Top by export value (OEC 2023, HS 950632)
| Rank | Country/Region | Export value (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) | ≈ $279M |
| 2 (tie) | Thailand | ≈ $169M |
| 2 (tie) | United States | ≈ $169M |
| 4 | China (mainland) | ≈ $117M |
| 5 | Vietnam | ≈ $45–48.5M |
By units (WITS / UN Comtrade)
| Country/Region | Units | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| China (mainland) | ≈ 286M | 2023 | Direct country entry in WITS |
| Taiwan | ≈ 484M | 2021 | Often listed under “Other Asia, nes” in WITS (proxy for Taiwan volumes) |
Bottom line: “Most” depends on value vs. units.
What does “most” mean?
Methodology & scope (how we ranked)
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HS code used: 950632 (golf balls). All rankings use this code end-to-end.
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Country naming: OEC lists Taiwan; WITS may bucket Taiwan under “Other Asia, nes.” In our tables and captions we map this explicitly.
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Metric choices: Export value (US$) highlights premium mix; export quantity (units) shows volume scale. Each table is year-labeled to avoid mixing 2023 value with 2021 units.
Which metrics actually work?
Two global metrics scale cleanly for which country makes the most golf balls: export value (US$) and export quantity (units). Value is sensitive to urethane share and brand strategies; units track installed injection/casting volume and ionomer programs. Plant-level capacity is rarely public, so we use it only for triangulation rather than ranking.
Pick the metric that aligns with your objective—premium positioning (value) or availability and speed (units)—then keep it consistent across RFQs, sales decks, and product pages.
What caveats ride with trade data?
Exports are a proxy for production, not a census. Re-exports through logistics hubs can inflate value. Brand country ≠ factory country. Some customs regimes under-report units.
Use the tables to shortlist origins; then validate factory calendars, tooling availability, QA resources, and booking rules before you promise a ship date or publish “made-in” copy.
✔ True — “Most” changes with the metric
Value ranks premium-heavy exporters higher; units rank volume-heavy exporters higher. State your yardstick (value vs. units) in the headline and every caption.
✘ False — “One global list fits all definitions”
Portal refresh cycles differ, and WITS may bucket Taiwan as “Other Asia, nes.” Without notes, readers misinterpret the leaderboard.
Who leads by value and by units?
By export value (OEC 2023), Taiwan leads at ≈$279M; Thailand and the United States are ≈$169M each; mainland China ≈$117M; Vietnam ≈$45–48.5M. By export units (WITS), mainland China shows ≈286.2M balls (2023), while Taiwan’s volumes appear under “Other Asia, nes” (≈484.29M in 2021). The “most” shifts with the yardstick.
Who tops the value ranking?
Premium mixes lift value without massive units. Taiwan leads via high-spec OEM capacity; Thailand and the United States rank high on tour urethane and brand-owned lines; China blends ionomer and mid-game; Vietnam rises with high-spec outsourcing. Use this lens if your roadmap favors urethane feel, spin control, and tour-leaning SKUs.
| Rank | Country/Region | Export value (US$) | Share | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taiwan | ≈ 279,000,000 | Top | Premium-heavy OEM concentration |
| 2 | Thailand | ≈ 169,000,000 | High | Tour lines linked to global brands |
| 2 (tie) | United States | ≈ 169,000,000 | High | Brand-owned high-end lines |
| 4 | China (mainland) | ≈ 117,000,000 | Solid | Ionomer + mid-game blend |
| 5 | Vietnam | ≈ 45,000,000–48,500,000 | Rising | High-spec outsourcing growth |
Caption: Top exporters by value (OEC, 2023).
Who tops the unit ranking?
Mainland China reports ≈286.2M units (2023). Taiwan’s units are often bucketed as “Other Asia, nes,” ≈484.29M (2021). Together they dominate by volume. Vietnam/Thailand/USA often show fewer units but higher AUVs because of urethane share. When scale and speed matter most, begin with the unit leaders.
| Rank | Country/Region | Units (year) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | China (mainland) | ≈ 286,200,000 (2023) | Large ionomer base |
| — | Other Asia, nes (proxy for Taiwan volumes) | ≈ 484,290,000 (2021) | WITS grouping mapped to Taiwan |
| — | Vietnam/Thailand/USA | (vary by portal/year) | Fewer units, higher AUV mix |
Caption: Top exporters by units (WITS/UN Comtrade; years labeled).
