Rising costs in China are prompting high-tech companies in Asia to explore alternative sourcing locations within the region as well as in North America. As part of this shift, half of all high-tech trade lanes in five years’ time are expected to involve intra-Asia movements.

The survey, conducted by IDC Manufacturing Insights, revealed that 19 percent of high-tech company respondents plan to source supplies and raw materials from North America in the next three to five years. Shifts in sourcing strategies will occur within the Asia Pacific region as well. Although China and Japan will continue to supply to most high-tech companies, survey findings show a significant shift of supply sourcing to both emerging and mature Asia Pacific countries in the next three to five years.