为什么国际买家仍将中国供应商纳入全球采购体系？

国际买家仍将中国供应商纳入全球采购体系，不是因为中国在所有产品上都拥有最低成本，而是因为部分中国制造集群能够同时提供：

1. 完整的产业配套；
2. 从样品到量产的工程能力；
3. 规模化生产能力；
4. 多品种和定制能力；
5. 成熟的出口服务；
6. 自动化和数字化制造能力。

与此同时，运输距离、关税、区域交付、合规和地缘风险也可能使其他产区更适合某些项目。

因此，正确的问题不是“中国还是其他国家”，而是：

对于这个具体产品，中国供应商在总成本、能力和风险方面是否最匹配？

中国仍然是多大规模的贸易和制造节点？

中国国家统计局《2025年国民经济和社会发展统计公报》显示，2025年中国货物进出口总额达到45.47万亿元人民币，同比增长3.8%；其中出口达到26.99万亿元，同比增长6.1%。

中国国家统计局发布的2025年经济运行数据显示，中国规模以上制造业增加值增长6.4%，装备制造业增长9.2%，高技术制造业增长9.4%。

这些数据说明中国仍然是全球制造和贸易体系中的重要节点，但不能证明所有中国供应商都具有竞争优势，也不能证明所有产品都适合从中国采购。

原因一：产业配套减少多供应商协调成本

复杂产品通常涉及：

• 原材料；
• 模具；
• 金属和塑料加工；
• 电子零部件；
• 表面处理；
• 包装；
• 检验；
• 国际物流。

当这些供应资源集中在一个产业集群内时，制造商更容易协调：

• 样品修改；
• 临时材料替代；
• 工艺优化；
• 量产爬坡；
• 质量问题处理。

这一优势对于零部件数量多、需要模具或者需要多工艺配合的产品更加明显。

原因二：工程资源帮助样品稳定进入量产

采购项目失败，很多时候不是样品做不出来，而是样品无法稳定量产。

从样品到量产通常需要完成：

• 可制造性分析；
• 公差调整；
• 材料验证；
• 模具修改；
• 小批量试产；
• 可靠性测试；
• 包装运输测试；
• 质量控制计划。

具备工程团队的供应商可以更早发现风险，减少量产后的反复修改。

采购商需要核验的是实际工程团队和历史项目，而不是供应商网站上的“支持OEM/ODM”标签。

原因三：规模生产与定制能力可以结合

部分中国供应商能够同时提供：

• OEM；
• ODM；
• 私人标签；
• 多语言包装；
• 不同颜色和规格；
• 国家定制版本；
• 小批量测试；
• 后续规模生产。

但任何定制都有成本。

定制通常会影响：

• MOQ；
• 模具费用；
• 样品周期；
• 测试认证；
• 包装库存；
• 生产交期。

供应商应清楚解释这些变化，而不是无条件承诺“任何定制都可以”。

原因四：自动化提高了部分工厂的制造能力

国际机器人联合会（IFR）数据显示，中国占2024年全球工业机器人新增安装量的54%，工业机器人存量超过200万台。

这为制造自动化提供了较大的应用基础，但国家层面的机器人数量不能直接用于评价一家供应商。

买家仍需检查：

• 目标产品在哪条产线生产；
• 哪些关键工序被自动控制；
• 工艺参数能否追溯；
• 检测设备是否校准；
• 过去12个月质量和交付表现。

原因五：出口流程和国际协同经验较成熟

有长期出口经验的供应商通常更加熟悉：

• 商业发票和装箱单；
• 国际包装；
• 产品标签；
• 多语言说明书；
• 样品运输；
• 产品测试；
• 国际物流；
• 海外客户沟通；
• 售后和备件。

但“出口过很多国家”不等于理解每一个目标市场的法规。

供应商仍需根据产品和国家核验具体要求。

中国供应商与其他产区如何比较？

OECD《供应链韧性评估》认为，供应链多元化通常比简单全面本土化更有助于降低供应冲击。其模型还显示，全面再本地化可能令全球贸易减少18%以上、全球实际GDP减少5%以上，且不能稳定地改善韧性。

哪些情况下不应优先选择中国供应商？

以下产品可能更适合本地或近岸采购：

• 体积大、价值低，运输成本很高；
• 需要数日内频繁补货；
• 订单量太小；
• 需要长期现场共同开发；
• 当地采购或原产地要求严格；
• 关税显著改变到岸成本；
• 产品高度依赖本地安装；
• 中断损失极高且没有海外库存。

