News: Recently, at the production workshop of Ningbo Wanjiacheng Electronic Industry Co., workers have been busy boxing up lighters known for their innovative designs and exquisite craftsmanship. In a nearby finished-products warehouse, batches of securely packaged and neatly arranged torch-style igniters have been inspected by customs officers and are set to be shipped to Germany.
"This batch consists of 500,000 lighters, which is the fifth shipment to the European market since the end of the Spring Festival," said Qian Yangming, Manager of Ningbo Wanjiacheng Electronic Industry Co., pointing to products in the warehouse about to be loaded into containers. "To meet high-end overseas market demand, we have increased R&D investment in premium lighter products such as flameless igniters and electronic pulse igniters. We now offer more than 100 lighter models in various designs and functionalities, and this year's production orders are already scheduled through May and June, reflecting a generally positive export outlook."
Lighters are a traditional industry in Cixi City, Zhejiang Province, divided into disposable lighters, refillable lighters, and ignition guns, with export volumes ranking among the highest nationwide for many years. In 2024, Cixi's lighter exports reached 976 million yuan, up 8.95% year on year. Among these, ignition gun exports totaled 448 million yuan, marking a 19.75% increase.
Ningbo Haodian Smoking Accessories Co., Ltd. is a company devoted to producing ignition guns, with a showroom displaying various models including torch types, long-barreled types, and curved-barreled types. "In recent years, ignition guns have seen widespread use in camping, picnics, and barbecues, and demand from European and American customers has clearly risen. In response, we have focused our efforts on developing new ignition guns and have successfully launched 15 new models. In 2024 alone, ignition gun exports were valued at around 93 million yuan, and we expect sustained growth this year," explained General Manager Mi Hailu.
To support the sustainable development of the lighter industry and meet diverse international market demands, Cixi Customs under Ningbo Customs has relied on the "Citong" Technical Trade Workshop to provide targeted technical trade assistance, helping enterprises clarify the standards and regulations for lighters in different markets, improve production processes, and enhance product quality and international competitiveness. They also carry out quality and safety risk monitoring, promptly reporting any nonconformities identified during routine inspections. This helps businesses stay informed about their export product quality and avoid setbacks in overseas markets. In addition, given the frequent shipments and tight deadlines of lighter exports, they have adopted measures such as issuing hazardous goods packaging certificates online and offering scheduled inspections, reducing the original clearance time from about three days to half a working day—allowing lighters to "set sail" at top speed. (By Qi Weihong)
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of China Inspection and Quarantine Times. The China Inspection and Quarantine Times version shall prevail.