Why Is Sourcing Metal Crafts from Bangladesh to the Middle East Cheaper Than China?

Are high shipping costs eating up your profit margins? If you import custom medals or pins from China to the Middle East, you are likely paying more than you should for logistics.

Sourcing from Bangladesh significantly reduces your costs due to our geographic proximity to the Middle East. We offer 25% to 50% cheaper shipping rates to the UAE compared to China, along with lower labor costs, making us the ideal alternative for custom coins, pins, and medals.

I want to show you exactly how much money you can save by switching your production to us. In this post, I will break down the real numbers regarding logistics, labor savings, and the hidden fees you can avoid. Read on to see why smart distributors are looking towards Bangladesh.

How Much Can You Save on Logistics from Bangladesh vs China?

Shipping fees can kill your profit margins very quickly. If you are ordering from China, you are paying for extra distance and higher base rates that you do not need to pay.

Because Bangladesh is geographically closer to the Middle East than China, our freight rates are drastically lower. We typically see savings of 25% to 50% on express shipping to countries like the UAE, meaning you keep more money in your pocket on every single order you place.

I recently analyzed the shipping data for one of my clients based in the UAE. The difference in price between shipping from my factory in Bangladesh and a standard factory in China is huge. It is not just a few dollars; it is a massive percentage of the total cost. When you look at a map, Bangladesh is much closer to the Arabian Peninsula. This shorter flight path means less fuel and lower costs for the courier companies like DHL or FedEx.

Here is a breakdown of the actual shipping quotes we compared recently for a package going to the UAE:

The Real Shipping Cost Breakdown

Why This Matters for B2B Buyers

As you can see, the savings get bigger as the package gets heavier. If you order a 15kg box of custom medals, you save $41 instantly just on shipping. If you ship ten boxes a month, that is over $400 in pure profit you save. This price difference happens because the logistics network¹ between South Asia and the Middle East is very direct. We do not have the same airspace congestion or fuel surcharges that often apply to flights coming out of East Asia. For a distributor in Dubai or Riyadh, these savings allow you to offer better prices to your clients or simply keep a higher margin for yourself.

Do Lower Labor Costs in Bangladesh Really Boost Your Profit Margins?

Manufacturing costs in China are rising every single year. You might feel forced to increase your prices just to stay in business, which hurts your sales and drives customers away.

Bangladesh offers a significant production cost advantage because our labor rates are lower than China’s. Located in the Comilla EPZ, our factory combines low operational costs with high efficiency, allowing us to offer premium custom metal crafts² at prices that keep your wholesale margins healthy.

I run a large factory with over 1,000 employees. In the manufacturing world, especially for custom items like lapel pins and challenge coins, labor is a huge part of the cost. These products require a lot of hands-on work. We have to polish the metal, fill the enamel colors by hand or machine, and inspect every piece. In China, wages have gone up significantly in the last ten years. This is good for them, but it means your buying price goes up.

The Comilla EPZ Advantage

My factory is located in the Comilla Export Processing Zone (EPZ). This is a special area in Bangladesh designed for export manufacturing.

1. Lower Overheads: Our cost to run the facility is lower than a similar factory in Guangdong, China. We pass these savings to you.
2. Skilled Workforce: Lower cost does not mean lower skill. My team has over 10 years of experience. We are SEDEX certified, which means we treat our workers well and meet international standards.
3. Material Costs: We buy the same high-quality zinc alloy, brass, and iron as Chinese factories. The material cost is the same globally. The difference is the cost to turn that raw metal into a beautiful finished product.

Better Pricing for Distributors

If you are a distributor like "Dean," who I mentioned earlier, you need the best price to resell to other businesses. By buying from me, you get the same quality product but with a lower labor cost built into the price. This gives you room to compete. You do not have to worry about your Chinese supplier raising prices by 10% every year just to cover their payroll. Our prices remain stable and competitive.

Can You Avoid Peak Season Surcharges and Chinese Holiday Delays?

Relying on China means your business stops completely during their New Year. Losing weeks of sales in the first quarter is a nightmare for distributors who need consistent stock.

Unlike Chinese factories that shut down for weeks during the Lunar New Year, challengeCoinsBD operates year-round. We ensure your supply chain remains active during Q1, avoiding the production blackouts and expensive "rush" shipping surcharges that are common when sourcing from East Asia.

One of the biggest complaints I hear from new customers is about the "Chinese New Year³" (CNY). Every year, usually in January or February, production in China stops. Workers go home for weeks. If you forget to order early, you are in trouble. Your order gets stuck, and you cannot deliver to your customers. Even worse, shipping prices from China skyrocket right before the holiday because everyone is trying to rush their goods out at the same time.

We Are Open When They Are Closed

In Bangladesh, we do not follow the Lunar New Year schedule.

• Continuous Production: When Chinese factories are empty, my factory is running at full speed.
• No Rush Fees: You do not have to pay extra "rush fees" to get your order onto a ship or plane before a massive holiday shutdown.
• Predictable Timelines: Our lead times stay at 15 days for mass production throughout the start of the year.

Stability for Your Business

Imagine you have a client who needs an urgent order of medals for an event in February. If you rely on a Chinese supplier, you might have to say "no" because the factory is closed. If you work with me, you say "yes." This reliability helps you build trust with your customers. You become the distributor who can deliver when no one else can. Also, because we are not fighting for cargo space during the Chinese holiday rush, our shipping prices to the Middle East remain stable. You avoid the unpredictable spikes in logistics costs that happen in East Asia every winter.

Conclusion

Sourcing from Bangladesh gives you cheaper shipping to the UAE, lower labor costs, and a supply chain that never stops. Contact me today to save 30% on your next order.