How a Chinese-made toy gets to a US retailer
With Christmas on the horizon, we trace children's toys from factories in China to US shelves.
By BBC News
A Chinese-made toy’s journey to a US shop begins with a design from a client, often an American toy company, before the product is developed and manufactured in China.
China supplied 78.3% of toys imported into the United States in 2024, according to US government figures. The country remains the world’s biggest toy manufacturing centre.
At the factory, a prototype is produced before moulds are made for plastic components and other parts. Once manufacturing is complete, the toys are loaded on to lorries and taken to a port, such as Shenzhen in Guangdong.
Christmas stock for this year left China during August and September, reflecting the long lead time needed to get seasonal products into American shops before the festive period.
Shipping typically adds about 10% to a toy’s manufacturing cost. The goods must also pass through US customs, where Chinese toys currently face a basic tariff of 12.5%, although some products attract higher rates.
The final retail price covers more than the toy itself. Costs include production, transport, import charges, delivery within the US and the shares taken by the manufacturer and retailer.
In one example, a toy sold for $30 leaves $2.65 for US delivery. The remaining revenue is generally split equally between the manufacturer and retailer after other costs have been accounted for.
The route from a Chinese factory to a US shelf can therefore involve several months of planning, international freight and customs charges before a customer sees the finished product in a shop.