美国对华Section 301关税仍需按具体商品核验。USTR已将178项产品排除延长至2026年11月10日，但这不代表所有中国商品适用相同税率或排除规则。

六维采购地选择模型

企业可以按照六个维度比较不同产区：

1. 到岸总成本： 产品、运输、关税、库存和质量；
2. 产业能力： 工艺、材料、模具、工程和产能；
3. 交付速度： 生产、运输和区域库存；
4. 合规风险： 认证、原产地、碳和技术文件；
5. 供应链韧性： 第二来源、物流和恢复能力；
6. 服务能力： 沟通、售后、备件和本地支持。

每一项都按1—5分评估，再根据产品风险设置权重。

建议评分方法

评分完成后，不应只选择总分最高的国家或地区。企业还应检查是否存在认证无效、原产地不清、关键材料单一来源等一票否决项。

常见问题

国际买家是否正在完全离开中国？

不能统一概括。部分企业在增加其他产区，但很多企业采用的是多区域配置，而不是完全取消中国供应商。

哪类产品更适合从中国采购？

通常是产业配套要求高、需要模具和工程开发、零部件较多或者需要规模生产的产品。

中国是否仍然具有价格优势？

部分产品具有，部分产品没有。应比较到岸总成本，而不是只比较工厂工资或离岸价格。

工厂是否一定优于贸易公司？

不一定。工厂更接近生产，供应链服务商或贸易企业可能更适合多品类和小订单采购。关键是身份、责任和信息是否透明。

结论

国际买家继续将中国供应商纳入全球采购体系，主要看中的是产业链、工程、产能、速度和出口服务的组合能力。

但“中国供应商”不是统一的质量标签。

采购决策必须落实到具体产品、具体工厂、具体成本和具体风险。

主要公开来源

• 中国国家统计局：2025年国民经济和社会发展统计公报
• 中国国家统计局：2025年经济运行数据
• IFR：World Robotics 2025
• OECD：供应链韧性评估
• USTR：Section 301产品排除延长公告

International buyers continue to include Chinese suppliers in their global sourcing systems not because China has the lowest costs for all products, but because some Chinese manufacturing clusters can simultaneously provide:

1. Complete industrial support;
2. Engineering capabilities from prototype to mass production;
3. Large-scale production capabilities;
4. Diverse product range and customization capabilities;
5. Mature export services;
6. Automated and digital manufacturing capabilities.

At the same time, transportation distance, tariffs, regional delivery, compliance, and geopolitical risks may make other production regions more suitable for certain projects.

Therefore, the correct question is not "China or other countries," but rather:

For this specific product, are Chinese suppliers the best match in terms of total cost, capabilities, and risks?

What is the current scale of China's trade and manufacturing hub?

According to the Statistical Communiqué on National Economic and Social Development in 2025 released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China (https://www.stats.gov.cn/english/PressRelease/202602/t20260228_1962661.html), China's total import and export volume of goods reached RMB 45.47 trillion in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 3.8%; of which exports reached RMB 26.99 trillion, a year-on-year increase of 6.1%.

According to the 2025 economic data released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China (https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfbhjd/202601/t20260119_1962330.html), the added value of China's manufacturing enterprises above designated size increased by 6.4%, equipment manufacturing by 9.2%, and high-tech manufacturing by 9.4%.

These data indicate that China remains an important node in the global manufacturing and trade system, but they do not prove that all Chinese suppliers have a competitive advantage, nor do they prove that all products are suitable for sourcing from China. ## Reason 1: Reduced Coordination Costs Among Multiple Suppliers Due to Industrial Integration

Complex products typically involve:

• Raw materials;
• Molds;
• Metal and plastic processing;
• Electronic components;
• Surface treatment;
• Packaging;
• Inspection;
• International logistics.

When these supply resources are concentrated within an industrial cluster, manufacturers can more easily coordinate:

• Sample modifications;
• Temporary material substitutions;
• Process optimization;
• Production ramp-up;
• Quality issue handling.

This advantage is even more pronounced for products with a large number of components, requiring molds, or necessitating multiple process coordination.

Reason 2: Engineering Resources Facilitate Stable Prototype Production Transition

Many times, procurement project failures are not due to the inability to produce samples, but rather the inability to stably mass-produce them.

From sample production to mass production, the following typically need to be completed:

• Manufacturability analysis;
• Tolerance adjustment;
• Material verification;
• Mold modification;
• Small-batch pilot production;
• Reliability testing;
• Packaging and shipping testing;
• Quality control plan.

Suppliers with engineering teams can identify risks earlier, reducing repeated modifications after mass production.

Buyers need to verify the actual engineering team and past projects, not just the "OEM/ODM supported" label on the supplier's website.

