Chinese sanitary ware industry

In the past decade, the Chinese sanitary ware industry has undergone a profound intelligent revolution. This transformation began with the 'Go to Japan to grab toilet seats' incident in 2015, and the industry quickly shifted from relying on technology to independent innovation. The sales of smart toilets have skyrocketed from about 1 million units in 2015 to about 11 million units in 2024. China has become the world's largest producer and consumer of smart toilets, accounting for about 60% of global production. At the technical level, we have achieved a leap from basic flushing and heating functions to cutting-edge technologies such as AI voice control, health monitoring (such as urine sugar and electrocardiogram detection), and electrolytic water sterilization. Mute, clean, and energy-saving have become the core trends. In terms of product structure, the 'light intelligent' toilet has rapidly become popular due to its streamlined functions and affordable price, with a surge in production of 144.6% in 2024. In terms of industrial structure, three major industrial clusters have been formed in Guangdong, Fujian, and Zhejiang. Leading enterprises have continuously increased their R&D investment, and the number of Jiumu patents has increased from about 1200 to over 20000 over the past few decades. The market penetration rate has increased from less than 2% to nearly 10%, but there is still huge potential compared to Japan and South Korea. Currently, the industry is moving from 'single product intelligence' to a 'full scenario intelligence' ecosystem.