Cixi慈溪
Zhejiang
Cixi, a county-level city in Ningbo, is home to nearly 2,000 finished-appliance makers and close to 10,000 component suppliers, and its appliance industry produces more than 100 billion yuan of output a year, according to Xinhua (2023). In 2023 its appliance exports reached 26.13 billion yuan, about a third of the city's total exports. Product ranges span irons, hair dryers, heaters, air fryers and hundreds of other small appliances, and much of the output is OEM work for overseas brands. Because almost every component can be sourced locally, lead times for new models are short.
Small home appliancesIrons and garment steamersHair dryers and personal care appliancesHeaters and fansKitchen appliances (air fryers, breakfast makers)
Key figures
- Nearly 2,000 finished-appliance makers and nearly 10,000 supporting firms
- Appliance manufacturers · 2023↗
- More than 100 billion yuan
- Appliance industry output value · 2023↗
- 26.13 billion yuan (32.6% of Cixi's exports, +13.1%)
- Appliance exports · 2023↗
- 20 million units, ranked first globally
- Annual electric iron output of one leading local maker (Zhuoli) · 2023↗
Buyer tips
- Electrical safety and EMC certification are the main cost and time factor: budget for CE (LVD/EMC), RoHS and ERP for the EU, UKCA for the UK, and UL/ETL plus FCC for the US, and check whether the factory already holds reports for the exact model.
- Most factories are used to OEM/ODM work, so private-label buyers can usually choose from existing tooling and change colour, logo and packaging; MOQs of around 1,000 units per model are common, and new tooling raises MOQs sharply.
- Quality varies widely between component-level suppliers; ask about the motor, thermostat and cable suppliers and have a third party run hi-pot and function tests before shipment.
- Check product-specific rules such as plug types, cord length, and food-contact materials for kitchen appliances, and WEEE/battery take-back duties for the EU before placing the order.
Trade fairs
- China Cixi Home Appliance Expo (中国慈溪家用电器博览会, annual)
Typical ocean transit
| From | North Europe | US West Coast | US East Coast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | 40–4732–35 via Suez | 10–16 | 28–34 |
| Ningbo | 39–4731–35 via Suez | 12–18 | 30–36 |
Port-to-port, in days. Door-to-door adds inland haulage, customs and final delivery. Most Asia–North Europe services still sail around the Cape of Good Hope; the range assumes that routing. Some services are returning to Suez from September 2026, which shortens the trip to about the “via Suez” figure.
Related guides
- China Manufacturing Hubs: Which City Makes What (Cluster Map)
- Factory vs Trading Company in China: How to Tell and Which to Use
- Custom Packaging from China: Options, Printing, MOQs and Labels
- How to Negotiate MOQ with Chinese Suppliers
- CE, UKCA, FCC and CPC: Product Certifications for Imports from China
- How to Calculate Landed Cost When Importing from China
Other clusters in Zhejiang
- Yiwu — Small commodities and general merchandise
- Yongkang — Vacuum flasks and thermos cups
- Ningbo — Stationery and office supplies
- Wenzhou — Footwear and leather
- Taizhou — Plastic moulds and injection-moulded products (Huangyan)
- Shaoxing Keqiao — Woven and knitted fabrics
- Haining — Leather and fur garments
- Zhuji Datang — Socks and hosiery
- Zhuji Shanxiahu — Freshwater pearls (loose and strands)
- Anji — Office chairs