China lead-time concerns surge as shippers widen global sourcing networks

As sourcing shifts from a single China base to Vietnam, India and others, shipment sizes shrink while origin points multiply. That raises consolidation complexity and origin-management burden, since FTA preferential rates and certificate-of-origin requirements differ by country of departure. When evaluating new suppliers, weigh not only unit cost but also air and ocean schedule frequency from that origin, Sea & Air transshipment options, and which preferential duty rates actually apply. This is the right moment to re-verify HS codes and origin criteria item by item before volumes ramp.