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In my recent posts, we have discussed the industrial clusters on the east coast of China and the Top Cities for Sourcing in China. Today we will continue to explore the large China industrial production center.
By reading the post, you would start to understand the major manufacturing hubs and wholesale markets in the south of China.
It will significantly support your online business if you know well about the China resource as well as the global source.
Guangdong Province and Fujian Province are the most important manufacturing hubs in the south.
Let’s go and explore.
Top Wholesale Markets in Southern China
The investigation of the China map would have been useful when one is looking for a China factory and, in the long run, reduce the cost of production in China.
Wholesale markets in southern China have recorded such has become the focal point for buyers from different parts of the globe. Some of the top markets include:
- Guangzhou Wholesale Markets: Known for textiles, electronics, and fashion.
- Shenzhen Electronics Market: Ideal for tech gadgets and components.
- Yiwu International Trade City: Offers a wide range of products from accessories to home goods.
These markets offer all types of products with reasonable prices and that is why most wholesale buyers prefer to shop here.
In 2023 Guangdong’s GDP topped 13 trillion yuan for the first time, while it equals to one-tenth of China’s GDP value. From the status, one can get some idea about the enormous manufacturing capacity of the Guangdong Province. Guangdong plays a critical role in China’s exports which includes almost all the important sectors.
Why Choose Southern China for Wholesale Sourcing
Southern China offers several advantages for wholesale sourcing:
- Proximity to Manufacturers
- Wide Product Variety
- Established Trade Infrastructure
Choosing Southern China for your wholesale needs ensures access to high-quality products and efficient supply chain management.
Key Product Categories Available in Southern China
Southern China is renowned for a variety of product categories, including:
- Electronics: Smartphones, accessories, and consumer electronics.
- Apparel and Textiles: Fashion clothing, fabrics, and accessories.
- Home Goods: Furniture, decor, and kitchenware.
- Toys and Gifts: A wide range of children’s toys and gift items.
The eight main industrial cluster areas in Guangdong Province
- Shantou City
- Zhongshan City
- Foshan City
- Dongguan City
- Shenzhen City
- Guangzhou City(Canton)
- Yunfu City
- Jieyang City
1. Import Toys and Knitted Underwear From Shantou City
Approximately 80% of the toys produced worldwide are made in China which means toys are one of the major products of China export.
Geographic location: East of Guangdong Province
Airport: Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport, (IATA: SWA, ICAO: ZGOW)
High-Speed Railway Station: Chaoshan Station and Shantou Station
Industrial Cluster/Features: Toys and Knit underwear
Chenghai District in Shantou is the most extensive toy production center in China which has 4,490 enterprises engaged in the toys industry with more than 120,000 employees.
Leading Toy categories in Chenghai are as follows:
Action Figures, Arts and crafts, Battling toys, Building and Construction Toys, Dolls, Educational Toys, Games and Puzzles, Infant Toys, Miscellaneous, Models, Musical Instruments and Toys, Outdoor Seasonal Toys, Plush Toys, Preschool Toys, Rides Ons Toys, Sports Toys, Vehicles-Powered/Non-Powered, Youth Electronics.
Mostly you will meet a Chinese toy trading company in Shantou instead of the manufacturers. They can support you in doing the product sourcing with local toy factory resources.
You can check another article about finding the best toy manufacturers in China
Tip: The main production bases of knitted underwear are Gurao Town and Chaoyang District, Shantou City
The most famous town of knit underwear is the Gurao Town in Shantou City. More than 3,000 enterprises are manufacturing the underclothes and sold worldwide. Gurao underwear is exported to North America, Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and more than 40 countries and regions. If you want to import bras, lingerie, swimsuits, embroidery, knitted fabric, warp knitting, and household clothes from China, then I would suggest you check with Shantou suppliers.
