Employees are hard at work at YOFC. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Limited Company (YOFC) located in the East Lake High-tech Development Zone (also known as Optics Valley of China, or OVC) reported 9.54 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) in total sales revenue last year, with that from overseas orders standing at 3.1 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 46.8 percent, according to the company's 2021 annual report released on March 25.

Last year, YOFC's overseas communication network programs in Peru and the Philippines achieved normal operation despite difficulties inflicted by the ongoing pandemic. The firm also acquired shares in the Brazil-based Poliron – a main cable and multicore manufacturer in Latin America with a history of over 80 years.

In response to demand for optical fiber preforms, optical fibers and optical cables, YOFC is now striving to expand its production capacity in Indonesia, while the construction of its optical cable manufacturing base is coming along according to schedule.

A report issued by CRU – a business intelligence company based in the United Kingdom – suggests that after overall global demand for optical fibers and cables decreased in the second half of 2018, most key regions around the world saw demand for related products return last year, and it is expected to grow by a further 8 percent in 2022.