Can Asia Pacific's offshore supply chains keep up?

The offshore wind supply chains in the Asia Pacific region present a mixed picture. South Korea is leading in integrated manufacturing, while Taiwan is focusing on service and assembly hubs. Australia and Japan lag critically in turbine component production, relying heavily on imports. Vietnam has transferable industrial skills but needs port upgrades and project momentum. All face the challenge of scaling up rapidly to meet enormous deployment targets.

Australia: Strong services, weak manufacturing

Australia excels in operations and maintenance (O&M), with 34 companies active in the sector, 20 of which have proven capabilities. Installation services are supported by 17 providers, and electrical cables have 14 suppliers. However, the country faces a critical shortage in turbine manufacturing. Proven capability for nacelles and blades is minimal at just two companies each, and that is limited to offices rather than local factories. There is zero proven tower manufacturing. Keppel Prince, the last major onshore tower maker, shut down in 2025, crushed by cheap imports. Port infrastructure is another hurdle, with the planned Port of Hastings hub rejected over environmental concerns. Australia relies heavily on imports for key components.

Japan: Moderate capabilities, component gaps

Japan has a moderate presence in O&M (17 companies, 10 proven) and installation (four companies). It has seven suppliers for electrical cables, three for foundations and four specialising in offshore substations. Like Australia, the country lacks domestic suppliers for nacelles and blades. Global players such as Hitachi Energy and Siemens Gamesa have offices in the country, but Hitachi stopped its own turbine production in 2019. The company now partners with Enercon for turbines while focusing on grid tech (such as high-voltage direct systems) via its acquisition of ABB. Companies such as Nexans (cables) and JFE Engineering (foundations, new 2024 facility) do have manufacturing sites. Japan aims to boost local content from 60% to 70% by 2040.

Vietnam: Stalled pipeline, transferable skills

Vietnam’s offshore wind supply chain progress mirrors its stalled project pipeline. It has 13 O&M companies, (nine proven) and eight in installation. Notably, it has proven suppliers for electrical cables (10), nacelles (four), foundations (four) and even towers (two), though many are international players. Vietnam’s real potential lies in leveraging its strong oil and gas and onshore wind sectors. Petrovietnam Technical Services Corporation is leading the charge, using its Vung Tau oil and gas yard to build offshore substations, foundations, and towers. CS Wind also operates a Vung Tau facility, and its major new deal with Dong Tam Group aims to build a US$200m component factory. Having said all this, Vietnam’s ports do need major upgrades for large-scale offshore work.

Across Asia Pacific, countries face a shared challenge: rapidly scaling offshore wind supply chains while balancing local industrial growth with international investment

South Korea: Building momentum with local expertise

South Korea is actively building its supply chain to match its ambitious project pipeline. The country leads the region in O&M capabilities, with 22 companies – 14 proven – supported by strong port infrastructure. Its supplier base includes 10 proven electrical cable manufacturers and nine installation service providers. Importantly, it hosts six key turbine components manufacturing facilities.

Domestic players including Unison (towers, nacelles and blades), Doosan Enerbility (components) and Samkang M&T (foundations) are supported by international companies such as ABB, Nexans and EEW Group. Partnerships are accelerating growth, with Doosan Enerbility having signed a deal with Siemens Gamesa in March 2025 for nacelle assembly, and Unison partnering with China’s Mingyang in September 2024 on a nacelle and blade factory. Local content incentives, targeting around 50%, encourage further localisation.

Taiwan: Developing hub, local content pressure

Taiwan, which currently leads the region in operational offshore wind capacity, has built a solid foundation in O&M, with 11 companies demonstrating proven capabilities. The installation sector is also active, supported by 10 companies, while four firms specialise in offshore substations.

However, domestic production of key turbine components, including nacelles, blades and towers, remains limited. Siemens Gamesa operates a nacelle assembly plant in Taichung, which was expanded in 2024 to boost capacity.

Vestas, in partnership with Tien Li, produces blades locally, sourcing hubs and frames through YCG. Foundations are manufactured nearby by Century Wind Power. The Port of Taichung is being upgraded to serve as a central hub for assembly, logistics and deployment, positioning Taiwan as a strategic node for offshore wind in APAC.

Taiwan’s 60% local content requirement (LCR) has created tension between the need to support domestic suppliers and attract international investment. The upcoming auction round may relax the LCR, which could encourage foreign participation but also impact local manufacturers that have relied on it for contracts. Balancing local industrial growth with competitive investment remains a critical challenge for Taiwan’s offshore wind sector.

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