A new Bloomberg report suggests that Nintendo could “build millions of consoles” shipped to the US from Vietnam ahead of the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 in June. This is based on data provided by global trade data and customs analytics company NBD, indicating that Nintendo shipped more consoles from Vietnam in February than “topped the last six months.”
Almost all of the production volumes from Hosiden Corp. (one of three Nintendo Switch 2 assembly companies) have been sent to the US from January to January, according to Bloomberg data. Jump was “two-thirds of the past 12 months” from 11%. That’s good news for Nintendo, facing 46% tariffs on President Trump’s imports from Vietnam until Wednesday. These tariffs are pending for 90 days, except for the universal 10% tariff. That hold may not last forever, but it gives Nintendo time to ship a large number of consoles to the US. Bloomberg said “nearly a third” of the Switch 2 consoles are being assembled in Vietnam.
Certainly, Nintendo’s US President Doug Bowser told CNBC this week that many Switch 2 consoles are already in the US and are ready.
Nintendo moved its console production from China to Vietnam and Cambodia during the first Trump administration. This is a move to protect the company from Trump’s 125% tariffs on Chinese imports. Trump’s announcement of a 46% tariff on items from Vietnam has thrown Nintendo’s advance reservation plan into a frenzy. On the day Nintendo announced the console price at $449.99, the Trump administration announced tariffs in dozens of countries, including Vietnam. Pre-orders were set to begin on April 9th, but by April 4th, Nintendo delayed the process indefinitely.
“Pre-orders for the US Nintendo Switch 2 will not begin on April 9, 2025 to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions,” Nintendo said in a statement provided to passthecontroller. “Nintendo will update the timing at a later date. The start date for June 5th, 2025 has not been changed.”
Tariffs are suspended – for now – Nintendo has time to build its stockpile. Bernstein analyst Robin Zoo told Bloomberg he doesn’t think Nintendo would raise prices if tariffs remain at 10%. Nintendo has not yet announced a new date for pre-orders.
