Where Should U.S. Buyers Source Paper Products in 2025?

As tariffs continue to rise and U.S. customs enforcement grows more complex, American B2B buyers in the paper and stationery industry are facing a pressing challenge: how to secure a reliable, cost-efficient, and compliant supply chain.

For those sourcing custom notebooks, calendars, planners, or journals, Southeast Asia has emerged as the most promising alternative to China. But not all countries in the region offer the same capabilities. In this article, we provide a practical breakdown of four key sourcing destinations—Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia—to help you determine the best path forward.

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Why U.S. Paper Products Buyers Are Looking Beyond China

In April 2025, the U.S. government rolled out its new Country-of-Origin Verification System, introducing stricter audits and documentation requirements. This move, combined with the ongoing Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports, has triggered a significant shift in sourcing strategies across industries.

For paper product buyers, this means:

• Increased import costs

• Risk of customs delays or rejections

• Unpredictable compliance risks

• Pressure to meet sustainability and transparency standards

The solution? Strategic diversification—particularly into countries that offer lower duties, streamlined compliance, and strong manufacturing capability.

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Evaluation Criteria: What Makes a Good Replacement?

To help U.S. buyers evaluate sourcing destinations, we’ve assessed each country based on the following criteria:

• 🔍 Tariff & Trade Policy

• 💰 Cost of Manufacturing

• 🏭 Manufacturing Readiness (for paper products)

• 🚢 Logistics & Export Infrastructure

• 📋 Compliance & Certifications (FSC, ISO, etc.)

• 🧑‍💼 Ease of Communication & Management

• 🌱 Support for Sustainable Materials

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🇻🇳 Vietnam: Mature Manufacturing, But Rising Costs

Vietnam has long been the top alternative to China, with established industrial parks, growing experience in notebook production, and strong trade ties with the U.S.

✅ Strengths:

• Strong infrastructure and skilled labor in packaging and printing

• Free Trade Agreements with the U.S. and Europe

• Better access to imported specialty paper materials

• Mature quality control processes

❌ Challenges:

• Labor costs rising rapidly (especially in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi)

• Factory capacity often full, long lead times

• Higher MOQ and price thresholds for new clients

Best for: Buyers needing mid-to-high volume production with consistent quality, and faster East Coast delivery timelines.

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🇰🇭 Cambodia: Cost-Efficient, With Conditional Tariff Benefits

Cambodia is emerging as a major destination for notebook assembly and paper product packaging. While it no longer enjoys a blanket tariff-free status under GSP, many U.S.-bound goods can still benefit from reduced duties if origin compliance is properly documented.

✅ Strengths:

• Low labor costs, ideal for manual binding and final assembly

• Increasing investment from Chinese notebook factories post-2020

• In-house finishing capabilities (coiling, stitching, packaging) improving rapidly

• U.S. importers with traceable compliance systems can benefit from favorable treatment

❌ Challenges:

• No longer automatically tariff-free—U.S. buyers must prove origin through proper documentation and audits

• Raw materials often imported from China, so non-compliance can trigger full tariffs

• Infrastructure still developing in parts of the country

Best for: Buyers with an experienced compliance partner who can navigate origin documentation, seeking low-cost, high-volume notebook assembly.

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🇹🇭 Thailand: Reliable Quality, Higher Costs

Thailand is known for its strong quality standards and organized manufacturing ecosystem—but that comes at a premium.

✅ Strengths:

• Skilled workforce and advanced machinery

• Great reputation in premium printing and packaging

• Transparent business environment

• FSC, ISO certifications widely available

❌ Challenges:

• Higher wages and cost of operation

• Not ideal for low-margin or high-volume projects

• Limited number of large-scale notebook-dedicated factories

Best for: Niche brands or premium stationery producers who prioritize quality over price, especially for branded gift sets and boxed journals.

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🇲🇾 Malaysia: High Clarity, Lower Manufacturing Fit

Malaysia offers an attractive business climate with high English fluency and legal transparency, but it’s not an ideal production hub for paper goods.

✅ Strengths:

• Excellent logistics and port access

• High level of English in business communication

• Good for warehousing and final assembly

❌ Challenges:

• Paper industry is underdeveloped

• Very limited capacity for mass notebook manufacturing

• High cost of labor and land

Best for: Final assembly, fulfillment, or as a distribution hub, not for primary production.

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📊 Summary Comparison Table

Country	Tariff Advantage	Cost Control	Manufacturing Maturity	Compliance Ease	Logistics Quality	Best Use Case
Vietnam	✅	✅	✅✅	✅	✅✅	Mid- to large-volume orders
Cambodia	⚠️ Conditional via compliance	✅✅	✅	⚠️ Requires proof	✅	Cost-effective compliant assembly
Thailand	❌	❌	✅✅	✅✅	✅✅	Premium, branded products
Malaysia	❌	❌	❌	✅✅	✅✅	Distribution or light assembly

⚠️ Note: Cambodia is not inherently tariff-free. Buyers must ensure full origin compliance (materials + processing) to qualify for any duty reductions.

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Strategic Recommendation: Dual-Country Model

For U.S. notebook and planner buyers, the most strategic approach is a dual-country sourcing model:

Suggested Option: Core-China + Assembly in Cambodia

• Use China for raw paper or inner pages

• Final assembly and binding in Cambodia, with full origin documentation for duty reduction

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Final Thoughts: Choose Smart, Scale Fast

Supply chain diversification isn’t just a reaction to tariffs—it’s a long-term strategy to boost resilience, reduce risk, and improve margins.

Cambodia remains a cost-efficient option with conditional tariff advantages, especially when paired with a trustworthy manufacturer who understands U.S. compliance protocols. By understanding the strengths and limitations of each country, buyers can avoid costly mistakes and secure supply partners who are both price-competitive and audit-proof.

If you're seeking a manufacturing partner with factories in Cambodia and China, full origin traceability, and a track record of serving top U.S. creative brands—we invite you to connect with Lion Paper.

Get in touch to learn how Lion Paper can help you build a smarter, compliant, and cost-effective paper product supply chain.