Asian ETFs such as the South Korean ETF (EWY), Singapore ETF (EWS), Indonesian ETF (IF), Malaysian ETF (EWM), Taiwan ETF (EWT), India ETF (IIF) and the Philippines are all benefiting from a surprising trend in global manufacturing.
In eight months Intel has committed as much money to Vietnam as it had to China during the previous ten years. In Malaysia, Flextronics has ramped up the production lines of a new M$400m ($110m) factory to make computer printers for another American firm, Hewlett-Packard and in Indonesia, Yue Yuen, a Hong Kong-based shoemaker, has been rapidly increasing its footwear for brands like Nike and Adidas.
All of these developments are highlighted in a current Economist article that describes how South East Asian countries, rather than being hurt by Chinese growth, are being helped by it. Taken together, South Korea, Taiwan, India and the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) increased their share of global manufacturing from less than 7% to more than 9% in the decade to 2003. Exports also rose across the board.
Interestingly, only the United States and Canada saw their shares of global output rise—with just over a quarter between them. Most things nowadays might seem to be made in China, but North America remains the true workshop of the world. American manufacturing output leads the world and is twice its nearest competitor,
Japan.
As the Economist article points out, costs are only part of the equation. Just as important is diversification. Having already moved a big chunk of their production to China, many firms are reluctant to put any more of their eggs in the same basket.
Chartwell ETF Advisor’s Asian Opportunity ETF portfolio holds many of the ETFs discussed in this post.
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