By Wang Ke, Yan Ke, People’s Daily
In central China’s Hunan province, the city of Shaodong, known as China’s “lighter capital,” hums with precision and automation. Here, more than 15 billion lighters roll off the production lines each year — roughly 70 percent of the global supply.
As the international landscape grows increasingly unpredictable, this manufacturing hub is adapting with a mix of agility, innovation, and diversification.
Inside the production workshop of Hunan Dongyi Electric Co., Ltd., robotic arms move in synchronized motion across six automated lines, assembling lighter components at remarkable speed. The company ships more than a million lighters each day to buyers around the world.
“Our order books are full through October,” said Bai Jiabao, deputy general manager of Dongyi Electric. The company exports more than 99 percent of its products, and in 2023, it recorded nearly $300 million in overseas sales — a 5 percent year-on-year increase. That momentum has continued into the first quarter of this year.
Facing mounting global uncertainty, Shaodong’s lighter manufacturers are hedging risk by expanding into new markets.
“Our clients are from more than 100 countries and regions,” Bai said. “That diversity gives us a buffer and strong resilience.” He noted that emerging markets such as the Middle East and Southeast Asia have seen increasing demand in recent years.
“No country can stop the momentum of globalization,” said Lyu Shenghua, chairman of Huanxing Lighter Manufacturing Co., Ltd., another company based in Shaodong, which exports to over 80 countries and regions and maintains a network of hundreds of stable buyers. According to Lyu, Shaodong’s lighter companies have actively pursued new markets, achieving remarkable results and maintaining robust growth.
Bai recently returned from the 137th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair. “Buyer turnout exceeded previous sessions,” he said. “We’re very optimistic.”
According to statistics, in the first quarter of this year, Shaoyang exported 480 million yuan ($66.32 million) worth of lighters and related parts to Belt and Road partner countries, up 48.5 percent year on year. Exports to the least developed countries also climbed by 13.3 percent, reaching 60 million yuan.
Inside Huanxing’s product showroom, eight major series and more than 200 types of lighters line the shelves. Among them, a new model of torch lighter has emerged as a breakout success.
“This torch lighter has become one of our fastest-growing products,” Lyu explained. In 2023, after conducting extensive market research in its key export destinations, the company identified a surge in demand for outdoor torch lighters, driven by the global boom in camping and recreational activities. Huanxing swiftly ramped up R&D investment and increased manpower toward the design of a lighter tailored for these trends.
“We offered a few samples to a select group of long-term clients for testing. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and orders quickly followed,” said Lyu. The product soon gained traction at major international trade fairs, becoming one of the company’s standout products. Last year, this single innovation delivered double-digit growth in the company’s total sales.
“Innovation is our driving force. If a product is good enough, it will find its market,” Lyu said. Mid- to high-end models, he noted, now make up a growing share of the company’s exports.
Dongyi Electric has taken a similar approach. Since 2016, the company has allocated 20 million yuan annually to R&D. After four years, it achieved full automation across every stage of production — significantly cutting costs and improving product quality.
“A workshop that once needed 200 workers now requires only 40,” Bai said. “And production capacity has increased ninefold.”
Shaodong’s success in scaling up innovation owes much to its robust and highly localized supply chain. The city is home to 114 lighter-related manufacturers, including over 80 suppliers. This creates a tightly-knit industrial cluster. More than 200 types of lighter components can be sourced locally — all within a 20-kilometer radius.
As the global trade environment grows more complex, Shaodong companies are also looking inward. Many are developing integrated sales strategies to tap into China’s vast domestic market.
“Our domestic business now accounts for about 70 percent of total sales,” said Liu Hanjiang, general manager of Hunan Haopai Electric Co., Ltd., which specializes in mid-end lighters priced between two and five yuan. The company releases four to five new models each year and produced over 100 million lighters last year.
With a blend of innovation, market diversification, and domestic market expansion, Shaodong’s lighter industry is establishing new strategic positions within global supply chains. This transformation is driving the sector toward higher-quality development and laying the groundwork for a more resilient future.
Photo shows lighters produced in Shaodong, central China’s Hunan province. (Photo by Li Fangsen)
