Advertisement
China’s sex toy makers in growth spurt, as coronavirus lockdowns fuel global appetite
- China’s sex toy exports have increased by 50 per cent this year, according to the Shanghai-based The Paper, with sex doll exports doubling
- Lockdown measures in the US, Britain, Europe, New Zealand and Australia have led to increased demand
Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Sex toy manufacturers in China have seen a surge in orders since the start of the coronavirus, marking one of a few bright spots in an economy battered by the pandemic, according to industry insiders.
China’s economy, including its manufacturing outlook and exports, crashed at the start of the year at the height of the outbreak with the official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index plunging to an all-time low in February, while exports shrank by 17.2 per cent in January and February combined.
The overall economy has staged a mild recovery since, and the sex toy industry seems to have been able to enjoy a more rapid recovery since the enforced closures and lockdowns, with one Shandong-based manufacturer reporting a 30 per cent increase in exports and domestic sales.
Advertisement
Overseas sales manager Violet Du said Shandong-based Libo Technology had increased its production line staff by around 25 per cent to close to 400 since they returned to work at the end of February.
Our production lines are running around the clock, and our workers are working in two shifts to meet the surging demand
France, the United States and Italy have been the most active export markets over the last four months, according to Du, although domestic sales slowed as China began to bring the coronavirus under control.
Advertisement
“Our production lines are running around the clock, and our workers are working in two shifts to meet the surging demand,” Du said.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Select Speed
1.00x