Top 4 Reliable Notebook Factories in Cambodia
- Lion Paper Team
- May 27
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 6
Quick Content Reach:
Why Cambodia Still Belongs on Your 2025 Sourcing Map
I’ve spent really a long time chasing the perfect balance of lead-time, landed cost, and compliance for large-volume notebook programs, since I become a member of notebook manufacturing industry. Cambodia was once a duty-free shortcut to the U.S. market, but President Trump’s new “Liberation Day” tariffs changed the math overnight. A flat 10 % tariff now applies to every import, and Cambodia faces a suspended—but still looming—49 % reciprocal rate unless a deal is reached before July 9, 2025. CSISForbesThe White HouseKiplinger
So why look here at all? Three reasons still stand out:
Diversified China-plus-one supply chains. Major Chinese and Japanese notebook groups have already built modern plants in Phnom Penh SEZs, giving you redundancy without the container backlog that plagues Ningbo or Shenzhen. ppsez.com
Labor productivity vs. wage cost. Cambodian operators earn roughly 60 % of coastal-China wages yet run the same Heidelberg and Kolbus lines many of us install in Zhejiang. guangbo.net
Preferential EU and UK schemes. Europe’s Everything-But-Arms (EBA) still grants duty-free entry for HS 4820 goods, insulating multi-market programs from U.S. volatility. The Observatory of Economic Complexity
With that backdrop, here are the four notebook factories I trust most for 2025 orders.
1. Lion Paper Products (Cambodia Notebook Factory) — Fast Sampling, Video-Recorded QC
Why I Recommend
Lion Paper Products is one of the top choices for B2B buyers seeking both high quality and efficiency. Here’s why:
48-Hour Digital Mock-Ups and 5–7-Day Physical Samples
Lion Paper offers an extremely fast turnaround for customized samples. We can offer a digital mock-up within just 48 hours, and physical samples within 5–7 working days. This rapid response time is crucial for businesses looking to meet tight product launch deadlines or to validate designs quickly.
ISO 9001, FSC, Disney FAMA, CPSIA Certified
Lion Paper Products is committed to maintaining the highest standards in both quality and sustainability. We are certified with ISO 9001, ensuring effective quality management. Our FSC certification highlights their dedication to sustainable sourcing, while the Disney FAMA and CPSIA certifications guarantee that their products meet global safety and quality standards.
Video-Recorded QC for Full Traceability
One of the unique features of Lion Paper is their rigorous quality control (QC) process. Every QC inspector is equipped with a body-cam, which records the inspection process. This video footage ensures traceability, providing peace of mind for clients that every product undergoes thorough and transparent inspection.
Dual-Country Model for Tariff Hedging and Flexible Shipping
Lion Paper operates with a dual-country model, utilizing both their factories in China and Cambodia. This allows for flexible tariff management, as it supports “A/B” tariff hedging. In other words, Lion Paper can strategically choose between different manufacturing locations based on current tariff rates, ensuring the best cost efficiency for their clients. Furthermore, they are capable of fulfilling large orders with a reliable 3-week shipping window, making them an excellent choice for businesses that require fast and cost-effective solutions.
Lion’s Phnom Penh factory site is designed to handle high-volume production while maintaining top-notch quality standards. The factory covers a vast 9,000 m² area and is equipped with cutting-edge machinery such as automatic punching, laminating, and Wiro-O binding lines. These advanced capabilities ensure that products are not only made quickly but with precision and consistency.
Lion Paper’s production output is impressive, with an annual notebook production capacity exceeding 5 million units, a testament to our efficient and scalable operations. This capacity is ideal for businesses looking to place large orders without compromising on quality or lead time.
Our manufacturing facility is purpose-built to handle a variety of notebook styles, from customized planners to high-end journals, ensuring that no matter the product, the result is consistently exceptional. All of this is supported by a dedicated team focused on continuous improvement and innovation in production techniques.
By choosing Lion Paper Products, businesses can ensure they get both reliability and speed in their notebook manufacturing, with transparent processes and a focus on sustainability and quality assurance.
2. Guangbo (Cambodia) Industrial Co., Ltd.
Ningbo-based Guangbo moved inland to cut duty exposure in 2024, opening a fully integrated 8,000 m² notebook and paper-goods hub outside Phnom Penh.
