CHINESE tent makers are going all out to produce urgently needed temporary shelter for the millions left homeless by the May 12 earthquake.

"We are now racing against time," said Yang Baoqing, board chairman of Zhejiang Taipusen Leisure Goods Co Ltd in Zhejiang Province.

President Hu Jintao visited the company on Thursday, urging workers to produce as many tents as possible to meet needs of quake survivors.

About five million people became homeless in the 8.0-magnitude quake that struck Sichuan Province and affected several other provinces. At least 62,664 people have been confirmed dead in Sichuan.

"Each time 1,000 tents are produced, we will ship them to the quake-hit area," said Yang.

About 3,000 staff are working in three shifts at the company, which has agreed to produce 50,000 tents. The company has also donated 2,000 tents to the quake homeless.

Jiangsu Acme Camping Products Co Ltd in Jiangsu Province will produce 120,000 tents. The company has 3,500 workers and its 52 production lines are at full operation.

To produce more quality tents for the quake survivors, the capacity of the production lines has more than quadrupled, said Li Honglai, Acme's board chairman. The 120,000 tents would be completed and shipped by June 20, Li said.

Mobile plank house manufacturers have also agreed to provide products for the quake zone.

"All 12 movable plank house businesses in Guangdong Province have been mobilized," said Guangdong Vice Governor Li Ronggen. "The province will produce 90,000 sets of movable houses for the quake-hit area."

"We now do not accept other orders any more in an effort to go all out to produce the movable houses," said Cai Xiaoping, chief of the production section of a steel structure engineering company based in Guangzhou.

The company was planning to recruit more workers to help complete the work.