(Yicai) July 25 -- China's white goods export growth slowed in the first half of this year, amid a thinner increase in overall home appliance outbound shipments due to the impact of US tariffs, less trade with emerging markets, and other factors.

Exports of white goods rose 6.3 percent to USD68.8 billion in the six months ended June 30 from a year ago, the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products told Yicai yesterday. In comparison, the figure jumped 13.2 percent last year from 2023.

Exports of televisions from China climbed 6.1 percent to USD6.4 billion, up from a 5.9 percent growth a year earlier, according to the CCCME.

White goods exports have three main characteristics, Zhou Nan, secretary-general of the CCCME's home appliance branch, said to Yicai. First, they are gradually stabilizing after being affected by the US reciprocal tariffs; second, the growth rate in emerging markets such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Latin America is slowing; and third, the sentiment for overseas investment among companies is complex, he noted.

China's air conditioner exports jumped 7.5 percent to 56.6 million units, according to data from refrigeration industry service provider ChinaIOL. Outbound shipments of refrigerators climbed 6.5 percent to 22.2 million units and of washing machines jumped 14.7 percent to 19.8 million units in the first five months of the year from a year ago.

TV exports saw a year-on-year drop last quarter but remain at record high levels. The European and US markets have been affected by tariff fluctuations and high terminal inventories, which have hindered exports and led to price drops.

Exports of Liquid Crystal Display TVs fell 2.5 percent to 40.7 million units from January to June from a year earlier, while the value of such shipments fell 6 percent.

The decline in TV exports is mainly due to increased US tariffs, which have significantly reduced such shipments to the country, Zhang Hong, deputy general manager of Sigmaintell Consulting's large-sized display division, told Yicai. The focus of TV makers has largely shifted from the United States to Mexico and Southeast Asia, Zhang said.

Home appliance export will face many challenges in the second half of this year, Zhou pointed out. The global market will enter an era of high tariffs, and the growth in some emerging markets may slow, leading to a divergence in export performance among companies, he said.

Exporters should balance their domestic and foreign sales capabilities, seek growth momentum in emerging markets, and, more importantly, continuously innovate in green and smart products to pursue growth certainty amid uncertainty, he stressed.

Editor: Martin Kadiev