Capacity: 600,000 books/month on three Smyth-sewn and four PUR perfect-binding lines
Certifications: ISO 9001, BSCI, Disney FAMA mirrored from the parent group
Edge: In-house mold shop builds custom dies in 48 hours, slashing tooling cost for shaped covers
3. DR.Paper Manufacturing (Cambodia) (Artcool Group) — One-Stop Party & Stationery Combo
Artcool—best known for party plates—opened its 10,000 m² DR.Paper Cambodia factory in late 2024, adding FSC-certified notebooks and journals alongside napkins.
Press hall: two Heidelberg CD102 six-color presses with inline AQ coating
Monthly notebook capacity: 400,000 units (A5 equivalent)
Compliance: ISO 9001, SEDEX, Disney, and GMP audited
Tariff play: Hybrid Vietnam + Cambodia scheduling lets buyers blend 46 % vs 49 % tariff risk if the U.S. pause lapses
4. Yamato Printing (Cambodia) Co., Ltd. — Japanese Precision for Premium Runs
Yamato has printed fine paper goods in Japan since 1918 and quietly set up a Phnom Penh SEZ plant focused on export-grade notebooks with wooden or recycled-paper covers.
Specialty: Thread-stitched, fountain-pen-safe journals for luxury brands
Training: Japanese technicians rotate every quarter to upskill local crews, maintaining ±0.2 mm registration tolerance
ESG: Uses thinned-timber covers and recycles calendar offcuts into memo-pads, meeting strict EU retailer mandates
How I Vet a Notebook Factory in 15 Minutes
HS 4820 export track record (Datamyne, OEC, or Panjiva) for steady U.S./EU shipments. The Observatory of Economic Complexity
Cert stacks—ISO 9001 plus at least one retail-grade social audit (BSCI, SEDEX, FAMA).
Real-time sampling SLA (≤7 days) to prove internal pre-press capacity.
Backup power + firefighting: Phnom Penh’s dry season brownouts hit 4–6 hours; only plants with diesel gen-sets avoid press downtime.
Video evidence: insist on a timestamped walk-through or body-cam QC footage.
Forecast: Tariffs, Lead-Times, and What Comes Next
If U.S.–Cambodia talks fail by July 9, notebook buyers could face an extra 49 % duty on top of the universal 10 %—raising landed cost by roughly $0.43 per A5 notebook at today’s FOB levels. The DiplomatMarketWatch Diversifying between Cambodia and China—or Vietnam, which sits at 46 %—is now less about tax-free status and more about maintaining capacity head-room when one corridor clogs.
Ready to De-Risk Your 2025 Program?
My team manages more than 20 notebook lines across China, Cambodia, and South Korea, and we could sample in 48 hours. Let’s blueprint a duty-smart supply chain for your next launch.
—Leo Xia, CEO, Lion Paper Products
FAQs:
Q1: Is sourcing notebooks from Cambodia still cost-effective in 2025?
A: Yes—if you ship to the EU or UK, Cambodia still enjoys zero duty under the EBA scheme. For the U.S., factor in a 10 % base tariff and watch the suspended 49 % rate that could return on July 9, 2025. A China + Cambodia split program lets you balance cost and capacity.
Q2: Will the new U.S. tariffs make my landed cost skyrocket?
A: If the 49 % surcharge takes effect, an A5 notebook could rise about US $0.43 per unit. Placing 40–60 % of orders in China or Vietnam now can soften that hit if tariffs snap back.
Q3: How fast can Lion Paper produce samples?
A: Digital mock-up can be finished within 48 hours and physical samples in 5–7 days. Cover layout tweaks and material advice are included at no charge.
Q4: How do you ensure consistent bulk quality?
A: Lion Paper is ISO 9001, FSC, Disney FAMA, and CPSIA certified. Every QC inspector wears a body-camera, so the inspection footage is archived.
Q5: Are the factories environmentally and socially compliant?
A: Yes. We hold an FSC chain-of-custody certificate, recycle 100 % of paper scrap, and have passed BSCI social-responsibility audits. Workers receive cut-resistant gloves, and regular safety training.
Are you looking for a reliable manufacturer? Reach out to Lion Paper for a free quote and consultation. Let’s collaborate on creating custom writing paper products that will set your brand apart from the competition.
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