Today, you can find Chinese-made goods in every corner of the world. China has injected strong momentum into the global economy as a manufacturing superpower. This proves that importing goods from China is a profitable business. However, it is not an easy task for many newcomers. The process of importing goods from China is extremely complicated, including how to choose products, how to transport them, etc. This guide will help you understand the steps, tips, transportation, tariffs, and other issues you are concerned about when importing from China. This will help you import goods from China quickly and efficiently.
Determine the goods you want to import from China
Identifying the goods to be imported is the first step towards a successful import from China! Choosing your products wisely is crucial. You need to determine the product type, research market demand, understand compliance requirements in the target country, and assess shipping characteristics. By selecting the right suppliers, obtaining samples, calculating costs, and developing a detailed import plan, you can lay a solid foundation for the subsequent procurement, shipping, and customs clearance processes. This will ensure an efficient and smooth import process!
Make sure that the goods you want to import are allowed into your country
Before working with suppliers and making your first purchases, you must confirm that the goods you plan to import can be imported into the target country and ensure that all goods comply with national regulations. This includes checking whether they fall into restricted or prohibited categories, require special certification or labelling, and require an import license. By understanding import policies, consulting with customs or a professional customs broker, and ensuring that goods comply with free trade agreements and intellectual property rights regulations, you can avoid the risk of goods being seized, fined or subject to legal proceedings and ensure that the import process is legal and compliant.
Sample order and supplier selection
Once you decide which products to source, you must find a supplier or trading partner. By specifying your product requirements, assessing the supplier’s qualifications, and ordering and testing samples, you can get a comprehensive picture of the product’s quality and the supplier’s reliability. Compare multiple suppliers’ sample quality, price and service level to select the most suitable partner. Signing a contract and establishing a long-term relationship can ensure smooth delivery and efficient cooperation for subsequent orders.
When selecting a trading partner in China, you need to look for a supplier with the following characteristics:
- long-term experience with the product or category
- a well-established professional operation
- an agreed price that gives you sufficient profit
- after-sales support and/or a warranty
- all applicable certificates required in your country
- already exported to your country and can provide references
- reasonable payment terms for you
Purchase the product
Once you have identified a partner, you can order with the Chinese supplier. It is recommended that the first order be placed in a small quantity to familiarize yourself with the transaction process, including key details such as payment methods, invoices, and exchange rates. Confirming the product specification document with the supplier is essential to ensure that the goods received meet the expected quality standards.
Prepare for import
Preparing for import requires a comprehensive understanding of the import process, preparation of the necessary documents (such as commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin, etc.), selection of a reliable freight forwarder and calculation of import costs (including tariffs, taxes and insurance costs), as well as arrangements for customs clearance, warehousing and distribution to ensure that the goods pass through customs smoothly and are delivered on time. By planning and preparing thoroughly, you can avoid potential problems, ensure that the entire import process is efficient and smooth, and ultimately have the goods arrive at their destination on time and in good condition.
Selecting the correct shipping method
Once you have understood the import process, you need to select the corresponding freight shipping method. The choice of shipping method depends on your budget, the size and weight of the goods, and the delivery time. Below, we have listed a variety of shipping methods for you to choose from:
Sea Freight
It is suitable for large quantities, heavy goods, limited budgets, and goods that do not require a tight delivery schedule. Sea Freight can be divided into the following two methods:
• Full Container Load (FCL): Suitable for large quantities and high-value goods. Only a single shipper uses the entire container, avoiding the process of disassembly and assembly and improving transport efficiency.
• Less than Container Load (LCL): Multiple shippers share a container suitable for small quantities of goods, but additional time is required for unpacking and distribution.
If the quantity of goods is large, choosing a full container load is recommended, which can reduce loading and unloading links and speed up transport efficiency.
Air freight
It is suitable for light, small, and high-value goods. Air freight’s advantage is fast transit times, which not only significantly shorten the transit time but also reduce the risk of damage during long-distance Transport.
Intermodal Transport: an efficient and flexible logistics solution
Intermodal Transport refers to the combination of different transport modes, such as Sea Freight, Air Freight, Road Freight, and Rail Freight, in the same transport process to improve logistics efficiency, reduce costs, and optimize supply chain management.
The Advantages of Intermodal Transport
- Cost optimization: Combining different modes of Transport reduces overall logistics costs.
- Efficient and convenient: Fewer transfers increase transport efficiency.
- Flexible adaptation: Suitable for various cargo needs and optimizes logistics solutions.
- Reduced losses: Fewer times of loading and unloading goods minimizes the risk of damage.
Common multimodal transport modes
- Sea Freight + Rail (Sea-Rail Transport): Suitable for long-distance bulk cargo transport, such as the European and Russian markets.
- Sea Freight + Road (Sea-Rail-Road): Suitable for inland city distribution, improving delivery flexibility.
