HONG KONG, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Despite rising export prices for car electronics, most of China's car electronics suppliers expect to grow sales in the year ahead. This is according to Global Sources' (NASDAQ:GSOL) China Sourcing Report: Car Electronics ( http://www.chinasourcingreports.com/carelectronics ).

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The Report covers car audio systems, including speakers, subwoofers and amplifiers; car multimedia players and monitors; car GPS devices, car PCs, car electronic accessories; and car safety and security electronics, including car alarms, parking aids and keyless entry and remote starters.

"Over the past six months, 75 percent of suppliers we surveyed either maintained or increased prices due to rising production costs," said Livia Yip, Publisher of the Report.

"Despite higher prices and slow consumption in some product segments, 65 percent of suppliers foresee export sales increasing, as demand for in-car GPS and entertainment products heats up."

Among surveyed China suppliers:

-- 20 percent predict sales growth by greater than 20 percent; -- 30 percent expect an increase of between 10 and 20 percent; -- 15 percent estimate sales to increase by less than 10 percent; -- 15 percent expect sales to remain the same; and -- 20 percent foresee sales decreasing.

Suppliers work to control costs, target new markets

Yip said: "Half of suppliers said price competition is their top challenge ahead and this has 65 percent of companies focused on increasing operating efficiency to control costs.

"Companies are also looking to new markets to boost sales. In fact, the Middle East ranked as the top export destination for 30 percent of surveyed suppliers - topping both the traditional markets of North America and Europe.

"As suppliers work to control costs, buyers can continue to expect quality products at low prices from China car electronics suppliers. Buyers from emerging markets can also look forward to new products which are designed to meet the requirements of local consumers."

Supplier profiles, price forecasts and new car electronics product export models

The 92-page China Sourcing Report: Car Electronics provides detailed profiles of 20 suppliers with verified manufacturing and export credentials, plus contact details of 15 more suppliers. It also includes a Product Gallery featuring 94 of the most popular export models, with key specifications and full-color pictures.

The Report's surveys, price trends and supply forecasts aim to help buyers make better-informed purchasing decisions.

Specialized Global Sources websites, face-to-face events, trade magazines and research reports

China Sourcing Reports are part of Global Sources' sourcing and product information services. These include Global Sources Online ( http://www.globalsources.com/ ), China Sourcing Fairs ( http://www.chinasourcingfair.com/ ), Private Sourcing Events ( http://www.privatesourcingevents.com/ ) and Global Sources monthly magazines ( http://www.globalsources.com/SITE/MAGAZINES.HTM ). For more information about Global Sources' products and services that connect quality buyers with verified suppliers, visit http://www.corporate.globalsources.com/ .

The China Sourcing Report: Car Electronics is available for purchase at http://www.chinasourcingreports.com/carelectronics .

Free information about China car electronics product suppliers can be found at http://www.chinasuppliers.globalsources.com/china-suppliers/Car- Electronics.htm . (Note: If the URL above wraps to a second line, please paste both lines into the browser and delete the space in-between.)

About Global Sources

Global Sources is a leading business-to-business media company and a primary facilitator of trade with Greater China. The core business uses English-language media to facilitate trade from Greater China to the world. The other business segment utilizes Chinese-language media to enable companies to sell to, and within Greater China.

The company provides sourcing information to volume buyers and integrated marketing services to suppliers. It helps a community of over 854,000 active buyers source more profitably from complex overseas supply markets. With the goal of providing the most effective ways possible to advertise, market and sell, Global Sources enables suppliers to sell to hard-to-reach buyers in over 240 countries.

The company offers the most extensive range of media and export marketing services in the industries it serves. It delivers information on 4.5 million products and more than 247,000 suppliers annually through 14 online marketplaces, 13 monthly magazines, over 100 sourcing research reports and 12 specialized trade shows which run 30 times a year across 10 cities.

Suppliers receive more than 96 million sales leads annually from buyers through Global Sources Online ( http://www.globalsources.com/ ) alone.

Global Sources has been facilitating global trade for 39 years. Global Sources' network covers more than 60 cities worldwide. In mainland China, Global Sources has about 2,500 team members in more than 40 locations, and a community of over 1 million registered online users and magazine readers for its Chinese-language media.

Global Sources Press Contact in Asia Camellia So Tel: +852-2555-5021 Email: cso@globalsources.com

Global Sources Press Contact in U.S. James W.W. Strachan Tel: +1-480-664-8309 Email: strachan@globalsources.com

Global Sources Investor Contact in Asia Investor Relations Department Tel: +852-2555-4777 Email: investor@globalsources.com

Global Sources Investor Contact in U.S. Kirsten Chapman & Timothy Dien Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc. Tel: +1-415-433-3777 Email: tdien@lhai.com

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CONTACT: Press contact in Asia: Camellia So, +852-2555-5021, cso@globalsources.com; Press contact in U.S.: James W.W. Strachan of Global Sources, +1-480-664-8309, strachan@globalsources.com; Investor contact in Asia: IR Department of Global Sources, +852-2555-4777, investor@globalsources.com; Investor Contact in U.S.: Kirsten Chapman & Timothy Dien of Lippert-Heilshorn & Associates, Inc., +1-415-433-3777, tdien@lhai.com

Web site: http://www.chinasourcingreports.com/carelectronics http://www.globalsources.com/ http://www.chinasourcingfair.com/ http://www.privatesourcingevents.com/ http://www.globalsources.com/SITE/MAGAZINES.HTM http://www.corporate.globalsources.com/ http://www.chinasourcingreports.com/carelectronics