How should you present the ranking?
Lead with a metric-declared line: “By value (2023), Taiwan leads; by units (2023/2021), China + Taiwan dominate.” Repeat the phrasing on slides, product pages, and RFQs. That one sentence keeps procurement, marketing, and finance aligned on which country makes the most golf balls.
✔ True — Map “Other Asia, nes” to Taiwan for this HS code
When answering which country makes the most golf balls by units, explain that WITS often buckets Taiwan as “Other Asia, nes,” and label the year in the caption.
✘ False — “Taiwan is missing from the dataset”
Failing to note the mapping creates false narratives about leadership by units.
Why do rankings differ?
Exports, production, and brand footprints are different lenses. Exports are shipments, not total output; production can be consumed domestically; brands split SKUs across countries. Product mix matters too: urethane raises value without huge unit spikes; ionomer raises units without matching value. Separate the lenses and the debate cools quickly.
How do exports diverge from production?
A country can make many golf balls yet not lead exports if domestic demand is high or if routes re-export through hubs. Some hubs therefore look “big” in value with limited installed lines. Treat exports as a strong proxy, not a census; then validate with factory calendars, tool counts, and QA resources before you promise dates to retail or write “made-in” narratives.
How do brands reshape perception?
A U.S. or Japan brand may run or commission lines in Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, and China, splitting SKUs by category. Flagship urethane typically sits in brand-owned plants; 2–3-piece game balls are more likely OEM’d. Attribute origin to the factory location and model, not the passport on the brand logo.
How does product mix move leaders?
Tour urethane (cast) drives high AUVs and value leadership for Thailand/U.S.; ionomer volume lifts units for China/Taiwan. Vietnam’s rise first shows up in value as urethane OEM pipelines mature; units follow as additional cavities and paint booths go live.
✔ True — Brand country ≠ factory country
Titleist, Bridgestone, Srixon and others run lines in multiple countries. Attribute rankings to factory locations, not brand passports.
✘ False — “U.S./Japan brand means U.S./Japan made”
Flagship models can be made in the U.S./Japan/Thailand, while other SKUs are split across Taiwan/Vietnam/China/Thailand by category and capacity.
Who leads by spec?
For volume programs, 2-piece ionomer concentrates in China and Taiwan. For mid-game, 3-piece Surlyn/TPU is strong across China/Taiwan/Vietnam. For tour-leaning feel and spin, multi-layer urethane clusters in the U.S./Thailand/Japan (brand-owned) and in Taiwan/Vietnam (OEM). Source by category fit, not just by headline rank.
2-piece ionomer (Surlyn®)
China and Taiwan have large injection capacity, fast kitting, and deep decoration ecosystems—ideal for ranges, promos, and distance value programs. Mainland China’s 2023 customs AUV ≈$0.41/ball aligns with ionomer-heavy mixes and high-volume SKUs. If gift sets matter, China’s packaging ecosystem shortens the path from proof to pallet more than shaving a few cents off EXW.
3-piece Surlyn/TPU
China, Taiwan, and Vietnam share this middle ground: balanced cost/performance with good concentricity and layer control. Taiwan/Vietnam often show tighter SPC on multi-layer builds; China often wins on EXW and calendar speed. Freeze cover route (Surlyn vs. TPU) and compression in RFQs; those two choices swing price and lead time more than many teams expect.
Multi-layer urethane (cast)
Tour-leaning urethane concentrates in brand-owned U.S./Thailand/Japan plants; Taiwan and Vietnam serve as high-spec OEM partners. Expect longer windows from casting, post-cure, paint-stack control, and tighter CTQs. If your roadmap is premium feel/spin, book earlier and budget for QA depth rather than chasing pennies on EXW.
| Category / Spec | Likely volume leaders | Why it matters | Typical use cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-piece ionomer (Surlyn®) | China, Taiwan | Injection scale; fast packaging/kitting | Range balls; distance/value game |
| 3-piece Surlyn/TPU | China, Taiwan, Vietnam | Balanced cost/performance; good concentricity | Mid-game; retail private label |
| 3–5-piece urethane (cast) | U.S., Thailand, Japan (brand-owned); Taiwan, Vietnam (OEM) | Tour feel/spin; post-cure; tight CTQs | Premium game/tour-leaning |
How to read AUV vs EXW?
