BEIJING, June 7 -- The value-added output of China's large light industrial firms is expected to grow 10 percent year on year in 2014, according to the China National Light Industry Council.

Last year, the value-added output of these companies whose annual turnover surpasses 20 million yuan (3.24 million U.S. dollars) rose 10.16 percent from a year earlier, said the council.

The council said the expansion of light industry is slowing, due to lower demand, higher labor costs, environmental protection, and rising trade protectionism.

Bu Zhengfa, the council's chairman, said the light manufacturing sector's overall competitiveness can improve through accelerating industrial upgrades and phasing out superfluous capacity.