2. Find Lighting Companies and LED Manufacturers in Zhongshan City
Geographic location: Southcentral Guangdong Province
Airport: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
High-Speed Railway Station: Zhongshan Bei Railway Station
Industrial Cluster/Features: The Lighting Industry
China’s light industry is booming in Zhongshan City. There are approximately 8,000 LED manufacturing enterprises in Zhongshan, which represent 30% of the total lighting companies in Guangdong.
The Gu town, Xiaolan, and the Henglan area have formed more than 100 billion (RMB) lighting industry clusters.
These three regions in Zhongshan contribute a total number of 70% of Zhongshan’s exports of LED lighting. The exporting lightings are mainly ceiling lights, Chandeliers, Wall Lights, panel lights, projection lights, downlights, bulbs, tubes, projection lights, light belts, and so on.
I do believe you would need to check with the Zhongshan Lighting manufacturers before placing the orders.
Also Read: Importing LED Lights from China
3. Foshan City is a major furniture and ceramics production area in China
Geographic location: Central Guangdong Province
Airport: Foshan Shadi Airport
High-Speed Railway Station: Foshan Station and Foshan Xi Station
Industrial Cluster/Features: Furniture and Ceramics
a) Furniture Industry in Foshan City,
If Chinese Kung Fu is famous around the world, then you probably know the movie “Ip Man“. What you may not know is that he grew up in a wealthy family in Foshan City, which is known as the capital of furniture and ceramics today.
Foshan (Shunde District) is the furniture industrial cluster of Guangdong furniture.
Two crucial furniture wholesale markets in Shunde District: are Longjiang Town and Lecong Town. Lecong is “China’s furniture trade capital.”
You can check my article about How to Import Kitchen Cabinets from China.
b) Ceramic Industry in Foshan City,
Foshan is the largest ceramic production and distribution center in China.
At present, there are more than 350 ceramic enterprises in Foshan. The product categories cover all types of tiles, such as rustic tile, wooden tile, wood flooring tile, marble, granite, polished porcelain tile, and mosaic.
There are two large porcelain tiles wholesale markets in Foshan:
The first one is Nanzhuang Huaxia Ceramics Expo City, which is the largest ceramic tile wholesale market in China.
Address: Huaxia Ceramics Expo City, Nanzhuang Town, Chancheng District, Foshan
The second one is the China Ceramic Industry Headquarters Base.
Address: No. 68, Ji Huaxi Road, Foshan City, Guangdong Province
It is known as the “Global Sourcing Center, Ceramic Economic Headquarters.”
So if you are doing the China import business for furniture and ceramics, then you can visit Foshan and find clues.
4. Sourcing clothing, electronics, packaging materials, and tin cans from Dongguan City
Geographic location: Southcentral Guangdong Province
Airport: Shenzhen Baoan International Airport, ( IATA: SZX, ICAO: ZGSZ)
High-Speed Railway Station: Humen Railway Station
Industrial Cluster/Features: Clothing, Electronics, Tin Can, Packing
For more than a decade, Dongguan accounted for more than 15% of Guangdong’s exports. Dongguan’s garment trade has been an important industry.
Tip: What are the main wholesale markets in Dongguan?
a) Human Yellow River Garment City
Address: Humen Avenue, Humen, Dongguan
b) Human Fumin Garment Wholesale Market (China cluster of apparel)
Address: 24 Yinlong Road, Humen, Dongguan, Guangdong Province
You can also find electronic products, packaging materials like tin cans, and plastic or silicone products manufactured in Dongguan City.
5. Find electronic product suppliers in Shenzhen
Geographic location: The southern coast of Guangdong Province
Airport: Shenzhen Baoan International Airport, (IATA: SZX, ICAO: ZGSZ)
High-Speed Railway Station: Shenzhen Bei Station
Industrial Cluster/Features: Electronic products
I have one of my customers asked me “Which city in China represents the future of China and with high potential?” My answer is Shenzhen.
