China will produce 98 million desktop and laptop computers in 2006, 58 million of which will be for export, the Ministry of Information Industry forecasts.

Chinese computer producers have tried to manufacture products that cater to different tastes of consumers, said an official from the ministry over the weekends.

According to the official, China's top home appliance maker Haier has entered the computer market with a new laptop.

Other computer manufacturers are also promoting new models including Asus which has launched a computer that can receive television broadcasts.

In China's domestic market, computer makers are dropping their prices. Dell launched its low-cost laptop computers that cost between 5,999 yuan (746 U.S. dollars) to 6,999 yuan (871 U.S. dollars), while other big computer firms, including Acer and HP, have also cut computer prices to 5,999 yuan.

On the global market, the average export price of desktop computers dropped from 644 dollars earlier this year to 617 dollars.

Statistics showed that laptop computers are increasing their market shares. In 2005, China produced 80.84 million computers, of which 45.65 million where laptops, a net increase of 18.15 million from 2004.

Source: Xinhua