The UK imported approximately £8.6 billion in goods from Vietnam in the year to Q3 2025, a 43% increase year-on-year. Thanks to the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) and the UK's membership in the CPTPP, UK businesses importing from Vietnam now benefit from reduced or zero tariffs on the majority of product categories. Here is everything you need to know about importing Vietnamese goods into the UK.

Most goods manufactured in Vietnam can enter Canada duty-free under the CPTPP. Canada eliminated 94% of its tariff lines for Vietnamese imports when the agreement took effect for Vietnam in January 2019, and the remaining lines are being phased out on scheduled timelines. This makes Vietnam one of the most cost-effective manufacturing origins for Canadian importers.

The bottom line: if your product qualifies under the CPTPP rules of origin and you have the right documentation, you likely pay zero customs duty. You will still owe GST (5%) and potentially provincial HST on the value of the goods plus shipping.

Low-cost country sourcing (LCCS) is a procurement strategy where businesses source products, materials, or components from countries with lower labor and production costs. The goal is straightforward: reduce manufacturing expenses while maintaining acceptable quality.

But after more than a decade of helping companies navigate this process, I can tell you that "low cost" is only part of the equation. The country you choose, the relationships you build, and the total cost picture (not just the unit price) determine whether LCCS actually works for your business or becomes an expensive lesson.

This guide covers what LCCS actually looks like in practice, which countries deliver the best results, where nearshoring fits into the picture, and some hard-earned lessons from sourcing across Asia, Latin America, and beyond.

For years, "China+1" has been a boardroom buzzword. But for procurement teams tasked with actually executing a supply chain diversification plan, the phrase raises more questions than it answers. Where do you start? How long will it take? What will it cost? These are the practical questions that strategy consultants rarely address.

The pressure to diversify has never been greater. Tariff volatility, geopolitical tensions, and supply chain disruptions in recent years have exposed the risks of dependence on concentrated manufacturing. Companies that once viewed China+1 as a theoretical hedge now treat it as an operational necessity. Yet many still struggle to translate boardroom directives into factory-floor reality.

This guide cuts through the theory and delivers what operations leaders actually need: a practical, step-by-step playbook for moving manufacturing from China while protecting your existing supply chain. Whether you're exploring dual-sourcing or planning a complete transition, the framework below will help you move from strategy to execution.

Three countries now dominate the conversation when companies evaluate their manufacturing options: China, Vietnam, and Mexico. Each offers distinct advantages and presents unique challenges. Understanding these differences is essential for making informed sourcing decisions that align with your business objectives, product requirements, and risk tolerance.

This comprehensive guide examines all three manufacturing destinations across cost structures, manufacturing capabilities, trade policies, and supply chain dynamics to help you navigate today's complex sourcing environment.

March 2026 brings several major trade shows to Vietnam. VIFA EXPO 2026, the Vietnam International Furniture and Home Accessories Fair, runs March 8-11 at WTC EXPO and SKY EXPO Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City. This is one of Southeast Asia's leading furniture trade shows, drawing exhibitors and buyers from across the region. Running concurrently, GENTEXH Vietnam 2026 takes place March 11-13 at SECC, focusing on nonwoven and hygiene technology with applications across medical, filtration, packaging, and agriculture sectors. The month closes with ProPak Vietnam 2026 from March 31 to April 2, also at SECC, which serves as the premier processing and packaging exhibition for Vietnam's food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries.

Vietnam has emerged as a critical player in global manufacturing, particularly as companies implement China+1 strategies to diversify their supply chains. Understanding Vietnam's industrial geography isn't just academic; it directly impacts your bottom line through minimum order quantities (MOQs), lead times, freight costs, and compliance requirements. A nuanced understanding of where specific industries thrive within Vietnam can significantly optimize sourcing decisions and mitigate potential risks.

The country's manufacturing landscape is distinctly regional, with each area offering unique advantages. The North excels in electronics and high-tech components, leveraging its proximity to China for raw materials and components, as well as a skilled technical workforce. This region is ideal for businesses seeking to produce complex electronic assemblies or precision components.

Vietnam is the world's second-largest footwear exporter, and its formal footwear segment is growing fast. Factories across Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, and Dong Nai now produce oxfords, loafers, monk straps, and heeled dress shoes for brands selling into the US, EU, Japan, and Australia. If you are sourcing dress shoes, Vietnam offers a strong combination of leatherworking capabilities, competitive pricing, and access to trade agreements that is difficult to match elsewhere in Asia.

This guide covers how to find dress shoe factories in Vietnam, what to look for when evaluating suppliers, where production is concentrated, and how current trade conditions affect your landed costs.

Vietnam is one of the strongest countries in Southeast Asia for sourcing bed sheets, duvet covers, pillowcases, quilts, and mattress protectors. The combination of an experienced textile workforce, competitive pricing, and favorable trade agreements under the CPTPP and EVFTA makes it a practical alternative to China for buyers who need quality bedding at scale. At Cosmo Sourcing, we have sourced home textiles from Vietnamese factories since 2014, and bedding is one of the product categories where Vietnam consistently delivers.

