News Provided by Xinhua News:
The new year began with a shipment of 1.13 million lighters from Xichou County in China’s Yunnan province. The consignment travelled through Ningbo Port before reaching its final destination at Karachi Port in Pakistan. While it may seem like a routine transaction, this marks a significant milestone in China-Pakistan trade relations and a step forward in economic cooperation between the two nations.
For Chinese manufacturers, this deal is more than just business—it symbolizes a growing partnership between enterprises in both countries, fostering greater trade opportunities.
In Shengjie Town, the production facility at Ningchuan Electric Technology (Xichou) Co., Ltd. is a hive of activity. Automated machinery hums as workers produce two million lighters daily, primarily for distribution across China to provinces like Zhejiang and Guangdong. However, this year marks a new chapter for the company as it successfully expands into the Pakistani market—a major achievement since it began operations in 2020.
The breakthrough came at the 2024 Canton Fair in Guangzhou, where Ningchuan Electric Technology (Xichou) Co., Ltd. secured an order from Pakistan’s Amin Akbarzada Ltd. for 1.13 million lighters. With the shipment now delivered, this marks the company’s first foray into international trade.
In an email confirming the order, Amin Akbarzada Ltd. expressed appreciation for the quality and reliability of the lighters, stating:
“We appreciate the quality of your products and find them highly useful. We’re excited to see how well they perform in the Pakistani market.”
Situated on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, Xichou County has emerged as a key hub for lighter production. Li Yuxia, General Manager of Ningchuan Electric Technology, highlighted the adaptability of their products, which perform well in both high-altitude areas and lowland regions, making them highly versatile.
With a fully integrated production chain—including research, development, manufacturing, and distribution—the company achieved an annual production value exceeding 100 million yuan in 2024.
Recognizing Pakistan and South Asia as promising markets, Li Yuxia expressed optimism about future growth:
“We were pleasantly surprised by the strong interest from Pakistan. This has encouraged us to explore further opportunities with more Pakistani importers and trade partners through exhibitions and trade fairs this year.”
China-Pakistan trade continues to grow rapidly, strengthening economic ties while enabling Chinese businesses to expand into South Asia, West Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Encouraged by its initial success in international markets, Ningchuan Electric Technology (Xichou) Co., Ltd. is now preparing to ship 1.88 million lighters to Iraq, having already completed production and customs clearance in February.
The company is also expanding into Southeast Asia, signing a transport agreement with a Vietnamese trading company to facilitate exports via Yunnan’s land border, ensuring smoother access to regional markets.
What started as a simple lighter from a small county in Yunnan has now crossed oceans and borders, opening new avenues for trade and collaboration between China and Pakistan.