Remember this city is young and only 30 years of history but with extraordinary achievements especially becoming the electronics products manufacturing hub.
There are so many hot-selling electronic products on Amazon, and you may already know that most of them come from Shenzhen. The electronics industrial hub is in Shenzhen.
Tip: What are the wholesale markets in Shenzhen?
Shenzhen HuaQiangBei Electronics Wholesale Market,
Address: Huaqiangbei Road, Futian District, Shenzhen
The market area is based on several electronic wholesale markets together and formed Huaqiangbei electronic wholesale markets.
Three largest wholesale markets in Huaqiangbei market:
1. Saige (SEG) PLAZA
2. Huaqiang electronic world
3. Huaqiang Plaza
You will never miss the Shenzhen electric market if you are engaged in the same industry.
Detail Explanation: Import Electronics from China
6. Guangzhou (Canton) is China’s clothing, textile, trolley case, bags production center
There are many Guangzhou wholesale markets because Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong Province and the manufacturing hub of apparel and textiles.
Geographic location: South Central Guangdong Province
Airport: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, (ICAO: ZGGG, IATA: CAN)
High-Speed Railway Station: Guangzhou Nan Station, Guangzhou Station
Industrial Cluster/Features: Clothing industry, Textile, Trolley Case, bags
Guangzhou is the capital city of Guangdong Province, and it’s the place that holds the world’s largest trade show “Canton Fair.”
Tip: What wholesale markets are there in Guangzhou?
a) White Horse (BAIMA) Clothing Wholesale Market (Guangzhou clothing market)
Address: No. 16 South Zhannan Road, Yuexiu District. (Next to Guangzhou Railway Station)
It is the largest apparel wholesale market in Guangzhou, and you can find almost all the styles of apparel here in the market.
Women’s wear, men’s wear, suits, evening wear, casual wear, Tang suit, shirts, jackets, coats, underwear… A wide variety.
b) Guangzhou Zhongda fabric wholesale market
Address: 38 Ruikang Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou
The Zhongda fabric market is the most extensive fabric and textile material wholesale market in the south of China.
If you want to import fabric or textiles from China, then you can visit the Keqiao fabric market in Shaoxing or the Guangzhou Zhongda fabric wholesale market.
c) Guihuagang Bags and Cases Leatherware Wholesale Market
It is the largest Chinese domestic luggage market.
Address: Guangzhou Urban Central North, North Jiefang Road East section
For further information, read this article: Importing Clothing and Textiles from China
7. Find stone crafts and kitchenware suppliers in Yunfu City
Geographic location: central and western parts of Guangdong Province.
High-Speed Railway Station: East Yunfu Station, Nanjiangkou station
Industrial Cluster/Features: Stones Crafts and Kitchenwares
The industrial clusters of the craft stones are concentrated in Yunfu on both sides of the China National Highway 324.
Yunfu is known throughout the country as “the Kingdom of Stone.” Local stone production and processing have a history of more than 400 years. There are more than 3,100 registered stone enterprises, with a total output value of 31 billion yuan last year.
Stone products have a variety of plates, columns, Ball, round, arc, line, fireplace, flowers, armrests, lighting, stone carving, Bonsai, tables, coffee tables, and sandstone, 23 categories of more than 1000 varieties. Yunfu’s exports and imports totaled 10.79 billion yuan last year. The major export countries are the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, Korea, Europe and Southeast Asia, and other countries and regions.
You can find a lot of options in the Yunfu area if you have a stone business to do.
8. Wholesale hardware and stainless steel kitchenware products from Jieyang City
Geographic location: Southeast Guangdong Province
Airport: Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport, (IATA: SWA, ICAO: ZGOW)
Railway station: the North Station of Jieyang
Industrial cluster/Features: metal hardware, stainless steel kitchenware, hairdryers, and hair rollers.
Also, apparel, plastic shoes, and toys are the major products exported worldwide.
Introduction: ASEAN, the European Union, and the US are Jieyang’s main export markets.
