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Published on September 25, 2007

Thai Toy Industry Association president Duangjai Koosrivinij said yesterday the domestic market - which is worth Bt20 billion - would experience low growth.

While sales volume is lower domestically, per-item value is up.

However, The Mall Group's senior merchandise officer Saridpong Rattanapot was more optimistic and predicted growth of 7 per cent to 10 per cent.

"The market during the first eight months was sluggish. One indication is the value of imported toys fell 52 per cent compared with last year. Usually, imports should grow five to six per cent a year," Duangjai said.

Both Duangjai and Saridpong agreed political turmoil had shaken consumer confidence.

However, both said the US rejection of Chinese toys was an opportunity. The US recently rejected millions of low-quality toys over health and safety fears.

"This is an opportunity for manufacturers with good product quality to prove themselves while those with poor quality will be wiped away. Many manufacturers want to see something good come out of this," Saridpong said. Duangjai said parents would be more careful when buying toys.

Following toy recalls on safety concerns, American buyers have approached local manufacturers.

"We expect to win a handsome number of orders. Next year, our export value will skyrocket," Duangjai .

This country has a good reputation in terms of quality. However, much depends on the baht next year, she said.

Duangjai said toy exports last year were US$212 million (Bt7.25 billion) and this year have seen a 30-per-cent increase on that.

Thailand's new competitors could be low-cost manufacturers from Pakistan, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and India.

Both were confident local sales will increase in the last quarter and the normal high season for sales was between October to April. The political situation is expected to clear after an election in December.

The Mall Group spent Bt5 million on the Toy World Fun Fair that runs until October 9 at its Ngam Wong Wan branch. Saridpong said children and their parents could enjoy exhibitions from about 50 manufacturers. It hopes to welcome 200,000 visitors and see Bt50 million in sales.

He said fair goers spent an average of Bt600. Customers to Siam Paragon and The Emporium often spent as much as Bt30,000.

Central stores are having Disney Toy Town from October 5 to October 14 at its Rama II branch.

Nitida Asawanipont

 The Nation