China t-shirt manufacturing dominates the global apparel industry for good reason: unmatched production capacity, competitive pricing, and mature supply chains. This guide covers everything international buyers need to know.
Why China for T-Shirt Manufacturing?
- Largest textile exporter in the world
- Complete supply chain: fiber to finished garment
- 30-50% cost savings vs US/EU manufacturers
- Mature quality infrastructure (OEKO-TEX, BSCI)
- Efficient export logistics
Key Manufacturing Regions
- Guangdong: Largest garment production hub
- Zhejiang: Strong in knitwear and fabrics
- Jiangsu: Premium textiles and technical fabrics
- Fujian: Sportswear and activewear specialization
Understanding Costs
A basic 180 GSM cotton t-shirt costs $1.80-3.50 FOB China. Add $0.50-1.50 for printing, $0.10-0.30 for labeling, and $0.30-1.50 for shipping. Total landed cost: $2.70-6.80 per shirt.
Shipping and Customs
- DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): We handle everything including customs and duties
- FOB (Free on Board): You handle shipping from the Chinese port
- CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight): We ship to your port; you handle customs
Quality Considerations
Chinese manufacturing quality varies widely. Work with certified factories (OEKO-TEX, BSCI), order samples, and use AQL 2.5 inspection standards. Our factory maintains strict 3-point QC on every order.
Getting Started
Ready to source from China? Request a quote from our team. We handle everything from production to DDP delivery.
This article was reviewed by our manufacturing team. OEM T-shirts is a professional t-shirt manufacturer with 10+ years of experience, serving 500+ brands worldwide. Learn more about our factory or view our quality certifications.