China dominates global remote controls market

Manufacturers indicate buyers sourcing remote controls from Greater China can expect relatively stable prices this year.

Greater China accounted for 80% of global remote control production in 2005.

Export sales are projected to increase 38% this year, according to Global Sources' China Sourcing Report: Remote Controls.

Manufacturers indicate buyers sourcing remote controls from Greater China can expect relatively stable prices this year, with a growing supply of ZigBee and Bluetooth models available by 2007.

These findings are based on in-depth manufacturer interviews, factory visits and surveys.

Report publisher, Mark Saunderson, said: "Mainland China and Hong Kong manufacturers expect sales growth of 39% this year, while Taiwan suppliers project average increases of 31%".

"This growth is driven by booming overseas demand for home automation and entertainment applications".

"In this mature and fiercely competitive industry, most manufacturers say export prices of basic models are expected to remain stable or to decline in the next 12 months".

"However, price increases are expected for high-end products by the end of 2006".

Saunderson said: "Due to high unit prices and few applications supporting the technologies, ZigBee and Bluetooth device production hasn't ramped up just yet".

"Currently, these units are only available from a few Taiwan manufacturers".

"However, Taiwan suppliers have indicated ZigBee and Bluetooth models are expected to account for 10 to 20% of their output by 2007".

The China Sourcing Report also shows that in the near term, mainland China's output is expected to consist largely of low-end to midrange IR (infra-red) models while manufacturers in Taiwan are expected to focus on high-end IR and RF (radio frequency) models.

More than 85% of mainland China's remote control production goes to OEM or ODM buyers.

Greater China manufacturers say they invest 6 to 10% of their sales into R and D.

Saunderson concluded: "With mainland China and Hong Kong suppliers offering a variety of IR models and Taiwan suppliers moving toward newer technologies, the Greater China market continues to offer buyers a comprehensive range of remote control models for export".

The 80-page China Sourcing Report: Remote Controls includes detailed profiles of 30 Greater China manufacturers.

It features a product gallery with 71 top-selling remote control export models.

It also includes production and pricing forecasts as well as in-depth reports on major and emerging remote control supply centres.

Back to top