In 2005, China’s output of Moulds (including stamping tools, die casting Moulds, etc.) was 61 billion yuan, representing a 15 percent increase over 2004. With global output totaling 557 billion yuan, China ranks as the third largest mold producer, behind the United States and Japan. China’s export value of Moulds was 6.08 billion yuan in 2005. Imports equaled $16.77 billion yuan, driven by high quality and complex Moulds, such as those used in multicavitation, multimaterial and multicolor Moulds. Other significant contributors to China’s mold imports include precision, long life and big stamping tools used for the production of automobile components. These imports largely come from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.
China is quickly becoming a leading manufacturing center for plastics and Moulds. Increasing numbers of global companies are relocating their manufacturing centers from South Asia and Taiwan to China. Combined with the rising demand from auto and auto component companies, who are expanding capacity in China, the demand for plastic parts and Molds will continue to grow at a fast rate.