10. Brazil

Brazil is uniquely placed to access the global market, within reach of North America, Africa and Europe. It has a diverse manufacturing sector and produces a wide range of products - from coffee to steel. 

Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica S.A. specialises in the production of commercial, military, and executive aircraft. Its regional jets are some of the largest aircraft manufacturers globally. Food and beverage manufacturer JBS is one of the world's largest meat processing companies and is involved in the production and processing of beef, pork, poultry and lamb. 

9. United Kingdom

The UK has had a strong manufacturing tradition, after the Industrial Revolution of 1760 which saw the use of more efficient and stable manufacturing processes.

The United Kingdom is home to many significant manufacturing companies across various sectors. In Aerospace and Defence, there is GKN Aerospace and BAE Systems. On the roads, Rolls-Royce Holdings and Jaguar Land Rover Automotive. In addition to this, Unilever manufactures consumer goods, across food, home and personal care.

The manufacturing landscape in the UK continues to evolve, with a growing focus on technology, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing processes.

8. France

France is home to some iconic manufacturing brands from across the sectors. L'Oréal is one of the world's biggest beauty companies. It manufactures and markets a diverse range of products, including skincare, haircare, makeup and fragrances. 

At the other end of the manufacturing spectrum, Airbus is a multinational aerospace corporation that designs, manufactures and sells commercial aircraft, helicopters and even space systems. 

Schneider Electric is a global specialist in automation solutions, which builds products for electrical distribution and industrial automation.

7. Italy

Italy is renowned for its strong manufacturing traditions and has a diverse manufacturing sector, encompassing various industries such as automotive, energy, fashion, and machinery.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles designs, manufactures and sells vehicles under various brands such as Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Jeep. But these wouldn’t work without tire manufacturer Pirelli, which manufactures tires for cars, motorcycles and industrial vehicles. 

Meanwhile, leading eyewear company Luxottica designs, manufactures and distributes premium eyewear brands, including Ray-Ban, Oakley, and Persol.

6. India

India is home to a diverse and thriving manufacturing sector, with several major companies operating in various industries. 

Tata Group reaches multiple sectors, including automobiles, steel, information technology and telecommunications. Reliance Industries Limited spans across petrochemicals, refining, oil and gas exploration, as well as telecommunications.

Mega-manufacturer Adani Group has a variety of diverse operations, from energy to infrastructure. Mahindra Group works in many sectors including automobiles and aerospace. The automotive division, Mahindra & Mahindra, is one of India's largest automobile manufacturers.

5. South Korea

South Korea sits between two other manufacturing leaders: China and Japan. Following the Korean War 1950-1953, American influence led the country into manufacturing for the world, which enormously boosted South Korea’s economic growth.

Samsung Electronics is a global leader in consumer electronics, semiconductors and information technology and manufactures smartphones, televisions, home appliances and memory chips.

Automobile manufacturer Hyundai Motor Company produces a diverse range of vehicles, including cars, SUVs and electric vehicles, while LG Electronics manufactures consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications.

4. Germany

Germany is known for its engineering prowess and it is the home of many manufacturing companies. 

Volkswagen Group is a global automotive conglomerate which includes brands such as Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and Lamborghini. Automobile rival Tesla has recently announced that its Berlin Gigafactory will expand to 1mn vehicles per year. Daimler AG produces luxury vehicles, commercial vehicles and automotive components. It also owns luxury car brands Mercedes-Benz.

3. Japan

Japan has a rich manufacturing tradition and is the home of lean manufacturing, which was developed at Toyota, one of the largest automotive manufacturers in the world. Toyota produces a wide range of vehicles and is known for its quality, reliability and innovation.

Competitor Honda is an automotive and motorcycle manufacturer. Honda has just announced that it will return to F1 in 2026, as the engine manufacturer for Aston Martin.

Consumer electronics companies Sony and Panasonic both manufacture televisions, audio equipment and cameras.

2. United States

The United States is home to many large and influential manufacturing companies across a wide range of industries. In June 1979, US manufacturing jobs hit a peak of one out of every five workers.

Diversified technology company 3M manufactures a wide range of products, including adhesives, abrasives, medical products, personal protective equipment and electronic materials. 

Johnson & Johnson, a multinational corporation specialises in healthcare products and manufactures pharmaceuticals, medical devices and consumer health products, from Band-Aids to Neutrogena.

As one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the United States, Ford produces a wide range of vehicles, including cars, trucks and SUVs.

1. China

The world’s biggest manufacturers manufacture in China. It is a popular destination due to China’s low labour costs, a large and skilled workforce and the suitable infrastructure for manufacturing.

Foxconn, a multinational electronics contract manufacturing company, produces a wide range of products, including smartphones, computers, consumer electronics and components.

Huawei Technologies is a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and consumer electronics. It manufactures smartphones, networking and telecommunications equipment, and other technology products.

In addition, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is a state-owned aerospace and defence company. It is involved in the research, development, and manufacturing of space-related technology, satellites, launch vehicles and missiles.