When brands consider shifting production between Vietnam and China, speed to market is often a key factor. In apparel manufacturing — including children’s clothing — faster turnaround can mean catching seasonal sales windows and reducing inventory risks.
As someone who works with buyers sourcing from both countries, I’ve seen that speed depends on more than just location. Production timelines are shaped by supply chain infrastructure, factory scale, labor skill levels, and logistics efficiency.
Production Lead Times
Lead time is the total time from order confirmation to delivery. Both Vietnam and China can produce quickly, but under different conditions.
How do lead times compare?
- China: Often 30–60 days for standard apparel orders due to large-scale capacity and integrated supply chains.
- Vietnam: Typically 45–75 days, but can be shorter for smaller MOQs (Minimum Order Quantities) because many factories specialize in mid-size runs.
Why might Vietnam take longer?
China’s vertically integrated supply chain means fabrics, trims, and accessories are often sourced locally. Vietnam sometimes imports materials, adding time.
Material Sourcing Speed
China’s textile industry is massive, allowing most factories to source fabrics, trims, and labels locally within days.
Why does local sourcing matter?
It eliminates long waiting times for imported components. In Vietnam, many mills focus on specific fabric categories, so specialty fabrics may need to come from China or Korea.
Which country has more material variety?
China offers a wider range of fabrics — from organic cotton to technical synthetics — available on short notice.
Labor Skills and Output
Both countries have skilled workforces, but the scale and specialization differ.
How does skill level affect speed?
Vietnamese factories are known for careful workmanship and consistent quality, which can slightly slow production compared to China’s high-output lines optimized for speed.
Which country handles urgent orders better?
China’s larger labor pool allows more flexible scaling for urgent orders, especially during peak seasons.
Logistics and Shipping Times
Both countries have strong export infrastructure, but China’s ports handle higher volumes and have more frequent global routes.
Are shipping times different?
- China to U.S. West Coast: ~14–20 days by sea.
- Vietnam to U.S. West Coast: ~16–22 days by sea.
Air freight times are similar, but China often has more flight availability, making urgent shipments easier.
Conclusion
Vietnam factories can be faster than China for small-to-medium orders and specialized production, but China usually leads in speed for large-scale manufacturing due to its integrated supply chain, large labor pool, and extensive export infrastructure.
If your brand is deciding between Vietnam and China for children’s clothing production, contact our Business Director Elaine at elaine@fumaoclothing.com. At Shanghai Fumao, we help buyers compare sourcing timelines, cost structures, and quality outcomes to find the best fit for their business.
