China's home appliance exports recorded a notable growth in 2024, bolstering the production and sales of key components while further cementing the global presence of Chinese brands.
According to the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products, multiple categories of home appliances, including large appliances, kitchen and bathroom appliances, and small household items, all witnessed strong export performance in 2024. The surge in overseas demand has also resulted in a sharp rise in the export of upstream components and parts.
Compressors and motors are vital components of home appliances. A manager from a major compressor manufacturing company in east China's Jiangsu Province told Central China Television (CCTV) that the export boom in home appliances has led to a surge in compressor production and sales. In addition to domestic sales growth, direct exports of compressors have also seen double-digit growth thanks to the recovery of overseas manufacturing.
"From January to November [2024], exports of air conditioner compressors increased by 32 percent year on year, while refrigerator compressors grew by 15 percent, and air conditioner motors rose by 44 percent," said Huang Canlin, general manager of an air-conditioner component manufacturer in Wuhu City.
At a factory producing home appliance motors, the production lines are running on full throttle to cope with rising export orders.
"Starting the second half [of 2024], we have added six additional production lines, mainly for robotic vacuum cleaners. We have day and night shifts," said Yang Wei, an engineering manager at an intelligent home appliance company in Suzhou City.
Moreover, several companies have noted that the competitiveness of China-made smart home appliances in the European and American markets has continued to highlight, with market shares keeping climbing.
"In markets such as Germany, Italy, and France, our market share has exceeded 30 percent. Especially in Germany, our market share has surpassed 50 percent, firmly holding the top position," said Meng Jia, head of research and development for the intelligent home appliance company's robotic vacuum department.
"Our robotic lawnmowers sell for around 1,500 euros for each in Europe, and ground cleaning robots are priced at around 1,000 euros for each. In both Europe and the United States, Chinese brands have effectively captured the market of high-end cleaning appliances," said Li Gang, general manager of the Americas region for a service robot company in Suzhou. China's home appliance exports delivered impressive results in the just concluded year of 2024. According to data from the General Administration of Customs, from January to November 2024, cumulative home appliance exports reached nearly 4.1 billion units, representing a growth of 21.3 percent year on year.
China's strong home appliance exports drive growth in key component sales
The three astronauts of China's Shenzhou-21 crewed spaceflight mission returned safely to Earth on Friday after completing their planned tasks aboard the Tiangong space station.
The return capsule of the Shenzhou-22 spaceship, carrying Shenzhou-21 astronauts Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 20:11 Beijing Time (1211 GMT), according to the China Manned Space Agency.
The returned astronauts were reported to be in good physical condition after landing, according to staff on site.
Zhang Lu was the first to exit the return capsule after it touched down on Earth.
"I'm thrilled to once again return to the embrace of our motherland. The Shenzhou-21 crew's seven-month stay in orbit would not have been possible without the care of our families and comrades, the support of leaders at all levels and all colleagues involved in the project, and above all, the backing of our country and our people. One sentence sums up my thoughts on my second space mission: 'It takes a whole team's devotion to make one person's voyage into the sea of stars,' " Zhang said in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) shortly after he was carried out of the return capsule.
"I also have a gift to share with everyone. On the day of the Shenzhou-21 launch, the ground support team gave us an apple, wishing us a safe and smooth mission. Our safe return is their greatest wish. Tomorrow is May 30, the National Science and Technology Workers' Day. So when we left the space station, we specifically brought back an apple. We want to give it to all science and technology workers, and say 'thank you for your hard work'. At the same time, I wish our space industry continued prosperity, and every mission safe and smooth," he said.
"Returning to Earth and to the embrace of our motherland, I feel extremely secure and proud. Being entrusted with such a significant responsibility in my first space mission is a great honor. It is the trust of my country, the guidance of my predecessors, and the teamwork of the entire crew that enabled me to successfully complete the mission. This mission has taught me that the most beautiful posture of youth is to march out for the country. I will turn this space experience into the driving force for my continued progress, and continue to fight and strive for the manned space program," said crew member Wu Fei.
"From the ground laboratory to China's space station, it is our great motherland that has enabled me to achieve a perfect integration of my scientific ideals and spaceflight dreams. With the support of the entire project team, the assistance of researchers and scientists, and the care of so many people, our crew has worked as one and successfully completed all assigned scientific projects, including the first successful in-orbit breeding of small mammals, the growing of a thriving space vegetable garden with an even wider varieties, and the collection of valuable data from projects such as in-situ electrochemical and optical studies on lithium-ion batteries," said Zhang Hongzhang, who was the last of the astronauts to exit the spacecraft.
"Looking at Earth from space, I deeply felt that humanity is an indivisible community with a shared future. Now that I am back on Earth and have returned to my motherland, I feel an immense sense of security and warmth. Going forward, I will continue to build on these achievements and contribute to making China a strong power in space, science and technology," he said.
The returned crew members will now head to Beijing by plane and enter a quarantined recovery period, during which they will undergo comprehensive medical examinations and health assessments and start their recuperation process.
Prior to their return, the astronauts completed all planned tasks and handed over the space station to their three colleagues of the Shenzhou-23 mission who boarded the space station on May 25.
The crew's planned stay in-orbit was extended by approximately one month to further verify the technologies regarding the long-term stay of astronauts in orbit and fully use the supplies delivered by the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft in an emergency launch.
The Shenzhou-21 crew's original spaceship, which sent them into space on Oct 31 last year, was previously returned to Earth carrying the astronauts of the preceding Shenzhou-20 mission after tiny cracks were found in the viewport window of the Shenzhou-20 manned spacecraft's return capsule. That spacecraft was later safely brought back to Earth.
Shenzhou-21 crew return to Earth after successful seven-month mission in space
