Chinese exporters turn small demands into big business

An overseas buyer experiences operating a teaching robot during the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, Oct. 15, 2026. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)

Chinese exporters are finding that answering small, specific requests can lead to big business, as global consumers increasingly seek personalized products built for particular uses.

“Facing the global trend toward scenario-based and personalized consumption, we focus on both volume and attentiveness, valuing big orders as well as small needs,” an official from the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said while analyzing China’s export performance this year.

Chinese companies expanding overseas — in AI glasses, 3D printers, camera lenses — are showing they can handle large orders while catering to niche markets.

Viltrox, a Chinese photographic equipment maker, has posted steady overseas growth this year despite a global slump in camera and lens sales, said Wang Ka’en, its marketing director. Its products are sold in more than 100 countries and regions, with overseas sales accounting for about 60 percent of the total.

Wang said the company competes on performance and value. One of its lenses, priced at about $1,000, offers specifications and image quality comparable to those of products from established overseas brands costing more than $3,000. And while most major camera makers build lenses mainly for their own bodies, Viltrox lenses fit nearly all mainstream mounts.

Chinese technology company Rokid, which brought its mass-produced AI glasses to international markets in 2025, has emerged as a global leader in the market. Its flagship Rokid Glasses weigh only 49 grams while packing in display, AI, photography and audio features. Users basically get multiple devices for the price of one, said Shao Huaqiang, a Rokid vice president.

Elegoo, a 3D printer maker based in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, has built a strong position in the global consumer-grade resin 3D printing market. Revenue reached 2.3 billion yuan (about $345 million) in 2025, with over 90 percent coming from overseas. It has sold over 2.5 million units worldwide, and its products are available in more than 150 countries and regions. The company expects sales growth of about 30 percent this year, said Chu Wei, head of its domestic brand.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics show that China’s output of 3D printing equipment rose 62.5 percent year on year in the first three quarters. Over the same period, the country’s exports of goods grew 16.4 percent year on year to 23.2 trillion yuan.

Chinese-made products, from mini ice makers for camping and ready-to-use portable air conditioners to AI glasses and 3D printers, are winning over overseas buyers with high quality and advanced technology.

Success often begins with a specific complaint. Veteran 3D printing users said switching materials took anywhere from several dozen seconds to a minute. After extensive testing, Elegoo’s printers now do it about 15 percent faster than the industry average.

Photographers asked for a lighter “pocket camera” setup, and Viltrox developed an autofocus lens about as thick as a lens cap. Dubbed the “potato chip lens,” it has sold more than 100,000 units on platforms such as AliExpress.

Companies say localization means getting the details right for each market. Rokid rebuilt its icons and page layouts from the ground up to support right-to-left reading for Middle Eastern users. Its glasses support 18 system languages and AI translation in 89 languages. “Our investment in localization is huge, but it is worth it if it improves user experience,” Shao said.

Elegoo built an ecosystem of machines, software, printing materials and a mobile app, so users don’t have to deal with multiple vendors. It also collects feedback from user communities, and its upcoming multi-head printer is designed to address complaints about the slow speed of single-head printing.

“Demand has not decreased; it has become fragmented. Put together, small needs make big business,” Chu said.

Making distinctive products is rarely easy. Shao said every added function increases power consumption and weight, both key considerations for AI glasses. To shave off 1 gram, Rokid worked with suppliers to repeatedly adjust the thickness of its lenses. “We don’t make batteries or chips, but we set high standards for the entire industrial chain, an ecosystem advantage unique to Chinese companies,” he said.

Wang said established overseas brands need three to five years to move a lens from design to testing. Viltrox, drawing on manufacturing supply chains in the Pearl River Delta, can complete design, testing and tuning in one to two years.

Chu said Elegoo spots niche demand online, tests a product quickly, and works with suppliers to organize production.

Rokid recently opened its first self-service store in Hong Kong, a step in its global expansion. Shao said AI glasses are still at an early stage, with plenty of room to grow.