Firms raise the stakes in battle for innovation

Push continues to ascend value-added chain as industry swaps toys for tech

BEIJING - Su Tongqiang and his ceramics company in Shandong province have bid farewell to wafer-thin profit margins, making an extraordinary transformation thanks to the business dynamics of adding value.

"Some years ago my company made a meager profits of less than 2,000 yuan ($290) from shipping more than 70,000 cups overseas in one container," Su said.