China: Search market revenue reached nearly 200 million USD

According to data provided by Chinese consulting firm Analysys International earlier this week, the total revenue generated by domestic search engines in 2006 was 1.57 billion yuan (197.2 million US dollars), an increase of 69, 1% compared to 2005.

According to Analysys International, China online search service market is on a strong growth trend. Total revenue in the first quarter of 2006 was RMB 300 million (USD 37.3 million); the second quarter of 2006 increased to 380 million yuan; the third quarter of 2006 increased to RMB 420 million; and the fourth quarter of 2006 was 470 million yuan.

Baidu.com is the largest Internet search engine in China, accounting for 53% of total market revenue searching for the country in 2006. Next is Google with 16%; and Yahoo! China is 15%.

"Second-class" search engines like Sogou, Sina, Zhongso and NetEase share "the cake" of the remaining 12.8% market share.