With multiple cities throughout the continent becoming significant production centers for a variety of industries, Asia has become the global industrial powerhouse. Knowing the main production centers in Asia will help importers seeking to source goods from that region identify trustworthy vendors and expedite their sourcing process. Ten of the key manufacturing cities importers should know about are covered in this article, as we share over 30 years of experience in specialized manufacturing and product sourcing across Asia.
1. Guangzhou, China (Garments and Textiles)
Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province in southern China, is well known for its booming textile and apparel sector. The city is the location of many fabric markets, garment wholesale marketplaces, and apparel and fast fashion manufacturing firms. Buyers looking for textiles, apparel, and accessories will be spoiled with choice in Guangzhou, with everything from high-end luxury labels to reasonably priced goods.
2. Shenzhen, China (Electronics)
Nestled in the Chinese Pearl River Delta, Shenzhen has become the global center of electronics production. Huaqiangbei, a part of the city, is a hive for electronic goods, parts, and accessories that draws global businesses and techies. Importers look to Shenzhen first whether they need to source consumer electronics, computer hardware, or telecommunications equipment.
Accessed from: Statista.com website
3. Bangkok, Thailand (Automotive Parts)
Bangkok is a major hub for Thailand’s thriving automotive parts industry. The city is home to numerous manufacturers producing a wide range of automotive components, from engines and transmissions to electrical parts and body components. Automobiles and vehicle parts rank among the country’s top exports items, with the sector earning in 2022 a total of USD 37.6 billion of which auto parts and accessories accounted for USD 15.6 billion, according to the Ministry of Commerce statistics. Major export markets for Thai-made auto parts include the USA, Japan, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Thailand is showing significant growth and making it a crucial player in the global automotive supply chain.
4. Dhaka, Bangladesh (Garments and Textiles)
Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, has grown to be a major force in the international textile and apparel sector. Many garment and textile mills in the city manufacture clothing for well-known global companies. Basic t-shirts to elaborate embroidered designs are among the many apparel items that importers may purchase in Dhaka at affordable costs. Across the fiscal year 2021-2022, Bangladesh exported garments worth US $42.613 billion, making it the second-largest apparel exporter in the world (Export Promotion Bureau data).
5. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Footwear and Furniture)
Previously called Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s main furniture and footwear production center. Products made by the several factories in the city include everything from hardwood furniture and upholstery to athletic shoes and sandals. Ho Chi Minh City offers importers excellent, reasonably priced choices that serve both home and foreign markets. According to Statista, in 2024, the revenue in Vietnam’s Footwear market is projected to reach US$2.35bn, with an estimated annual growth rate of 5.58% (CAGR 2024-2028).
6. Penang, Malaysia (Electronics and Semiconductors)
A leading area of the semiconductor and electronics industries is Penang, an island state in Malaysia. Numerous international enterprises as well as regional ones that produce integrated circuits, consumer electronics, and electronic components call the city home. The industrial zones of Penang provide importers looking for cutting-edge components and goods with plenty of possibilities. According to Semi.org, Penang is the “Silicon Valley of the East” and Penang contributed an estimated 5% of global semiconductor exports in 2019.
7. Bangalore, India (Software and IT)
Though not historically associated with manufacturing, Bangalore, sometimes referred to as India’s Silicon Valley, has become a significant center for the software and information technology sectors. Many IT service providers, software developers, and tech enterprises call the city home, which draws importers looking for software, hardware, and related services.
8. Surabaya, Indonesia (Furniture and Handicrafts)
Indonesia’s East Java capital, Surabaya, is a center for the handicraft and furniture industries. Renowned for its expert craftspeople and manufacturers, the city produces exquisite handicrafts, rattan goods, and fine hardwood furniture. Surabaya’s markets and manufacturers offer importers a wide range of furniture, home décor, and handcrafted crafts. Indonesia is one of the top-ten most dominant manufacturers of wooden furniture in the world.
9. Taipei, Taiwan (Electronics and Computer Hardware)
The electronics and computer hardware businesses are centered mostly around Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. Technology firms flourish in the city, including well-known names like Acer, Asus, and HTC. Taiwanese manufacturers provide a vast variety of consumer electronics, computer components, and peripherals that importers may find in Taipei’s industrial parks and markets. Leading with a 68% market share in the industry, Taiwan is home to a majority of the world’s most advanced semiconductor chips.
10. Mexico City, Mexico (Automotive Parts and Electronics)
Though not in Asia, this is a key location for manufacturing for the global market. Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, is a vital center for the manufacturing of automotive parts and electronics. The city hosts numerous factories and assembly plants that supply the North American market with high-quality automotive components and electronic goods. This Mexican sector’s exports amounted to approximately 136.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, a growth of some 18.3 percent compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, automotive imports in Mexico surpassed 48 billion dollars that year, a year-on-year increase of 23.4 percent, making it a key player in the automotive supply chain globally. The electronics sector also plays a crucial role, with the country being a significant exporter of electronic equipment and devices.
Accessed from: Statista.com, Imports and exports of the automotive industry in Mexico from 2009 to 2022
Manufacturing Opportunities in Asia
These 10 Asian manufacturing centers are but a small portion of the enormous output potential of the continent. Because every city has specialties and strengths of its own, importers have a variety of choices for where to find goods and components. Source One has successfully embraced and swiftly adapted to market and economic changes, capitalizing on emerging opportunities, and cultivating robust relationships with reliable suppliers. This, in turn, grants our business partners access to a continually growing and diverse industry network founded on trust, transparency, and mutual success.
Our staff of knowledgeable experts at Source One can help you negotiate the many manufacturing centers and find trustworthy suppliers that satisfy your particular needs when you source from Asia. We have the experience and industry relationships to simplify your Asian supply chain whether you’re seeking for furniture, electronics, clothing, or any other product category. Our continual expansion reflects our proactive approach to staying ahead of industry trends and ensuring that we can offer an even wider array of possibilities for Manufactuing sourcing.
Get in touch with our consultants to find out how our sourcing process will help you optimize your import operations and source from these significant Asian manufacturing hubs and beyond.
