http://pdf.reuters.com/htmlnews/8knews.asp?i=43059c3bf0e37541&u=urn:newsml:reuters.com:20130116:nBw156866a
   SHENZHEN, China--(Business Wire)--AsiaInspection, a leading provider of quality control services for businessesimporting from Asia, today announces the AsiaInspection 2012 Q4 Barometer,offering a year in review of Asia-based manufacturing and the quality controlservices industry. Here is a look back at a selection of the biggest manufacturing and qualitycontrol industry-related stories of 2012. Asian Manufacturing in 2012: Despite Global Pessimism, Exports Remained Strongon DemandDespite global pessimism, figures show the Asian export market, and specificallyChina, remained strong. For the first three quarters of 2012, China`s exportsgrew to account for 11.1% of total global trade, up 0.6% from the same period in2011. This trend is supported by AsiaInspection figures, showing 2012 PerformedInspection growth was highest in Vietnam at +34%, followed by Bangladesh (+21%),China (+13%) and then India (+10%). To put China`s comparatively modest 13%growth in perspective, it is still accounting for 84% of all exports from thesefour countries ($541 billion USD out of $645 billion USD for September throughNovember 2012). "Sustained double-digit growth of these proportions reflectsChina`s continued dominance in world manufacturing," said Sebastien Breteau, CEOof AsiaInspection. United States Regains Top Spot as China`s Largest Export BuyerAsiaInspection 2012 Performed Inspection figures show the United States up +16%vs. 2011. This is not surprising as in December 2012 the United States replacedthe European Union as the No. 1 buyer for Chinese exports, buying $319.4 billionUSD worth of goods through November, up 8.2 % Y/Y. During the same period,inspection figures for the 26 European Union countries grew by a modest +4%, ledby France and the United Kingdom. Food Safety: China Continues to Repeat History with 8,500 DeadAs Chinese food products are increasingly being exported, continuing scandalsreflect the poor food safety processes currently in place. Amidst this danger,AsiaInspection Food & Food Packaging Inspections were up +111% Y/Y. Conservative Chinese estimates claim there are approximately 8,500 deaths causedeach year by Chinese-made food products in China (New York Times). In 2012,China exported over $56 billion USD in food-related products, while according tothe FDA only 2.3% of all food imports into the USA are physically inspected.China-made food scandals continued this year with the cancer-causing substanceaflatoxin being found in infant formula. With the global population crossing seven billion, expect food production tocontinue to be industrialized and China to lead, stressing the need for stricteroversight at the source. Rising African Demand for Quality Control Reflects Record China-Africa TradeAccording to the China Ministry of Commerce, in terms of project contracting,Africa is now China's second largest foreign market. Bilateral trade betweenChina and African countries reached 163.9 billion USD in the first ten months of2012, up 20% from the same period of 2011. Reflecting this yearlong boost inbilateral trade, AsiaInspection 2012 Performed Inspections in African countriesincreased +85% from 2011. Inspections in Asia for African clients increased +31%Y/Y with Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa leading. Bangladesh Factory Fire Exposes Supply Chain Monitoring Difficulties112 people were killed last month at a factory found to be supplying Walmart andSears in Bangladesh. The country is the No. 2 apparel exporter in the Worldafter China, with the textile industry making up 77% of its exports. Walmart and Sears both claimed they were unaware their apparel was beingmanufactured there, highlighting the difficulty for global brands to monitortheir whole supply chain. It also pinpointed the importance for third partyaudits to thoroughly check on manufacturers` sub-contracting practices. Amidsuch headlines and increasing public scrutiny on brands manufacturingconditions, AsiaInspection Audit services ended 2012 up +36% Y/Y. What to Expect - The 2013 Manufacturing LandscapeDespite a change of leadership and the government`s increasing focus onstimulating domestic demand, exports will remain the basis of China`s economy.Despite the hype surrounding China`s inflation, an appreciating RMB and risinglabor costs, there is not yet a suitable replacement for China and it willcontinue to be the dominant source of manufacturing, even with expectedsustained growth for Vietnam and Bangladesh. The geographic sourcing landscape within China will continue to evolve. In thepast two years AsiaInspection has seen a 270% increase in inspection activity inChengdu, Chongqing, Wenzhou and Zhengzhou. Predicting sustained increaseddemand, this September Cathay Pacific setup air cargo routes from Zhengzhou. Finally, new and updated safety regulations should force importers worldwide tostrengthen their technical quality control at the source in 2013. REACHregulations in Europe are a significant example (with the recent adding of newSubstances of Very High Concern, and the new May 31st, 2013 deadline forregistration of imported substances), as is the expected deployment of the FoodSafety Modernization Act in the US (imposing stricter food safety controls). About AsiaInspection - Your Eyes in the Factory!TMAsiaInspection is a leading quality control services provider for importers fromAsia, providing web-based account management, fast scheduling and highlycompetitive prices for companies seeking Product Inspection, Factory Audit andLaboratory Testing services in Asia. AsiaInspection serves clients from over 100countries worldwide. References:China's Corrupt Food Chain. New York Times. Retrieved January 9, 2013 from
  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/18/opinion/chinas-corrupt-food-chain.html
   AsiaInspectionMichael Mesarch, +86-755-2223-9888press@asiainspection.comCopyright Business Wire 2013