Yangjiang阳江
Guangdong
Yangjiang's knife and scissors industry had grown to more than RMB 55 billion in scale by 2024, and the city produces about 75% of China's knives and scissors and 85% of its exports of them. More than 2,000 manufacturers make over 5,000 product types, from cheap stamped kitchen knives to forged Damascus-style chef's knives and folding pocket knives. The city also hosts the China (Yangjiang) International Hardware Knife and Scissors Expo each October.
Kitchen knives and knife setsScissors and shearsPocket and outdoor knivesKitchen tools and hardware
Key figures
Buyer tips
- Ask exactly which steel is used and get a mill certificate or lab report: '5Cr15MoV', '3Cr13', 'German steel' and 'Damascus' labels are often loose, and many 'Damascus' blades are only laser-etched patterns on a mono-steel core.
- Check hardness (HRC) and edge retention on production samples, plus handle attachment and rivet finish; low-cost lines often skip proper heat treatment.
- Food-contact rules apply: blades and handles need LFGB/EU 1935/2004 or FDA testing, and knife blocks or wooden handles may need separate checks. Also confirm blade-length and locking-mechanism rules in your market before ordering folding or outdoor knives, since some are restricted or banned.
- Many factories are small family workshops that outsource grinding or handles; MOQs for OEM/private-label sets are commonly around 500-1,000 sets, and custom gift boxes or logo etching add lead time.
Trade fairs
- China (Yangjiang) International Hardware Knife and Scissors Expo (中国（阳江）国际五金刀剪博览会), held annually in October; the 24th edition ran 21-23 October 2025
Typical ocean transit
| From | North Europe | US West Coast | US East Coast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shenzhen (Yantian/Shekou) | 35–4227–30 via Suez | 14–18 | 32–38 |
| Guangzhou (Nansha) | 35–45 | 16–20 | 35–41 |
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
- AQL Explained: How Pre-Shipment Inspection Sampling Works
- Defective Goods from China: What to Do When Your Order Arrives Wrong
Other clusters in Guangdong
- Shenzhen — Consumer electronics
- Dongguan — Electronics manufacturing
- Foshan — Furniture (Lecong, Longjiang)
- Guzhen (Zhongshan) — Decorative lighting and chandeliers
- Guangzhou — Garments and fabrics
- Chaozhou — Sanitary ware (toilets, basins, smart toilets)
- Shantou Chenghai — Plastic toys
- Jieyang — Stainless steel kitchenware and tableware