The sales of unmanned aircraft made by China’s top civilian drone maker DJI have tripled as demand for consumer drones rose in Latin America, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
According to Wang Fan, DJI spokesperson, the surge in DJI sales in the region may be attributed to the demand of the fun-seeking people, some firms and public service companies.
Wang noted that DJI sales in Latin America tripled from a year earlier in June and July, reaching tens of millions of yuan.
The report said that the company's biggest customers were Mexico, Chile, Brazil and Paraguay, which shows the increasing population of the Chinese drone maker overseas.
In Brazil, the Labor Ministry said last week that it will use six DJI-made Inspire 1 drones to properties suspected to be engaged in forced labor in Rio de Janeiro.
Wang said that Inspire 1's powerful cameras can shoot 360-degree videos and transmit them real-time to smartphones or tablet computers.
"We've just started in Brazil, but there's no doubt it's one of the most important markets in South America due to its huge consumer base," Wang added.
In Peru, DJI drones have been used by cultural officials and archaeologists to undertake 3D surveying and mapping of over 12,000 Inca ruin sites.
Wang expressed optimism about the company's future expansion in the region.
DJI, a company founded in 2006 and based in Shenzhen, is considered a global leader in making drones for aerial photography and videography, with a global market share of about 70 percent. Nearly 80 percent of the company's revenue comes from abroad, mostly from Japan, Europe and North America.
The Phantom series are the firm's bestsellers in Latin America, priced between 6,000 and 8,000 yuan ($970-$1,300). Orders for Inspire 1 are also increasing, which are sold at nearly 20,000 yuan ($3,200) in China.
Wang said that DJI drone customers also include people and companies engaged in advertising, construction, farming, film, firefighting, and many other industries.
The company sells its products to over 100 countries and has offices in Hong Kong, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United States, employing more than 3,000 workers worldwide.
From January to May this year, China has exported 160,000 civilian drones worth 750 million yuan ($120.8 million), 69 and 55 times the sales of the same period in 2014. All the drones were made in the southern city of Shenzhen.