Reason Three: Mass Production and Customization Capabilities Can Be Combined

Some Chinese suppliers can simultaneously provide:

• OEM;
• ODM;
• Private labeling;
• Multilingual packaging;
• Different colors and sizes;
• Country-specific versions;
• Small-batch testing;
• Subsequent mass production.

However, any customization has costs.

Customization typically impacts:

• MOQ;
• Mold costs;
• Sample lead time;
• Testing and certification;
• Packaging inventory;
• Production lead time.

Suppliers should clearly explain these changes, rather than unconditionally promising "any customization is possible."

Reason Four: Automation Increases Manufacturing Capacity in Some Factories

Data from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) shows that China will account for 54% of new industrial robot installations globally in 2024, with a stock of over 2 million industrial robots.

This provides a large foundation for manufacturing automation, but the number of robots at the national level cannot be directly used to evaluate a supplier.

Buyers still need to check:

• Which production line the target product is manufactured on;
• Which key processes are automated;
• Whether process parameters are traceable;
• Whether testing equipment is calibrated;
• Quality and delivery performance over the past 12 months.

Reason Five: Mature Export Processes and International Collaboration Experience

Suppliers with long-term export experience are usually more familiar with:

• Commercial invoices and packing lists;
• International packaging;
• Product labels;
• Multilingual instruction manuals;
• Sample transportation;
• Product testing;
• International logistics;
• Communication with overseas customers;
• After-sales service and spare parts.

However, "exporting to many countries" does not equate to understanding the regulations of every target market.

Suppliers still need to verify specific requirements based on the product and the country.

How do Chinese suppliers compare with those from other production regions?

The OECD's "Supply Chain Resilience Assessment" (https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/2025/06/oecd-supply-chain-resilience-review_9930d256.html) argues that supply chain diversification is generally more effective than simple full localization in mitigating supply shocks. Its model also shows that full relocalization could reduce global trade by more than 18% and global real GDP by more than 5%, without consistently improving resilience.

When should Chinese suppliers not be prioritized?

The following products may be better suited for local or nearshore sourcing:

• Large volume, low value, high transportation costs;
• Frequent replenishment within several days;
• Small order quantities;
• Long-term on-site collaborative development;
• Strict local sourcing or country of origin requirements;
• Tariffs significantly alter landed costs;
• High dependence on local installation;
• Extremely high disruption losses and no overseas inventory.

The US Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods still require verification on a case-by-case basis. The USTR has extended the exclusion of 178 products to November 10, 2026, but this does not mean that all Chinese goods are subject to the same tariff rates or exclusion rules.

Six-Dimensional Sourcing Location Selection Model

Companies can compare different production areas based on six dimensions:

1. Total CIF Cost: Product, transportation, tariffs, inventory, and quality;
2. Industry Capacity: Technology, materials, molds, engineering, and production capacity;
3. Delivery Speed: Production, transportation, and regional inventory;
4. Compliance Risk: Certifications, country of origin, carbon emissions, and technical documentation;
5. Supply Chain Resilience: Secondary sourcing, logistics, and recovery capabilities;
6. Service Capabilities: Communication, after-sales service, spare parts, and local support.

Each item is evaluated on a scale of 1-5, with weights assigned based on product risk.

Suggested Scoring Method

After scoring, companies should not only select the country or region with the highest total score. They should also check for veto items such as invalid certifications, unclear country of origin, or single source of key materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are international buyers completely leaving China?

It cannot be generalized. Some companies are increasing production in other regions, but many companies adopt a multi-regional configuration rather than completely eliminating Chinese suppliers.

Which types of products are more suitable for sourcing from China?

These are usually products with high industrial support requirements, requiring mold and engineering development, many components, or requiring large-scale production.

Does China Still Have a Price Advantage?

Some products do, some don't. The comparison should focus on total landed cost, not just factory wages or FOB prices.

Are Factories Always Better Than Trading Companies?

Not necessarily. Factories are closer to production, while supply chain service providers or trading companies may be better suited for multi-category and small-order procurement. The key is transparency regarding identity, responsibility, and information.

Conclusion

International buyers continue to incorporate Chinese suppliers into their global sourcing systems, primarily valuing their combined capabilities in supply chain, engineering, capacity, speed, and export services.

However, "Chinese supplier" is not a universal quality label.

Procurement decisions must be based on specific products, factories, costs, and risks.

Major Public Sources

• National Bureau of Statistics of China: Statistical Communiqué on National Economic and Social Development in 2025
• National Bureau of Statistics of China: Economic Data for 2025
• IFR: World Robotics 2025
• OECD: Supply Chain Resilience Assessment
• USTR: Section 301 Product Exclusion Extension Notice