According to streamlinefeed.co.ke, Danish jewellery manufacturer Pandora has officially opened a $150 million manufacturing facility in Vietnam — its first production site outside Thailand and a cornerstone of its supply chain diversification strategy.
Strategic Expansion and Scale
The new facility, located in the Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area, is designed to significantly enhance supply chain resilience. Once fully operational, it will produce up to 60 million pieces of fine jewellery annually, increasing Pandora’s overall global manufacturing capacity by 50 percent. This expansion directly supports demand growth following a record-breaking 2025, when the company sold 112 million items worldwide.
The factory inauguration underscores Vietnam’s rising role as an alternative manufacturing destination for multinationals seeking to reduce overreliance on single-market production. Pandora’s prior manufacturing footprint was entirely concentrated in Thailand, where it operates 3 active factories employing approximately 13,000 people — one of the largest private-sector workforces in the country.
This fourth factory reflects a deliberate, long-term risk mitigation plan. By splitting production between two Southeast Asian nations, Pandora aims to protect operations against disruptions caused by natural disasters, political instability, or logistical bottlenecks — a shift explicitly framed by CEO Berta de Pablos-Barbier.
Workforce and Operational Timeline
The Vietnam plant will employ approximately 7,000 craftspeople and support staff at full capacity. During the initial launch phase, 700 positions have already been filled. Recruitment draws on Vietnam’s established tradition of silver craftsmanship to meet Pandora’s manual finishing standards for charm bracelets and rings.
Initially, the facility accounts for roughly 15 percent of Pandora’s global production capacity. As machinery installation and workforce scaling progress, that share is projected to rise to 33 percent by 2030. The company notes the facility was built for the next decade, not merely the next financial quarter.
The timing aligns with broader trade dynamics: the U.S. remains Pandora’s largest individual market, yet recent signals from the incoming U.S. administration suggest potential higher tariffs on Vietnamese-made goods. In response, Berta de Pablos-Barbier emphasized internal discipline over external speculation:
“When volatility happens, we focus on operational efficiencies and integration across the business,”
Sustainability and Integration
The Vietnam facility meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards and runs entirely on 100 percent renewable electricity — matching the environmental standard of Pandora’s existing Thai facilities. It also introduces platinum-plated jewellery production, expanding the company’s material capabilities and design innovation scope.
Unlike export-dedicated plants, the Vietnam hub supports Pandora’s integrated global operations. It enables dynamic reallocation of supply across regions in response to tariff shifts or regional demand spikes. The $150 million investment reflects the capital intensity of modern, sustainable manufacturing — positioning Pandora to sustain leadership in the accessible luxury sector amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.
Source: streamlinefeed.co.ke
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
