China has reclaimed top spot in real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield’s global ranking of the most attractive markets for manufacturing, confirming its status as the sector’s powerhouse. Last year’s number one ranked country, Malaysia, falls to third place behind Lithuania.

Cushman & Wakefield’s "Manufacturing Risk Index 2018" report ranks countries based on a range of risk and cost factors, including political and economic risk, market conditions and labour costs, to provide a comprehensive assessment of the attractiveness of 42 countries worldwide.

China was ranked first in the baseline index due to its efficient supply chains and infrastructure networks that continue to provide a reliable export platform, despite cost-sensitive production increasingly moving to lower cost countries in the Asia Pacific region. Malaysia fell to third position as it shifts from being a low-cost location to a high-value manufacturing hub, but the country remains extremely attractive and has largest pool of skilled workers in the region.

Lithuania is ranked as the world’s second-most attractive destination for manufacturers, a result of having the lowest European labour costs in the CEE (Central & Eastern Europe) region, standing at 14% below Poland and 30% below the Czech Republic. Another factor in its success is that it is considered the second-easiest country in which to do business within the CEE region.

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Source, author of the text: Cushman & Wakefield