Hong Kong exports a full range of houseware made from materials such as metal, plastics and porcelain. Most companies can provide a rather comprehensive selection of different product types, including tableware, kitchenware, cooking appliances and sanitary ware.
Hong Kong manufacturers have moved upmarket through continuous product refinement, innovative design and attractive packaging.A gradual shift from OEM to ODM, or even the introduction of own brands in some cases, is underway partly due to competition from other Asian countries.
"High style,low price"continues to be the mantra for everyday household goods. Shoppers generally tend to spend less amid the global slowdown, but at the same time,they want high-quality, better-designed products with a broad spectrum of shapes, sizes, colours, materials and innovative features. On the other hand,there is an emerging trend from causal towards luxury styling,especially in Europe.
The EU imposes Union-wide import quotas on tableware and kitchenware of porcelain or china originating from the Chinese mainland, though quotas on glassware have been removed. Meanwhile, the US has imposed anti-dumping duties on porcelain-on-steel cookware. These measures may affect Hong Kong manufacturers as many of them are producing in the mainland.
As a whole, the houseware industry is showing a gradual shift from OEM to ODM business, or even to own-brand production in some cases. The competitive advantage of having unique designs can be kept for six to 12 months, as other competitors will quickly adopt similar designs that are found to be popular among consumers. It is hoped that a sustainable advantage can be maintained when one's brand names are established.
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