Choosing Made in Vietnam or Made by China in Vietnam
Summary: Made-in-China.com showcased at Vietnam's largest printing, packaging, and labeling exhibition!
As Vietnam's largest exhibition in the printing, packaging, and labeling industry, Vietnam Print Pack 2024 was held from September 18 to 21 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), occupying two halls (Hall A and Hall B). The event attracted over 350 exhibitors, mainly from Vietnam and China (primarily from Zhejiang and Guangdong), with a small number from Malaysia, India, Indonesia, and other countries.
The exhibition showcased products and technologies across various fields, including packaging machinery and accessories, packaging materials, packaging containers, printing/pre-press/post-press equipment, printing materials, and label printing. Many well-known companies made appearances. Made-in-China.com has participated in this exhibition for several consecutive years, engaging directly with Vietnamese packaging and printing industry buyers and obtaining first-hand information.
Keywords in Vietnam's Packaging and Printing Industry in Recent Years: Environmental Protection, Green
As global environmental awareness continues to rise, the goals of "carbon neutrality" and "carbon peak" proposed in 2020 quickly became global focal points. By 2023, many countries had introduced plastic reduction policies, pushing the green economy to new heights.
At this year’s Vietnam packaging exhibition, buyers searching for products and partners on Made-in-China.com frequently mentioned keywords such as “environmental protection” and “green.” Some exhibitors also noted that the green economy is influencing global trade. In the packaging and printing industry, it is becoming increasingly difficult to export products that do not use environmentally friendly materials. Some countries' environmental requirements are so stringent that they cover every stage, from raw materials and production to sales, use, and recycling.
According to Vietnam’s business registration data, from October 2023 to August 2024, Chinese companies registered 1,795 businesses in Vietnam, covering 36 provinces and cities, with the most being in Bac Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City, and Binh Duong.
Overall, Chinese companies establishing factories in Vietnam is beneficial for the country. It promotes employment and provides Vietnamese buyers with more options, allowing them to compare and find high-cost-performance products. This also enhances competition, which helps foster industrial development.
When comparing local Vietnamese suppliers to Chinese suppliers operating in Vietnam, the Vietnamese buyers we spoke with on our booth emphasized price, quality, and reputation. When price and quality are comparable, reputation—described by buyers as the "supplier’s reputation (reliability level)"—plays a crucial role. This is not equivalent to brand recognition; rather, it is based on trust built through cooperation Suppliers with good certification qualifications and strong collaboration examples are particularly valued.
Winning Over Vietnamese Buyers: Cost-effective Transportation Solutions are Equally Crucial
Beyond price, quality, and reputation, "logistics" was a topic repeatedly mentioned by Vietnamese buyers during the four-day exhibition. They also expressed that if the order volume is small, they generally prefer to purchase from local sources due to concerns about high international shipping costs.
According to 2023 data from the Vietnam Logistics Business Association, logistics costs account for about 16.8% of Vietnam's GDP, far exceeding the global average of 10.7%.
Breaking into the Vietnamese market requires cost-effective transportation solutions, with local manufacturing being one approach. At the exhibition, a Chinese exhibitor mentioned that instead of relocating production lines to Vietnam, they chose to build a maintenance plant in Vietnam. This way, they manufacture in China and provide after-sales services in Vietnam, which is more cost-effective for them.
Data from market research firm Mordor Intelligence shows that Vietnam's paper packaging market is expected to reach $2.6 billion by 2024 and $4.14 billion by 2029. Vietnam remains an important target for Chinese companies expanding into Southeast Asian markets. As they go abroad, companies need to pay attention to "logistics challenges" and offer appropriate solutions.
According to the Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam's e-commerce market grew at an annual rate of about 20% between 2019 and 2023. This growth rate is strong compared to other Southeast Asian countries, with more and more Vietnamese buyers becoming accustomed to sourcing goods through online platforms.
