Since 2000, manufacturing growth has shifted toward lower-cost, mid-scale economies, but only a small group—led by India and Indonesia—has combined sustained expansion with rising industrial weight, while advanced economies continue to dominate in absolute scale.
“Next-tier” manufacturing economies operate between China’s unmatched scale and the mature industrial bases of advanced producers. Measured by manufacturing value added (MVA), countries such as India, Indonesia, Mexico, Türkiye and Thailand have expanded manufacturing output faster than most advanced peers since 2000, albeit from smaller bases.
The chart also shows sharp contrasts: Taiwan (China) and South Korea combine high industrial intensity with strong growth, while the U.S., Japan and Germany continue to dominate in absolute MVA.
Diversification beyond China is underway, but it is still concentrated in a narrow, uneven set of economies.
Also by ANDAMAN PARTNERS:
ANDAMAN PARTNERS supports international business ventures and growth. We help launch global initiatives and accelerate successful expansion across borders. If your business, operations or project requires cross-border support, contact connect@andamanpartners.com.
ANDAMAN PARTNERS Attended the Australia Governance Summit 2026 in Sydney
ANDAMAN PARTNERS Co-Founder Kobus van der Wath attended the Australia Governance Summit (AGS26) in Sydney, Australia.
ANDAMAN PARTNERS Wishes You a Happy and Prosperous Year of the Horse!
Compliments of the Chinese Lunar New Year to all our clients, customers, suppliers and partners.
ANDAMAN PARTNERS to Attend Investing in African Mining Indaba 2026 in Cape Town
ANDAMAN PARTNERS Co-Founders Kobus van der Wath and Rachel Wu will attend Investing in African Mining Indaba 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa.
The World’s Most Strategic Supply Chain Is Highly Concentrated and Interdependent
Integrated circuits exceed USD 1 trillion in global trade, with supply concentrated in Asia and demand in China, reinforcing structural dependencies.
China’s Long-Term Impact on Global Trade and the Reconfiguration of the World Economy
China’s rise from a minor exporter to the centre of global manufacturing redefined trade flows, reshaped supply chains and forced the global economy to evolve.
Global Trade Has Recovered To Scale, With Export Power Still Concentrated
Merchandise trade reaches USD 26 trillion in 2025, while the top 20 exporters account for 70% of global exports.