- Air Freight + Road (Air-Rail-Road): Suitable for urgent goods, delivering quickly to the final destination.
Distribution options: Customized and efficient delivery
Your freight forwarder can manage the entire transportation process according to your preferred mode of Transport, ensuring efficient and safe delivery.
Distribution methods
- Port-to-port: Goods are transported from the port of departure to the destination port. This is suitable for situations where you need to arrange your subsequent transportation.
- Port to door: Delivery from the destination port to your specified address. The freight forwarder is responsible for port customs clearance and subsequent transportation, reducing your logistics management pressure.
- Door to door: Pick up directly from the supplier’s warehouse and transport the entire journey to your final destination. This one-stop logistics service maximizes convenience.
Monitor the shipping process, the arrival of the goods and the final inspection
Obtain the tracking number: Ask the supplier or freight forwarder for the tracking number so they can always know the location of the goods and prepare the warehouse in advance.
Pay attention to the shipping progress: International shipping may be subject to delays. If the goods are stagnant or the tracking information is missing, please get in touch with the freight forwarder immediately. A simple phone call can solve problems with incomplete documents or unclear information.
Shipping time reference:
· Sea Freight to the US West Coast: about two weeks
Sea Freight to the East Coast of the United States: about one month
The recipient is usually notified before the goods arrive at the port of entry. Still, monitoring the tracking system is advisable to ensure that customs clearance and collection can be arranged quickly.
The final step after the goods arrive at the port:
Inspection and quality check: After receiving the goods, it is important to immediately check their completeness and quality, as manufacturers usually only accept claims for a short period. Identifying problems will help to process claims or remedies with the supplier quickly.
Importing from China requires the use of international trade terms.
In international trade, international trade terms are used to clarify the obligations of the buyer and seller regarding transportation, insurance, tariffs and liability sharing. Choosing the correct trade term can effectively reduce risks and optimize costs. The following are standard trade terms and their applications:
- EXW (ex-works): the buyer bears all transportation and customs clearance costs from the supplier’s factory to the final destination. It is suitable for importers with established logistics channels.
- FOB (Free on Board): The supplier is responsible for delivering the goods to the Chinese port and completing export customs clearance. The buyer is responsible for sea freight, insurance, and import customs clearance. This applies to sea freight and bulk purchases.
- CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight): The supplier is responsible for sea freight and insurance, and the buyer is responsible for customs clearance at the port of destination and local transportation costs. This applies to situations where the supplier is responsible for sea freight.
- DAP (Delivered at Place): The supplier bears the cost of transporting the goods to the buyer’s designated location (excluding import duties and taxes). This applies to buyers who want the supplier to handle most transport arrangements.
- DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): The supplier is responsible for all transport, insurance import duties and taxes, and the buyer does not need to deal with customs clearance. This applies to companies that want to simplify the import process.
- FCA (Free Carrier): The supplier is responsible for delivering the goods to the named carrier. This applies to buyers who need more flexible logistics arrangements.
- CFR (Cost and Freight): The supplier pays the freight, not the insurance. This applies to situations where the supplier is expected to bear the cost of Sea Freight but arrange the insurance themselves.
The role of freight forwarders in Chinese imports
Freight forwarders are key in international logistics, helping companies pass through customs and ensure import compliance. Here’s how they can optimize the process:
- Apply for customs clearance documents: The agent is responsible for preparing and reviewing the necessary documents, such as commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, certificates of origin, etc., to ensure compliance with customs requirements and avoid delays caused by document errors.
- Tariff and tax calculation: Familiar with the tariff policies of various countries, calculate import taxes and fees in advance to ensure compliant declarations and avoid additional fines or detention of goods.
- Regulatory compliance: Understand the importing country’s product certification, inspection and quarantine requirements, and prohibited or restricted goods to help companies comply with regulations and avoid compliance risks.
- Customs declaration and communication: The agent can directly communicate with the customs to ensure that the declaration process is carried out efficiently and that any issues are quickly responded to and resolved.
- Accelerate cargo release: Pre-clearance, AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) qualification and other methods can reduce the review time and speed up the clearance of goods.
- Coordinate subsequent transportation: After the goods have been cleared, the agent can arrange warehousing, distribution, and delivery to ensure they arrive at their final destination smoothly.
Read the article below to find out about importing from other countries.
- What must I declare to Customs when importing goods into the United States?
- Import To Australia Tax 101: What You Need To Know
- Understanding EXW Shipping: What Exporters and Importers Need to Know
- Sailing Smoothly: HongOcean on Taxes to Import from China
- Unlocking the Product Benefits of Importing from Mexico with Hongocean
- Importing Toys into the United States: A Comprehensive Guide
- Import Fees from Japan: Complete Guide to Costs and Requirements
- Importing from France: A Complete Guide to Costs and Compliance
- Ex Works Meaning: Key Points for Importers
