(Yicai) Dec. 13 -- China's home appliance exports are expected to reverse last year's downward trend and return to growth this year, driven by surging demand from emerging markets.

Home appliance exports from China soared over 13 percent to USD7.2 billion in November from a year earlier, up for the fourth consecutive month, Yicai learned from the home appliance branch of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products. In the first 11 months of the year, the figure rose 2.8 percent to USD80.5 billion from the same period last year.

In the second half of last year, China's exports of home appliances began to slow down because of high overseas inflation and changes in the international environment. Home appliance exports fell 5 percent to USD112.1 billion last year from the peak in 2021.

China's exports of home appliances to the European and North American markets continued to decline this year, but the industry found new growth points by expanding to emerging markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa and focusing on the development of heat pumps and green products, Zhou Nan, secretary-general of the home appliance branch of the CCCME, told Yicai.

In the 10 months ended Oct. 31, China's exports of household appliances to North America, Oceania, and the European Union fell 13 percent, 11 percent, and 1.2 percent, respectively, while those to the Arab League, Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia jumped 15 percent, 18 percent, 22 percent, and 2.8 percent, respectively, according to data from the General Administration of Customs of China.

Chinese home appliance firms are accelerating their development in emerging markets by setting up local factories.

On Nov. 30, Chinese white goods giant Midea Group started construction of its third factory in Egypt in which it invested a total of CNY830 million (USD116 million). The plant is expected to start operation in the second half of 2025.

Xinbao Electrical Appliances Holdings, a Chinese small household appliances manufacturer, set up its first overseas factory in Indonesia this year. Chinese water heater maker Vanward New Electric also set up its first overseas plant in Thailand this year.

Editors: Dou Shicong, Futura Costaglione