Customs Average Unit Value (AUV) = export value ÷ export units. It’s a macro lens for market mix and positioning. EXW is program-specific and reflects layers, cover chemistry, μm coating targets, prints, packaging, MOQ, and QA scope. Use AUV to compare markets; use EXW to build real landed costs and margins for the exact ball you’ll sell.
What does AUV reveal fast?
AUV signals mix—lower AUVs imply ionomer volume; higher AUVs imply urethane or re-exports. Do not negotiate to AUV. Use it to explain why Thailand/U.S. rank high by value with modest units and why China/Taiwan dominate units with modest AUVs. Internally, AUV teaches; externally, it is not a quote.
| Country/Region | Value (US$) | Units | AUV (US$/ball) | Caveats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China (2023) | ≈ 116.9M | ≈ 286.2M | ≈ 0.41 | Blend of models; not factory price |
| Other Asia, nes (2021) | ≈ 224.6M | ≈ 484.29M | ≈ 0.46 | Proxy for Taiwan volumes in WITS |
| Thailand/USA/Vietnam | — | — | Higher AUVs | Premium mix; re-export effects |
What EXW bands should you expect?
EXW depends on structure and QA depth. The same “3-piece” prices differently across origins if μm targets, dimple tooling, and AQL/CPK shift. Use these bands to sanity-check quotes and to forecast margin corridors before freight, duties, and retail packaging.
| Spec \ Origin | China | Taiwan | Vietnam | Thailand | USA | Japan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-piece ionomer | $0.30–0.55 | $0.50–0.85 | $0.50–0.80 | $1.20–2.00 | $1.20–2.00 | $0.80–1.50 |
| 3-piece Surlyn/TPU | $0.45–0.90 | $0.80–1.30 | $0.75–1.20 | $1.80–3.00 | $1.80–3.50 | $1.30–2.50 |
| 3/4-piece urethane (cast/TPU) | $1.00–2.20 | $1.50–2.80 | $1.40–2.60 | $2.50–4.00 | $2.50–5.00 | $2.30–4.50 |
How should you combine AUV and EXW?
Use AUV to orient stakeholders and shortlist origins, then demand EXW quotes to frozen specs with acceptance methods (IV protocol, X-ray/rotation concentricity, μm coating maps, histograms). That pairing prevents “price-only” negotiations that quietly change the ball. It also lets you compare quotes fairly without mixing QA bundles.
✔ True — AUV is macro; EXW is program-specific
AUV blends SKUs and re-exports and belongs in market analysis. Factory EXW depends on structure, materials, μm targets, printing, packaging, volume, and QA scope.
✘ False — “AUV equals the price I should pay”
Negotiate to frozen specs with acceptance criteria; don’t benchmark a customs statistic as a factory quote.
Which OEM factories take orders?
Not every famous plant accepts third-party OEM. The shortlist below focuses on open-to-order golf ball factories. Use it as a starting point, then qualify each site for your structure, QA bundle, and calendar—the practical next step after Googling which country makes the most golf balls.
| Country/Region | Factory | Main categories | Major export markets |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | Ningbo Golfara | 2–4 piece incl. PU | US/EU/JP-KR |
| China | Xiamen MLG Sports | 2-piece Surlyn; 3-piece urethane | US/EU |
| China | Shenzhen XJT / JTS | Multi-layer; gift-set programs | US/EU retail & promo |
| Taiwan | Foremost (FGM) | Cast urethane, TPU, Surlyn | US/EU |
| Taiwan | Launch Technologies | Full range incl. urethane | US |
| Taiwan | Kerichem / Trust | 2/3-piece TPU/Surlyn and urethane | US/EU |
| Vietnam | SM Parker | 2/3-piece TPU/PU | US/CA/JP |
| Vietnam | Vung Tau Orient (Feng Tay) | Urethane multi-layer | JP/US |
How should you brief and book?
