The current hot temperature has been a boon to diesel generator makers as it has boosted their sales in Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces since more companies decide to generate power on their own to maintain operation, industry officials said.

　　Local temperatures have soared above 35 Celsius degrees for 17 days since the "plum rain" season ended early this month. To handle the power shortage, the city government has ordered some companies to switch to night shift, or even stop operation completely. It seems many firms are buying diesel generators to keep their business as normal as possible.

　　Shanghai Diesel Engine Co Ltd, one of China's biggest diesel engine manufacturers, said it produced 252 diesel generators last month compared with 50 in the same month last year.

　　"We are still producing for orders placed with us in March," said an employee surnamed Li in its diesel generator department. "If buyers want to have advanced diesel generators, they have to book at least three months in advance."

　　The company sold 60 diesel generators in Shanghai in July and predicted its sales in the city to expand 20 percent this month.

　　Nationwide, the company sold more than 200 generators worth 220 million yuan (US$26.51 million) in July, more than six times that of last July.

　　It said the average prices of diesel generators also increased 10 to 15 percent year-on-year last month, with high-power generators costing 40 percent higher than a year earlier.

　　Meanwhile, Shanghai-based Bogong Engine Co Ltd said it sold 50 percent more diesel generators in the city in July compared with last July. Its sales in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces jumped by more than 60 percent to 70 percent from a year ago. Its average price of diesel generators also rose 10 percent to 20 percent year-on-year.

　　"There are at least 10,000 diesel generator makers on the Chinese mainland, but currently the supply still fails to meet demand. Many have to rely on imports," said a sales manager surnamed Liu from Bogong. "Even second-hand diesel generators are hot sellers now."

　　To supply the demand in Shanghai alone, Bogong has imported 1,000 diesel generators from abroad this year, he said.

　　In the first five months of this year, companies imported 1,806 generators through Shanghai port, 1.2 times the number a year ago, Shanghai Customs said in an earlier report. They were valued at US$68.92 million, 2.2 times that of the year-ago level.

　　With companies and factories needing diesel generators, China's two major oil providers, PetroChina and Sinopec, said their sales of diesel oil also increased in July although company officials refused to reveal the growth rate.

　　The National Development and Reform Commission has so far not raised the local retail price of diesel oil which remains at 3.23 yuan per liter.