Chinese outdoor gears ride export boom as orders stretch into 2027

China's outdoor gear industry is experiencing a sustained export boom, with many manufacturers reporting full order books extending into 2027 as overseas demand for camping and leisure gear continue to rise.

In recent years, the sector has developed rapidly, with faster product iteration and growing overseas market share. Many companies have already received orders scheduled through well into 2027, signaling strong industry momentum.

Unlike previous years when the peak season began in late September or early October, Letu leisure Products Company in Wuyi County, Jinhua City, east China's Zhejiang Province entered its busy period much earlier this year, with folding outdoor awnings rolling off production lines one after another and packed for storage.

"Our company currently has an order volume of 500,000 sets, and production has been scheduled through January 2027. Our daily output has risen form 3,000 sets to about 4,000 sets," said Gao Hongfang, deputy manager of production of the company.

Over the past two years, Letu has continued investing in research and development in the outdoor awning segment, adding practical features such as solar lighting and wind-resistant reinforcement. Its export value grew from over five million yuan (about 750,000 U.S. dollars) in 2015 to 160 million yuan in the first half of this year.

Zhejiang Youyi Feinuo Umbrella Industry Co., Ltd in Shaoxing City is targeting the growing trend of glamping and expanding its product matrix. Its orders have already been booked through June next year.

"We offer products like mattresses, beach mats and carpets, and we provide customers with one-stop or packaged combination sets," said Xu Jianshu, executive general manager of the company.

At another manufacturer in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Hengyang Umbrella Co., Ltd, production boards display real-time scheduling data, with daily output of more than 2,000 outdoor products. Batches of finished goods are inspected, packed and prepared for shipment worldwide.

"At present, our main business is still export-oriented. Our main markets are Europe, North America, South America and the Middle East. Now we also have markets in Africa and Southeast Asia," said Han Haojie, general manager of the company.

Many domestic outdoor gear manufacturers are undergoing transformation. In the past, most of them focused on contract manufacturing, but now they are placing greater emphasis on independent research and development. Adapting actively to consumer habits in different overseas markets, the manufacturers have increased investment in innovation to build their own brands and lead market demand with their original designs.

Chinese outdoor gears ride export boom as orders stretch into 2027

Thousands of displaced families in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip face perilous living conditions as they are still sheltering in damaged buildings at risk of collapse.

At least 21 Palestinians, including children and women, were killed when a war-damaged residential building collapsed in Gaza City earlier this month.

Samah Mosleh and her seven children are living beneath the remains of a badly damaged building in Gaza City. Their home in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza, was completely destroyed, forcing the family to flee.

The upper floors of the building where they now shelter have already collapsed. Cracks and structural damage surround them, but Mosleh said overcrowded displacement camps have left her family with nowhere safer to go.

"We have nowhere else to shelter. I tried to find a place where we could set up a tent, but there is no space in the camps. This building could collapse at any moment, and I fear for my children. Winter hasn't even arrived yet, and things could get even worse," said Mosleh.

Gaza Municipality said allowing construction materials and temporary housing units into the Strip could help provide safer shelter for displaced families.

"There are major challenges, especially dangerous buildings which are at risk of collapse where many displaced people are now living. If construction materials, especially cement, are allowed in, we could repair many partially damaged buildings and provide safer shelter for many residents," said Yahya al-Sarraj, mayor of Gaza City.

After nearly three years of war, continuous rescue operations have taken a heavy toll on Civil Defense vehicles and machinery, while shortages of fuel and spare parts further hamper emergency response.

"We have more than 2,000 buildings at risk of collapse. Unfortunately, displaced families are living inside them because they have nowhere else to go. Civil Defense cannot remove these dangerous structures because we lack heavy machinery and rescue equipment," said Mohammed Abu Dan, deputy director of operations of the Palestinian Civil Defense in the Gaza Strip. The United Nations warns of grave risks facing families living in hundreds of damaged buildings, saying no one should have to risk their life simply to find safe shelter.

Displaced Palestinians in Gaza forced to shelter in fragile buildings