Rising product inspections in China – up 34 per cent in the first quarter of 2010 compared with the same period a year earlier – indicate the growing health of global trade, according to quality control company AsiaInspection. The private inspection company says the quarterly statistics are a good barometer of worldtrade and indicate some interesting trends.

First quarter 2010 inspection figures indicate economies around the world are recovering from the recent global recession and buying from China with renewed confidence, AsiaInspection said. Total inspections in Q1 2010 are up 34 per cent from Q1 2009 and audits are up 61 per cent, “indicating that the demand for quality products among worldwide importers continues to soar.”

In terms of specific product inspections, the largest increase in Q1 2010 was in Garments and Textiles, up 71.4 per cent from Q1 2009; followed by Toys/ Recreational Items, up 43.8 per cent; and Printing and Packaging, up 41.3 per cent. “With such increases in these categories traditionally dominated by China, there is little doubt that the country’s GDP will meet its projected growth target of 10.2 per cent in 2010,” the company said.