Lego to build Chinese factory to serve rapidly growing Asian market

COPENHAGEN (AFP) - Danish toy maker Lego said Monday would build a Chinese factory that employs 2,000 people to serve the rapidly growing Asian market.

Construction of the 120,000 sq m plant in Jiaxing, around 100 km from Shanghai, is expected to begin early next year, the group said in a statement.

Monterrey, Mexico became Lego's first non-European factory after opening in 2009. Until now, products sold in Asia have been shipped from Europe.

The world number three toy maker considered Asia "a relatively small market" in its 2012 annual report, but said Monday it had seen annual growth of over 50 per cent in recent years.