Lead with a spec-based brief: use case (range/game/tour), structure (layers/cover), target compression, reference ball, print/pack expectations, and QA scope. Ask for lot-tied reports (IV, weight/diameter histograms, concentricity, coating μm maps) and a line-booking calendar from materials to pack-out. Quote comparisons are only fair when test methods and acceptance limits match.
✔ True — Conforming lists change over time
Legality is governed by the current list. Build renewal cadence into supplier agreements and verify model names exactly as listed.
✘ False — “Once listed means always legal”
Listing is not permanent. Loss of listing means the ball is not eligible wherever USGA/R&A conformance policies apply.
When should you book, and what’s the lead time?
US/EU play peaks May–September, with promo gifting in March–May. Asia’s build window is typically November–March. Lead time covers materials, tooling, urethane post-cure, coating cure, QA buffers, and pack-out—not just days on the line. Book early to protect launch dates, especially on urethane.
OEM windows by origin
Ranges below include sample approval and line booking (ocean freight excluded). In peak seasons, slots stretch; premium lines in Taiwan/Vietnam may require earlier commits. Use reorder windows only after a stabilized spec with no print/pack changes.
| Country | 2-piece ionomer | 3-piece Surlyn/TPU | 3/4-piece urethane (cast/TPU) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 4–6 wks (reorder 3–4) | 5–7 wks | 6–9 wks | May extend in peak |
| Taiwan | 6–9 wks | 7–9 wks | 8–12 wks | Premium lines require slotting |
| Vietnam | 6–8 wks | 7–9 wks | 8–12 wks | Often high-spec outsourcing |
✔ True — Lead time includes more than “days on the line”
Materials, tooling, casting/post-cure, coating cure, QA buffers, and pack prep add days. Peak seasons stretch slots, so secure them in Q4–Q1.
✘ False — “Pay today, produce tomorrow”
Rushing invites quality drift or missed sailings. Freeze specs and acceptance methods early to avoid re-runs.
FAQs
Q1. Which country “makes the most” by value vs. by units?
By value, Taiwan leads; by units, China + Taiwan dominate once WITS’s “Other Asia, nes” is mapped to Taiwan. Use value if you sell premium urethane; use units if you run range/value programs. Write “by value (OEC 2023)” or “by units (WITS year-labeled)” into every chart title to keep teams aligned.
Q2. Why do Thailand and the U.S. rank high by value with fewer units?
Tour-grade urethane and brand-owned lines drive high AUV, lifting value without matching unit counts. Their QA stack—post-cure, paint μm control, dimple fidelity—adds cost but delivers feel and spin that golfers pay for. Lower unit share is normal for premium-heavy mixes.
Q3. Are “Taiwan” and “Other Asia, nes” the same in unit tables?
WITS often buckets Taiwan under “Other Asia, nes,” while OEC lists Taiwan explicitly. Map it in captions whenever you answer which country makes the most golf balls by units. Without this, executive slides misread the leaderboard.
Q4. Can I use customs AUV to negotiate EXW?
Use AUV for macro comparisons only. EXW depends on layers, cover route, μm targets, printing, packaging, MOQ, and QA scope. Negotiate to frozen specs with acceptance criteria and lot-tied reports.
Q5. How do I lock quality in the PO?
Anchor acceptance to measurable items: conformance (weight ≤ 45.93 g; diameter ≥ 42.67 mm; IV per protocol; symmetry pass), concentricity (X-ray/rotation), seam height, dimple fidelity, and coating uniformity. Add stop-ship triggers for out-of-tolerance lots to protect the season.
Q6. What single slide should I keep?
Define “most” first; value vs. units flip the leader. Taiwan leads by value; China + Taiwan by units; Thailand/U.S. command premium-heavy value; Vietnam is rising with high-spec outsourcing. Category fit beats headline rank. Price is program-specific. Book early; lock acceptance in the PO.
What are the key takeaways?
Define the metric before ranking; “most by value” and “most by units” yield different leaders. Taiwan leads by value; China + Taiwan lead by units; Thailand/U.S. command premium-heavy value; Vietnam is rising. Category fit matters: ionomer scale (China/Taiwan), urethane tour lines (U.S./Thailand/Japan), high-spec OEM (Taiwan/Vietnam). EXW follows structure, chemistry, μm coating, printing/packaging, MOQ, and QA scope. Seasonality stretches lead times—plan early.
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