The workload at many companies in Huzhou's Deqing has surged due to an influx of new overseas orders.

Among these companies is Zhejiang Better Necessities Co Ltd, which specializes in the development, production and sales of products like outdoor clothes dryers, clothing racks, mops, and kitchen tools. The company's products are mainly exported to countries such as the United States and Australia. 

According to Yu Dewei, the manager of the enterprise management department at Better, the company's order quota is full until at least February, and employees have to work overtime to ensure that orders are delivered on time.

Yu said that the company successfully expanded its presence in overseas markets despite the COVID-19 pandemic, and this led to its 2022 sales volume growing 6 percent year-on-year to 395 million yuan ($56.43 million). 

Some companies like Huazhijie Plastic Building Materials Co Ltd have also rolled out incentives to encourage non-local employees to stay put during the upcoming Spring Festival so as to ensure production capacity is unaffected.

Official statistics show that Deqing's exports and imports grew 13.9 percent year-on-year to 29.53 billion yuan in the first 11 months of 2022.