{"id":4127,"date":"2026-10-05T15:35:55","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T13:35:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/?post_type=pt_guide&#038;p=4127"},"modified":"2026-10-05T17:03:53","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T15:03:53","slug":"manufacturing-figures-china-vs-europe","status":"publish","type":"pt_guide","link":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/studio\/guides\/manufacturing-figures-china-vs-europe","title":{"rendered":"Manufacturing figures in China or Europe: an honest comparison"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is a question every brand that wants to produce figures asks: should you manufacture in China, where most of the industry is, or in Europe, closer to home? At Popterror, we made our choice: our figures are <strong>designed in France<\/strong> and <strong>produced in our partner factory in China<\/strong>, in the Shenzhen area. Here is an honest comparison to help you make yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"why-are-most-figures-produced-in-china\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why are most figures produced in China?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because that is where the <strong>industrial know-how<\/strong> is concentrated. For decades, the Shenzhen and Guangdong area has brought together workshops specialised in every step: steel mould making, vinyl rotocasting, PVC injection, spray painting and pad printing, assembly, printed packaging. Everything is close by, which speeds up the back-and-forth and lowers costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is also where most of the workshops used to the standards of collectible art toys are found: careful finishes, precise colours, small limited runs. It is not a question of \u201ccut-price\u201d quality: quality depends on the partner, the specifications and the inspections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group g-fig vertical cid-bi2cfy22 figure-as-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large pic\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"2000\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/production-eqso-the-crew-figurines-bleues.jpg\" alt=\"Tray of blue EQSO The Crew blind box figures in our partner factory\" class=\"wp-image-4059\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/production-eqso-the-crew-figurines-bleues.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/production-eqso-the-crew-figurines-bleues-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/production-eqso-the-crew-figurines-bleues-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/production-eqso-the-crew-figurines-bleues-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/production-eqso-the-crew-figurines-bleues-800x1067.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"cid-bi2cfy22 figcaption-as-p as-p wp-block-paragraph\">A tray of EQSO The Crew figures in our partner factory in China.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-are-the-strengths-of-production-in-europe\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are the strengths of production in Europe?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Proximity<\/strong>: easier visits, no time difference, simpler communication.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Short shipping<\/strong>: shorter delivery times, no sea freight.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>An image argument<\/strong> for some brands, especially on small handcrafted runs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Specialist skills<\/strong> in resin, 3D printing, sculpture and very small runs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the other hand, the European offer is more limited for rotocast vinyl and injected PVC in large runs, and labour costs push the unit price up, especially for heavily painted figures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"the-point-by-point-comparison\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The point-by-point comparison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Criterion<\/th><th>Production in China<\/th><th>Production in Europe<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Vinyl and PVC know-how<\/td><td>Very broad, highly specialised<\/td><td>More limited<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Very small resin runs<\/td><td>Possible<\/td><td>Very well suited<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Unit price<\/td><td>Lower in series<\/td><td>Generally higher<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Shipping time<\/td><td>Long by sea, short but expensive by air<\/td><td>Short (for European buyers)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Follow-up and inspection<\/td><td>Needs a reliable partner and visits<\/td><td>Easier on site<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Customs duties<\/td><td>To budget at import<\/td><td>None within the EU single market<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Origin statement<\/td><td>\u201cDesigned in France, made in China\u201d<\/td><td>\u201cMade in \u2026\u201d depending on the country<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n<aside class=\"guide-cta sim cid-qhrug727\"><p class=\"gc-title cid-qhrug727\">How much would your figure cost?<\/p><p class=\"gc-text cid-qhrug727\">Answer 5 questions and get a range for your budget, unit price and lead time, in two minutes.<\/p><a class=\"s-btn cid-qhrug727\" href=\"\/en\/studio\/figure-cost-estimator\"><span class=\"cid-qhrug727\">Estimate my budget<\/span><\/a><\/aside>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"how-do-you-produce-successfully-in-china\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do you produce successfully in China?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Producing far away takes method. Here is what makes the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A trusted partner, not just a price.<\/strong> The cheapest quote is not necessarily the cheapest outcome if the samples have to be redone three times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Precise specifications<\/strong>: production 3D files, Pantone references, paint plan, packaging, compliance requirements. The more precise they are, the less room for interpretation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Written approvals at every step<\/strong>: prototype, pre-production sample, packaging proofs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Organised quality control<\/strong> during and after production, with photos, reports and ideally someone on site. At Popterror, we follow our partner factory day to day and our team goes on site (visit in October 2026).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A realistic schedule<\/strong> that includes holidays (Chinese New Year closes many factories for several weeks) and sea freight. All lead times are detailed in our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/studio\/guides\/figure-production-lead-time\">how long it takes to make a figure<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-about-the-country-of-origin\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What about the country of origin?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is not a point to cheat on. A figure moulded, painted and assembled in China is <strong>of Chinese origin<\/strong>, even if it was drawn and modelled in France. You can highlight the design (\u201cDesigned in France\u201d), never write \u201cMade in France\u201d. That is what we do on our own packaging. In the United States, imported goods must generally be marked with their country of origin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group g-fig cid-bi2cfy22 figure-as-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large pic\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/blind-box-eqso-the-crew-boites-a-plat.jpg\" alt=\"EQSO The Crew blind boxes printed and laid out flat, showing the character list, the odds and the legal notices\" class=\"wp-image-4060\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/blind-box-eqso-the-crew-boites-a-plat.