It might just be toy trains at the moment, but the real thing is about to come. As China’s economy booms, its range of exports will extend from trains and cars to beverages and pharmaceuticals.

China has developed state-of-the-art expertise in railway and rolling stock production. Grand Central, a train company which has won the franchise to operate services between London and Sunderland, plans to lease Polaris trains manufactured in China.

The new rolling stock will run on the east coast main line service which is due to start operating later this year.

China is also expanding its car manufacturing industry. The state-owned Nanjing Automobile bought the assets of MG Rover, the UK marque, in 2005; last March the first Chinese-built MG sports cars came off the production line.

Fiat and Chery, the Chinese car maker, have signed an agreement that will lead to Alfa Romeos and Fiats being produced in China from 2009.

The country is also developing its exports in pharmaceuticals and vitamin pills. About 80% of the world’s supply of vitamin C pills is said to come from China.

Alcoholic beverages are another emerging market. China is now the third biggest hop-producing country in the world and is expected to overtake America as the world’s biggest producer of beer by the end of the decade.

It is likely that as the number of exports grow, so will the complaints. The Consumer Federation of America says that federal agencies have been overwhelmed by problems with the new Chinese products.

Additional reporting: Laila Sennah

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