Is China Still the Growth Engine of Global Manufacturing?

China has long been viewed as a predictable engine of global manufacturing growth. In this episode, ARC’s Florian Güldner and David Humphrey discuss why those assumptions are increasingly under pressure - and what that means for manufacturers and automation suppliers worldwide.

They explore the shift from macroeconomics to shop-floor reality: slowing demographics, saturated consumer markets and persistent overcapacity across key industries are reshaping China’s industrial landscape and its role in global value chains.

The discussion then turns to automation, where China has moved well beyond copycat products. Local suppliers are rapidly building competitive PLC, DCS, MES and software portfolios, changing the balance between global and domestic vendors.

Key themes touched on include:
• The end of China as an “easy” high-growth market
• Overcapacity and price pressure in industries like automotive, steel and cement
• The rise of innovative Chinese automation suppliers and business models
• A growing split between export-oriented factories and China’s domestic market
A concise, reality-based look at how China’s manufacturing and automation markets are evolving - and why understanding this shift is now critical for global industry.

Want to get in touch?
We welcome your topic suggestions, ideas, feedback and criticism. Feel free to leave us a comment on Spotify or write to us at: info@arcweb-europe.com. You can also reach us on LinkedIn (@arcweb-europe) or YouTube (@ARCadvisory). Furthermore, you can subscribe to ARCwire Industry Newsletter at: https://www.arcweb.com/about/newsletters

Further readings
We’ve linked relevant ARC reports and resources in the show notes or visit: www.arcweb.com
• https://www.arcweb-europe.com/
• https://de.surveymonkey.com/r/QBCK2LD
• https://www.arcweb.com/blog/siemens-n...
• https://www.arcweb.com/blog/siemens-n...
• https://www.arcweb.com/events/arc-ind...
• https://www.arcweb.com/events/arc-ind...
• https://www.arcweb.com/blog/how-green...
• https://www.arcweb.com/blog/us-nist-l...

Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, leave a review and share it with your network! Furthermore, you can subscribe to ARCwire Industry Newsletter at: https://www.arcweb.com/about/newsletters

Hosts: David Humphrey, Florian Güldner
Guests: David Humphrey, Florian Güldner, Rita Liu
Produced by: ikone productions

More episodes at:
• Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/37B9kNL...)
• Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/tt/podcast...)
• Youtube    • Industry Talks by ARC Advisory Group  )