Roland, the person behind the Nikon serial website Photosynthesis, recently contacted me to inform me that Nikon has shifted production of some lenses from China to Vietnam. The example given was with the Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-75mm f/2.8 lens (now $200 off) – initially, the lens was made in China:
An updated list of where Nikon Z cameras and lenses are manufactured
The latest production batch is marked “Made in Vietnam” on both the lens barrel and the retail box:
The official Nikon website indicates that only the NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7 lens is currently manufactured in Vietnam.
This is probably the result of the ongoing tariff mess: companies raised prices due to tariffs, consumers paid the higher prices, and then companies received government refunds after the tariffs were ruled unconstitutional ($81 billion refunded so far). I am also sure that moving manufacturing from China to Vietnam incurred additional expenses for Nikon, which will be reflected in pricing.
Here is an AI-generated recap of the differences in US import tariffs on Nikon lenses made in Vietnam and China:
| Component | Vietnam Origin | China Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base MFN (Column 1) | Free (0%) or 2.3% | Free (0%) or 2.3% | Primary codes under 9002.11 are generally Free. |
| Section 301 | None | +25% | Applies only to China-origin goods. |
| Section 122 baseline | +10% | +10% | Global temporary surcharge (still active as of July 22; scheduled to expire ~July 24, 2026). |
| Typical Effective Total | ~10% | ~35% | (0% + 10%) vs (0% + 25% + 10%). |
| Difference | — | ~25 percentage points higher for China | Significant cost gap favoring Vietnam origin. |