The growth of Vietnam's textile and technical gear sector has been remarkable. What started as basic garment production has evolved into complex manufacturing capabilities that include waterproof tent construction, technical fabric handling, and precision assembly of multi-component outdoor gear. Today, major international brands like The North Face, Patagonia, and Columbia have established significant manufacturing relationships with Vietnamese factories, validating the country's capabilities in producing gear that adventure enthusiasts depend on in challenging environments.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about sourcing outdoor gear from Vietnam, from understanding why the country has become such an attractive manufacturing destination to practical steps for finding and vetting the right factory partners for your brand.

Vietnam leads for most activewear brands looking for the best balance of technical capability, cost, and reliability, but the right country depends on your product complexity, order volume, and speed requirements. A compression legging with graduated support zones needs a completely different manufacturing partner than a cotton-blend jogger.

We have sourced activewear for hundreds of brands at Cosmo Sourcing since 2012, from first-time founders ordering 500 pieces to established labels running five-figure production runs. Our team in Vietnam has been on the ground since 2014, and we opened our Mexico office in 2023 specifically because so many clients needed faster replenishment options for the North American market. This guide reflects what we have seen work (and fail) across thousands of activewear projects. For a deeper look at the countries that lead global apparel manufacturing beyond activewear, we cover that separately.

The best countries for metal fabrication outside China depend on what you need built and where you need it delivered. For U.S.-bound automotive and industrial metal parts, Mexico leads in speed and USMCA benefits. For cost-competitive sheet metal, stamping, and welding at scale, Vietnam and India offer the strongest value. For high-precision CNC and EU-compliant components, Poland and the Czech Republic are hard to beat.

Vietnam is home to a growing number of appliance factories producing everything from washing machines and refrigerators to rice cookers, electric fans, and vacuum cleaners. The 15 manufacturers listed below have verified export activity based on U.S. Customs shipping records, ranging from global brands with production lines in Vietnam to OEM and contract suppliers serving international buyers.

Vietnam is one of the largest exporters of stainless steel sinks, brass faucets, and ceramic sanitary ware in Southeast Asia, with factories shipping thousands of containers annually to the US, EU, and Australia. If you are looking for fixture manufacturers in Vietnam, this guide covers what products are available, which factories are actually exporting at scale, and how to navigate the sourcing process from first contact through shipment.

Vietnam exports billions of dollars in building materials to the US every year, but not all categories are created equal. Plywood, ceramic tiles, engineered wood flooring, and wooden doors ship in massive volumes from well-established Vietnamese factories. Other categories that look promising on paper (steel, aluminum windows, roofing) barely register in US customs data. If you are sourcing building materials from Vietnam, knowing which categories have real export infrastructure and which do not will save you months of wasted outreach.

How Cosmo Sourcing Helps You Use Them Safely

If you're importing from China, chances are you started on Alibaba. It's massive, relatively user-friendly in English, and feels like the obvious place to find factories and traders.

But Alibaba is only one corner of China's wholesale ecosystem.

Beyond it lie domestic-market platforms with sharper pricing, trade-fair-backed marketplaces with stronger verification, and niche sites that specialize in specific product categories. When used strategically, these platforms can help you cut costs, discover better suppliers, or move faster than your competitors.

In this guide, we'll walk through 30 China wholesale websites that go beyond Alibaba—and show you where Cosmo Sourcing fits in as your partner to navigate them safely and strategically.

Vietnam has emerged as a significant player in the global apparel manufacturing landscape, particularly in the production of technical sportswear and running apparel. This Southeast Asian nation has transformed itself from a predominantly agricultural economy into a manufacturing powerhouse, attracting brands seeking alternatives to traditional sourcing destinations. With its combination of competitive costs, skilled workforce, and government support for textile exports, Vietnam presents compelling opportunities for businesses looking to source high-quality running apparel.

Vietnam's activewear factories already produce performance clothing for Nike, Adidas, Lululemon, and dozens of other global brands. The same manufacturers that make moisture-wicking compression tights and technical running shirts can also produce pickleball-specific apparel lines. If you are looking for a factory to manufacture pickleball clothing, Vietnam should be on your shortlist.

Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing sources of engineered quartz countertops in the world, driven largely by U.S. anti-dumping duties on Chinese quartz products that have pushed buyers to find alternative suppliers. We have sourced building materials from Vietnam since 2014, and the quartz segment specifically has expanded rapidly over the past several years, with new factories opening in the northern provinces and established operations scaling up production lines to meet export demand.

The global construction and outdoor furniture markets are experiencing unprecedented growth, driven by increasing consumer demand for durable, low-maintenance building materials and outdoor living solutions. Within this expanding landscape, Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) products are leading the charge as sustainable, versatile alternatives to traditional wood and synthetic materials. From residential decking and commercial cladding to innovative furniture applications, WPC has captured the attention of architects, contractors, and homeowners who value both environmental responsibility and long-term performance.

As businesses worldwide seek cost-effective manufacturing solutions without compromising quality, Vietnam has emerged as a compelling destination for WPC production. The country's combination of skilled labor, modern manufacturing capabilities, competitive pricing, and strategic location within global supply chains makes it an increasingly attractive option for sourcing high-quality WPC products. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about finding and partnering with reliable WPC manufacturers in Vietnam, from understanding the local manufacturing landscape to evaluating potential suppliers and establishing successful long-term partnerships.