China’s camping and outdoor gear industry is looking forward to better export sales this year. After experiencing relatively flat growth in 2009, most suppliers are anticipating an increase of at least 20 percent as the recovery of key economies gathers momentum.

Customs statistics for the first two months of 2010 already point to a stronger business period. Revenue from shipments surged 23 percent year on year to exceed $714 million, driven mainly by demand from the EU, North America and the Asia- Pacific region. Should this pace continue, the sector could break the $4 billion mark by December.

Rising costs, however, threaten to slow down growth. Many companies are no longer able to sustain the price position they adopted during the crisis, with wages and raw material spending both on an upturn. In fact, a number have already passed on a portion of additional expenses to their clients, although most kept adjustments within 10 percent.

The report covers the major types of camping and outdoor gear exported from China, namely tents, furniture and sleeping materials, cooking equipment, picnicware, hydration devices, lights, optics, fishing equipment, and tools and knives.