Orders for sports paraphernalia are coming in strong and fast to the export hub of Yiwu in East China's Zhejiang province, known as the world's small commodities capital.

Ge Rongsha, a shopkeeper at the Yiwu International Trade Market, saw increasing orders of football-themed scarfs, hats, horns, and cheer sticks from Dubai, Brazil, Argentina and other countries and regions due to the upcoming Qatar World Cup.

Local businessman Wu Xiaoming, who has been manufacturing licensed products since the 1998 World Cup, is authorized to produce footballs printed with the flags of this year's 32 competing nations. Merchants selling flags, trumpets and bracelets representing various teams have also seen a spike in orders.

Wu added that his workshop is now busy making 100,000 footballs for buyers from Qatar, which will be delivered within the week.

Many producers in Yiwu have been working around the clock for the orders due to the recent outbreak of COVID-19 in the city.

Yiwu Customs also notified local producers to continue protecting intellectual property rights to avoid the production, purchase and sale of goods containing official property of the World Cup and FIFA.