China: Summertime demand for ice heats up factories across China.

Storyline Summertime demand for ice heats up factories across China Demand for ice is heating up in China, where ice production facilities are working hard to fill orders this summer. At an ice factory in east China's Jiangsu Province, freight vehicles are loaded with ice for industrial uses. The person in charge said the production line turns out 3,000 blocks daily, with demand growing rapidly this year. Mi Ruru, Sales manager, Nantong Jincheng Ice Co., Ltd.: "Sales have increased by about 30 percent compared to last year. Businesses typically purchase 300 to 500 blocks per order. As market demand changes, we are also planning to expand by building a new factory." It's not just industrial ice demand that's rising. Edible ice products- like plastic cups filled with ice sold at grocery stores and supermarkets- are also in high demand this summer. This automated ice factory in east China's Zhejiang Province has increased its daily production from 150 tons last year to 170 tons this year. Wang Xin, Head, Bingjixian (Zhejiang) Food Co., Ltd.: "In the past, there was a clear peak and off-season for edible ice, but now it's being sold year-round. We've been running at full capacity 24 hours a day, and this is expected to continue until this October." Recent data shows that there are currently about 42,000 ice production-related enterprises in China. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]