Our network's apparel factories run in China and in Cambodia on the same specification. Buyers ask which to choose. The answer depends on the market you sell into and on what your program requires, not on the gown, which is the same in both.
Where the Two Lines Differ
| China | Cambodia | |
|---|---|---|
| Range | Every AAMI level, drapes, coveralls, scrubs, underpads, every packaging option | Isolation and surgical gowns first; drapes and coveralls on request |
| Nonwoven supply | Inside the group, same site or next door | Rolls supplied from the group's China lines |
| Origin for US customs | China. General China rates apply; no product specific surcharge on apparel | Cambodia. Outside the China specific surcharges; Cambodia country rate applies |
| QC and inspection | Same plan, same third parties | Same plan, same third parties |
When Cambodia Pays for Itself
- Your program, your GPO contract or your customer requires a non China origin for the category.
- The duty difference on the landed cost is larger than the freight and lead time cost of the second origin. On gowns today the China general rates are moderate, so this is a closer call than for gloves or masks; the quotation shows it.
- You want two origins on one spec as a resilience measure, and you order enough to keep both lines warm.
When China Remains the Answer
- You sell into Europe, the UK, the Middle East, Latin America or Australia. The China specific US surcharges do not apply to you.
- You need a product the Cambodia line does not yet run.
- Speed on a first order matters more than the duty line.
A Note on Origin Rules
For apparel, US customs origin generally follows where the garment is cut and assembled, not where the fabric was made. Rolls from China, cut and sewn in Cambodia, is a Cambodian gown for that purpose. Classification and origin are confirmed with the customs broker before a quotation relies on them, and the basis is stated on the quotation.
Where to Go from Here
Every gown and drape on our protective apparel page is listed with its level, tests and construction. The tariff page carries the current duty picture for US buyers, and the quotation request takes a spec, a SKU or a competitor's item.