Report Shows Mainland China Produces 50 Percent of World's Motorcycles - Exports Topped US$1.4 Billion in First 10 Months of 2005

HONG KONG, Jan. 24, 2006 -- Global Sources' China Sourcing Report: Motorcycles 2006 shows mainland China dominated global motorcycle production in the first 10 months of 2005 producing 50 percent of the world's output. Exports during the period totaled US$1.4 billion -- a 47 percent increase from 2004 exports.

The report covers street, scooter-style and off-road bikes with in-depth profiles of 57 China manufacturers. It includes production and pricing forecasts as well as reports on major mainland supply centers.

Editor-in-chief of Global Sources Auto Parts & Accessories, Michael Kleist, said: "Competition has kept prices in check as the average unit value rose only 0.5 percent during the period. In the next 12 months, we foresee price increases being limited to 10 percent while suppliers work to improve efficiency and raise profit margins.

"Fierce competition is leading to further consolidation in the industry. Of China's 200 current motorcycle makers, trends indicate that five or six of them will emerge to dominate the industry in the next three to five years."

  The report also shows:
   - About 70 percent of manufacturers are locally owned, 28 percent are
     foreign-invested and the rest are state-owned enterprises.

   - Production is focused in Chongqing and the provinces of Guangdong,
     Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

   - Many manufacturers aim to increase exports to the United States and the
     EU by developing models with displacements that exceed 250cc and
     emission levels that meet EU II requirements.

This report also includes an overview of the motorcycle industry in Taiwan, where suppliers are moving out of the traditional 150 to 250cc niche to focus on models with displacements as high as 750cc.

Global Sources' China Sourcing Reports provide proprietary market information from extensive factory visits and in-person interviews with key mainland China and Taiwan manufacturers. They help buyers make better-informed purchasing decisions.

China Sourcing Reports are part of Global Sources' sourcing and product information services, which include Global Sources trade magazines, Global Sources Online, Global Sources Direct and the China Sourcing Fairs. For more information, visit www.corporate.globalsources.com

China Sourcing Report: Motorcycles 2006 is available for US$445 at http://www.globalsources.com/astj/motorcycles

About Global Sources

Global Sources is a leading business-to-business (B2B) media company and a primary facilitator of two-way trade with Greater China. It provides sourcing information to volume buyers and integrated marketing services to suppliers.

The company helps its community of more than 463,000 active buyers to source more profitably from complex, overseas supply markets. With the goal of providing as many effective ways as possible to advertise, market and sell, Global Sources enables suppliers to sell to hard-to-reach buyers in 230 countries.

The company offers the most extensive range of media and export marketing services in the industries it serves. Suppliers using its four primary channels -- online marketplaces, magazines, trade shows and direct online sales -- are supported by its advertising creative, education programs and online content management applications.

Global Sources delivers information on 1.4 million products and more than 130,000 suppliers annually through 10 leading online marketplaces and monthly magazines, more than 90 sourcing research reports, and 14 China Sourcing Fairs and other trade shows. Buyers send 5 million inquiries annually to suppliers through Global Sources Online (www.globalsources.com) alone. Global Sources Direct is the company's new initiative that helps suppliers sell online.

In mainland China, Global Sources has a 24-year track record and more than 1,300 team members in 44 locations. Its services are backed by 35 years experience as a trade magazine publisher, 14 years as an organizer of trade shows, and 10 years as an online marketplace operator.