China’s metal hardware products industry has a complete range of products and provides various hardware accessories all over the world.
Jieyang is the place where you can find lots of useful options at a reasonable price for stainless steel kitchenware or other metal accessories. It is also the largest wholesale market of metal hardware products in China.
Above all are the eight manufacturing hubs in Guangdong Province and we hope you will get ideas about how to find the right products at their original place.
Which Cities in Fujian Province are Suitable for Wholesale Products?
In the last section, we have listed the major manufacturing cities in Guangdong, and now let’s focus on Fujian province and the related source for our import and export business.
9. Import clothing, shoes, outdoor furniture, and umbrellas from Quanzhou City
Geographic location: East Coast of Fujian Province
Airport: Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport, (IATA: JJN, ICAO: ZSQZ)
High-Speed Railway Station: Quanzhou Railway Station and Jinjiang Station.
Industrial cluster/Features: textiles, clothing, furniture, luggage, footwear, plastic products, toys, and umbrellas.
There are two essential manufacturing hubs in Quanzhou: Jinjiang City and Shishi City.
As exploring many areas in Quanzhou, I found lots of apparel, shoes, and textile manufacturers and companies in Shishi City.
Jinjiang city is the leading wholesale market for its toys, rain gear/umbrellas, shoes, and apparel in China. If you want to source the umbrellas, then never miss Jinjiang City.
Also Read: How to Find the Best Umbrella Manufacturers in China?
10. You can wholesale cheap shoes from Putian City
Geographic location: Central Coastal area of Fujian Province.
Airport: Fuzhou Changle International Airport. (2 hrs from Changle airport to Putian area by car/shuttle bus)
High-Speed Railway Station: Putian Railway Station
Industrial cluster/Features:
Putian is one of the leading production areas and important export bases of Chinese footwear products. The footwear industry is traditional in the region. There are more than 4,000 industrial and commercial registered footwear enterprises.
Putian shoe industry inherited from Taiwan and became the shoe manufacturer in China. You can find a lot of shoes selling at very competitive prices produced in the Putian area, although the region is also tagged as a fake brand shoe manufacturing center.
Putian is the place where you can find various shoe manufacturers when doing the import business.
Finding Reliable Suppliers in Southern China
To find reliable suppliers in Southern China, consider the following steps:
- Visit Trade Shows: Events like the Canton Fair provide an opportunity to meet suppliers and inspect products firsthand.
- Use Online Directories: Platforms such as Alibaba and Global Sources list verified suppliers.
- Consult Sourcing Agents: China Sourcing Agents like Owlsourcing can help navigate the market and identify reputable suppliers.
Negotiating Prices and Terms with Southern China Suppliers
Negotiation is another powerful business tool that can be used to get better contracts. Consider these strategies:
- Understand Market Prices
- Build Long-Term Relationships
- Be Prepared to Walk Away
Negotiating effectively ensures you get the best possible deals for your wholesale purchases.
Quality Control Tips for Wholesale Products in Southern China
Ensuring product quality is essential when sourcing from Southern China. Here are some tips:
- Conduct Factory Audits
- Request Samples
- Third-Party Inspections
Shipping and Logistics for Products Purchased from Southern China
Efficient shipping and logistics are crucial for timely delivery. Here’s what to consider:
- Choose the Right Shipping Method: Air freight for faster delivery, sea freight for cost-effective shipping.
- Work with Reputable Freight Forwarders: They can handle customs and ensure smooth transit.
- Plan for Lead Times: Account for production and shipping times to avoid delays.
Read more similar posts,
Final Thoughts
Making China trade is not as easy as just placing an order with an Alibaba vendor. Understanding the industrial clusters in the south of China would support you when doing China direct imports and exports.
China manufacturing is still active with its full categories providing capability. We hope this post is useful to you when you optimize your China supply chain.
Please share with us if you would have any comments!
