Shifting Production from China to India: The Challenges No One Tells You About

Over the past few years, I’ve had to rethink how and where I manufacture products for my business. Between tariffs, shipping disruptions, and the general instability of relying too heavily on China, it became clear that I needed to diversify. That meant exploring India as a production base. But if you’re thinking it’s a simple switch, I can tell you from experience: it’s not.

For better or worse, China has built itself into a factory for the world. If you want to design and launch a new product, the infrastructure is there. The factories are accustomed to handling everything from prototyping to scaling up mass production. Many even have in-house design engineers who can help you adjust dimensions, tolerances, and packaging to get things right quickly.

I’ve written before about why chasing the algorithm will kill your business, and this is a similar dynamic. With China, the path of least resistance is often the most tempting. But convenience comes with risk — geopolitical, financial, and strategic.

India has a lot going for it — a skilled workforce, government incentives, and English-speaking partners and bureaucracy that make communication easier. But moving production there isn’t as simple as swapping out one country for another.

Prototyping takes longer. Factories in India often don’t have the same level of in-house design expertise, which means you, as the brand owner, need to be far more involved in the early stages. Communication can also be slower, and supply chains aren’t as developed or interconnected as China’s. If you’re used to rapid turnaround times, this can feel like hitting a wall.

There’s also a cultural layer that affects everything. In China, the business culture is built around speed, scale, and problem-solving in real time. In India, there’s a concept called jugaad — creative, makeshift problem solving. Sometimes that works to your advantage. Other times, it means prototypes arrive that are “close enough,” but not really what you asked for. That can drag timelines out further and require multiple rounds of iteration.

For me, shifting some production to India has been both frustrating and rewarding. It’s slower, yes, and I’ve had to roll up my sleeves more than I ever did with Chinese suppliers. But the payoff is diversification — I’m not putting all my eggs in one basket. And in this environment, that peace of mind matters.

If you’re considering making the jump, just know: it’s not plug-and-play. Be ready for longer lead times, heavier involvement in the design and prototyping process, and a lot of patience.

Every decision like this comes back to balance. Just like Amazon and Etsy can be traps for new sellers, chasing the easiest solution isn’t always the right one. India may not be the fast lane, but if you’re willing to put in the work, it can become a cornerstone of a more resilient business.

And if you’re interested in how these choices affect pricing and what you offer your customers, don’t miss my post on the hidden cost of free shipping.