Why leaving China for tariff-free shores is no easy task

Infrastructure challenge

DHL has accompanied MNC clients on feasibility study trips to various locations in Asia to try to ascertain the suitability of moving their supply chains. “There are several factors that need to be considered including existing infrastructure,” said Cashin.

These include “availability, frequency and capacity of road, air and ocean freight networks, ease of access to raw materials and semi-finished goods, skilled labor (especially in the high-tech sectors), social and political stability, friendly business policies, government subsidies and incentives in some cases, availability and stable supply of resources such as power supply, water, etc.”

She added, “These are some of the real and opportunity costs that have to be considered when relocating any supply chains.”

According to Cashin, where MNCs move to in Asia is often determined by their industry vertical. “Different markets possess strengths in specific sectors,” she said. “For example, consumer and FMCG sectors are strong in Indonesia, automotive in Thailand, textiles in Vietnam, etc.

“[While this bodes] well for the availability of skilled labor, they are also at different stages of development when it comes to infrastructure.” 

FTZs and tax regimes

Another consideration is the availability of free trade zones (FTZs), bonded warehouses and international transportation for the movement of products to function. These facilities have limited availability in certain markets, which acts as a deterrent to manufacturer migration, according to Cashin.

“Tax regimes in Asia are also highly complex and hyper-localized, making the import and export of goods a minefield to navigate, which makes it ever more crucial for organizations to partner with a knowledgeable logistics services provider that can help navigate the multiple challenges,” she added.

“In short, it depends on the goods produced. The business, social and political climate plays a role too as evident by the ongoing U.S.-Sino trade dispute.

“Note that several original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), especially those in the high-tech and semi-conductor sectors, are operating out of Taiwan too, which has the ready infrastructure and labor to support manufacturing operations.”

Trade war truce no panacea for MNCs

As reported in FreightWaves, despite the difficulties of moving manufacturing out of China, with no guarantees that the tariff war will end any time soon and with the benefits of diversification becoming clearer, supply chain insiders expect further migration of production out of China to other parts of Asia.

Dr. Raymon Krishnan, President of Singapore-headquartered The Logistics & Supply Chain Management Society, said the “ABC or ‘Anywhere But China’ movement” started as far back as 2011 and had been given fresh impetus by the trade war.

“Regardless as to whether a trade deal will be reached between the two countries, this need for diversification will continue into 2020,” he added.

Trans-Pacific shipping downturn

The drift of OEMs away from China is already having a major impact on the trans-Pacific trade. Rolf Habben Jansen, chief executive officer of container shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd, told FreightWaves that as a result of the U.S.-China trade war, volumes from China to the U.S. had “definitely come down” this year. However, the carrier has seen “markets like Vietnam, Indonesia and especially India to the U.S. develop very well.”

Yet volume gains elsewhere in Asia have not saved the trans-Pacific trade this year. China’s exports to the U.S. were down 23% year-over-year in November with the trade war “sucking the life” out of the trans-Pacific trade, container volumes exported out of Asia in retreat and volumes shipped from Asia to North America expected to decline for the first time in a decade.

This has weighed heavily on liner spot freight rates through most of 2019, with China-U.S. West Coast prices currently 20% lower than a year ago, according to Freightos (see SONAR below).

As  reported in FreightWaves, the Dec. 13 trade truce struck by the U.S. and China is unlikely to boost volumes. “The new agreement, with details still sketchy at the moment, will do little to boost eastbound trans-Pacific container volumes in the short run,” noted Alphaliner.

More FreightWaves and American Shipper articles by Mike