China's color TV production sector grew steadily with exports expanding rapidly and production cost increasing in the first quarter of this year, a source with China Video Industry Association said on Wednesday.

Between January and March, 19.57 million color TV sets were produced nationwide, a growth of 0.1 percent on the same period of last year.

Of the total, 45 percent, or 8.8 million sets, were exported, up 18.3 percent.

The source said industrial restructuring was under way in the TV sector, with the share of traditional CRT (cathode ray tube) TV sets in the total output declining to 56.2 percent and that of flat panel TV sets increasing to 43.8 percent.

According to Sun Xinguo, head of the research and consulting department of the video industry association, the color TV sector's production cost has increased, due largely to expedited appreciation of Renminbi, enforcement of the new labor law, end of tax holidays for foreign-funded enterprises and readjustment of tax rebates for export.

(Xinhua News Agency April 23, 2008)