How Agilian Technology Navigated Tariffs and Market Turmoil in China
Trump, tariffs and turmoil: How one factory in China learned to live with it
The Economic Times
Image: The Economic Times
Agilian Technology, an electronics manufacturer in Dongguan, China, faced significant challenges due to U.S. tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, which froze U.S. orders and pushed clients to seek production outside China. Despite these hurdles, the company adapted and managed to recover, emphasizing China's unique manufacturing advantages as they explored production options in other countries.
- 01Agilian Technology's U.S. orders, crucial for its revenue, were frozen due to tariffs.
- 02Despite challenges, China's manufacturing sector showed resilience, with a trade surplus reaching $1.2 trillion in 2025.
- 03Agilian is exploring production in Malaysia and India as part of a strategy to mitigate future tariff impacts.
- 04The company's production hours increased by 29% in the latter half of 2025 as tariffs eased.
- 05Agilian aims for 30% revenue growth over the next three years despite ongoing uncertainties.
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Agilian Technology, an electronics manufacturer based in Dongguan, China, faced severe disruptions due to tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which froze U.S. orders that accounted for over half of its revenue. The company's CEO, Fabien Gaussorgues, noted that while clients pushed for production outside China, the company's foothold in the region remained vital. Despite a 20% drop in exports to the U.S. in 2025, China's manufacturing sector demonstrated resilience, with a trade surplus of $1.2 trillion, indicating that tariffs did not derail its momentum. Agilian's management responded to the challenges by exploring production facilities in Malaysia and India, although they faced difficulties in establishing operations there. By mid-2025, the easing of tariffs led to a 29% increase in production hours, allowing Agilian to recover and plan for a 30% revenue growth over the next three years. However, uncertainties remain regarding future U.S.-China trade relations, especially with Trump's upcoming visit to China.
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Agilian's ability to adapt to tariff changes affects its workforce and local suppliers in Dongguan, as increased production hours could lead to job stability and growth in the region.
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