality-focused buyers led to overall product quality improvement.
The survey covered suppliers in 11 provinces across the mainland, with 53 per cent of respondents from Guangdong, where the recalled products were manufactured.