South
Ground zero for Asian manufacturing investment in America — and the fastest-growing demand market in the country.
Where Asia Meets America
The American South has become the primary destination for Asian manufacturing investment in the United States. Hyundai’s $26 billion Georgia ecosystem, Samsung’s $37 billion Texas fab complex, the Ford-SK Innovation battery belt through Kentucky and Tennessee, LG’s multiple facilities across the region — the scale of Asian capital flowing into the South is unprecedented.
This investment wave is transforming the region. Entire communities are being built around new factory complexes. The demand isn’t just for the factories themselves — it’s for everything those factories and their workers need: housing, hospitals, schools, commercial buildings, utilities, transportation, and all the industrial infrastructure that supports a modern manufacturing economy.
in Georgia
in Texas
factory announcements
Key Buyer Categories
EV Battery Manufacturing
The “battery belt” stretching from Georgia through Tennessee and Kentucky is creating demand for cathode/anode materials, cell assembly equipment, thermal management systems, quality testing, and specialty chemicals. Korean battery companies (SK, LG, Samsung SDI) are major anchors but need hundreds of tier-two and tier-three suppliers.
Semiconductor Fabrication
Samsung’s Taylor, Texas campus and Texas Instruments’ expansion are creating the same ecosystem demand as Intel in Ohio — process equipment, chemicals, cleanroom components, utilities, and facility infrastructure. TI alone committed $30B+ in Texas fab investment.
Automotive Assembly
BMW in South Carolina, Mercedes in Alabama, Hyundai in Georgia, Toyota and Nissan in Tennessee and Mississippi. The South has become the center of U.S. auto assembly, creating constant demand for components, tooling, materials, and equipment from supply chain partners.
Aerospace & Defense
Huntsville, Alabama is a major NASA and defense hub. North Carolina’s Research Triangle has growing aerospace activity. Boeing in South Carolina, Lockheed Martin in Georgia — aerospace creates demand for precision components, specialty materials, and testing equipment.
Energy & Petrochemical
The Texas Gulf Coast is the center of U.S. petrochemical production and energy infrastructure. Houston alone houses the headquarters of dozens of major energy companies, creating demand for process equipment, instrumentation, piping, valves, and industrial technology.
Construction & Infrastructure
Population growth across the South is driving massive construction — residential, commercial, industrial, and public infrastructure. Texas, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas are among the fastest-growing states, creating sustained demand for building materials, HVAC, electrical, and civil engineering equipment.
Market Entry Considerations
Lower operating costs. Labor, real estate, energy, and regulatory compliance costs are significantly lower than coastal markets. For Asian companies establishing U.S. operations — whether warehousing, light assembly, or full manufacturing — the South often offers the most favorable cost structure.
Existing Korean infrastructure is a major advantage. The concentration of Korean investment in Georgia, Texas, and Tennessee means Korean-speaking support services, legal counsel, banking relationships, and cultural communities already exist. New Korean entrants can leverage this infrastructure rather than building from scratch.
Right-to-work states and labor dynamics. Most Southern states are right-to-work, meaning unionization rates are lower. This simplifies labor planning but also means companies must compete for workers through wages and benefits, especially near large factory complexes where multiple employers compete for the same labor pool.
Port access from multiple directions. Savannah (Georgia), Charleston (South Carolina), Houston (Texas), and New Orleans provide maritime access. Savannah in particular has become a major gateway for Asian cargo, with direct container service and proximity to the largest concentration of new Asian manufacturing investment.
Ready to Reach Southern Buyers?
The South has the fastest-growing demand, the most aggressive incentives, and the largest base of existing Asian investment. If you’re entering the U.S. market, this might be where you start.
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