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/blind-box-eqso-the-crew-boites-a-plat-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/blind-box-eqso-the-crew-boites-a-plat-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/blind-box-eqso-the-crew-boites-a-plat-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/blind-box-eqso-the-crew-boites-a-plat-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/blind-box-eqso-the-crew-boites-a-plat-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"cid-bi2cfy22 figcaption-as-p as-p wp-block-paragraph\">Our EQSO The Crew boxes, laid flat: \u201cDesigned with \u2665 in France\u201d highlights the French design, while the country of manufacture is still stated.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-about-duties-and-tariffs\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What about duties and tariffs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Customs duties depend on the product category and the destination country. For the US market, tariffs on goods made in China have changed several times recently: check the current rate for your product when you budget, or ask for a quote with customs included. At Popterror Studio, shipping and customs are included in our quotes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-about-compliance\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What about compliance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wherever it is produced, a figure must meet the rules of the market where it is sold. In the EU, a figure that can be used as a toy must comply with <strong>EN 71<\/strong> and carry the <strong>CE marking<\/strong>, under the responsibility of whoever places it on the European market. In the United States, children\u2019s toys must comply with <strong>ASTM F963<\/strong> under the CPSIA. See our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/studio\/guides\/figure-safety-standards-en71-astm-f963\">figure safety standards: EN 71, CE, UKCA and ASTM F963<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"our-choice-and-why\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our choice, and why<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For our vinyl art toys and our blind box, China was the obvious choice: that is where the workshop able to produce our figures in limited runs, at the level of finish collectors expect, at a price that stays accessible, is located. In return, we invest in what makes the distance manageable: very precise files, systematic approvals and close follow-up of production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Want to produce your figures without managing the factory, the language and the shipping yourself? That is exactly the role of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/studio\/custom-figure-manufacturing\">custom figure manufacturing<\/a> service: a single point of contact in France, from file to carton. Discover all our services on the page <a href=\"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/studio\">custom figure design and production for brands<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Should you manufacture figures in China or Europe? Know-how, prices, quantities, lead times, shipping, duties and quality control: a studio\u2019s honest view.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3815,"menu_order":6,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"figure manufacturing china vs europe","_yoast_wpseo_title":"Figure Manufacturing: China vs Europe Compared | Popterror","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Should you manufacture figures in China or Europe? Know-how, prices, quantities, lead times, shipping, duties and quality control: a studio\u2019s honest view.","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_schema_page_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_schema_article_type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"popterror_auteur":"romain","popterror_schema":"","footnotes":""},"themes-guide":[63],"class_list":["post-4127","pt_guide","type-pt_guide","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"popterror_auteur":"romain","guide_pilier":false,"reponse_directe":"China, and the Shenzhen area in particular, concentrates most of the industrial know-how for vinyl and PVC figures: that is where medium and large runs are most accessible. Europe can suit very small runs, resin or projects that favour proximity, generally at a higher unit cost. The right choice depends on quantity, timing, budget, where you sell and the story you want to tell.","faq":[{"question":"Where are Popterror figures made?","reponse":"Our figures are designed in France, in Lille, then produced in our partner factory in China, in the Shenzhen area, which we follow closely (on-site visit in October 2026). We say it plainly: designed in France, made in China."},{"question":"Can a figure produced in China be labelled \u201cMade in France\u201d?","reponse":"No. A product\u2019s origin is where it underwent its last substantial transformation; a figure moulded and painted in China is of Chinese origin, even if it was designed in France. You can, however, write \u201cDesigned in France\u201d."},{"question":"Is quality lower in China?","reponse":"No, quality depends on the partner you choose, the specifications and the inspections. A large share of the collectible art toys sold worldwide are produced in China, by highly specialised workshops."},{"question":"How long does it take to ship figures from China?","reponse":"Sea freight takes several weeks; air freight is much faster but far more expensive. Typical transit times: 6 to 8 weeks by sea, 10 to 15 days by air."},{"question":"Are there figure manufacturers in Europe?","reponse":"Yes, especially for resin, 3D printing, very small runs and some vinyl pieces. The offer is more limited for large runs of injected PVC. Always compare quotes on the whole project, shipping and duties included."}],"guides_lies":[4133,4131,4117],"liens_utiles":[{"lien":{"title":"Custom figure design and production for brands","url":"\/en\/studio","target":""},"description":"all our services"},{"lien":{"title":"Figure manufacturing","url":"\/en\/studio\/custom-figure-manufacturing","target":""},"description":"Already have a character or a 3D file? We turn it into figures produced in series."},{"lien":{"title":"Custom figure cost estimator","url":"\/en\/studio\/figure-cost-estimator","target":""},"description":"a budget range in two minutes"},{"lien":{"title":"Glossary of art toys and figure manufacturing","url":"\/en\/studio\/glossary","target":""},"description":""}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guides-studio\/4127","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guides-studio"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/pt_guide"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guides-studio\/4127\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4241,"href":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guides-studio\/4127\/revisions\/4241"}],"acf:post":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guides-studio\/4117"},{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guides-studio\/4131"},{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guides-studio\/4133"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3815"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"pt_theme_guide","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.popterror.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/themes-guide?post=4127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}