China's products are of high quality and low price, and they also meet the needs of many countries, and more and more countries import products from China.
Why Import From China?
More than 90 percent of the total world’s goods are manufactured in China, and almost 80 percent of goods are imported worldwide from China. And these figures show that the Chinese economy is expanding and how the whole world relies on China products.
The low cost and high quality makes China’s products the foremost choice of everyone. So, when it’s come to import of goods, China appears as the best choice. And it is present at the top of the list.
Pros:
Manufacturing cost is low
Labor is quite cheap
China has high manufacturing capacity which let you buy products in bulk at the lowest price
Access to the global market
The popularity of China products urges the traders to import from China
Easy transportation or shipment via sea. Air or road
Custom duty is deficient as compared to other countries
The assistance of the Chinese government, which makes it feasible to import from China
Easy ways for payments while trading with China
Chinese manufactures to offer you better services as compared to others
You can also start your brand or facilitates private labeling
Better expansion and diversification opportunities
Free shipment, if you order in bulk
Prevention from scams
Cons:
Communication can be a significant problem
Difficulty in finding the producer
Most of the time, the minimum order quantity is 1000 pcs, which is a Cons iderable problem for most of the buyers
Sometimes shipping may not be on time
Quality of goods is susceptible in a few cases
Unpredictability (economic and political issues)
Exchange rate
Obtaining the license and documents to import is difficult
Returns or refunds are not easy
Terms Used Frequently When Importing From China
While importing from China, you may encounter some new terms, so all those terms with a brief description are given below.
·EXW (Ex Works)
EXW refers to the international trade agreement, according to which the supplier has to manufacture all on time at his business place. So, the delivery of products before the deadline can be ensured.
And the buyer will be responsible for the shipment once the products left the seller’s business address. The buyer has to manage all the costs and liabilities of the delivery.
Well, while in the case of shipment, the buyer is responsible for all the risks and charges. The Ex Works enables the buyer to get an idea about the cost and other issues related to import in advance.
Therefore, the seller cannot increase the local cost, and buyers control the price and other issues of shipment. So, indeed this term is quite beneficial for the buyer.
·FOB (Free on Board)
Sometimes while shipping, the products may get damaged, and free onboard demonstrates that who will be responsible for the damaged pieces.
The FOB agreement is quite crucial and helps out in handling all the issue which traders’ usually face in import/export business.
Further on, the FOB shipping point implies that the buyer will be responsible for any type of loss or damage during shipment. According to the FOB destination, the seller will bear all the risks and charges in case of any destruction.
The term free onboard is employed while dealing with non-containerized sea freight or inland waterway transport of products.
·C&F (Cost and Freight)
Cost and freight is a legal term, commonly used in international import/export business. According to this term, the seller will not get the marine insurance against the risk of loss or damage of goods during shipment.
Under this agreement, the manufacturer caters the products to the destination (sea/port). And the seller will also hand over all the necessary or required documents to the buyer with goods.
·CIF (Cost, Insurance And Freight)
Cost, insurance, and freight is a trade term that ensures the safest delivery of goods to the port of destination and provides all the required documents to the buyer.
The European countries use the cost, insurance, and freight to calculate the duties which are paid at the import.
·B/L (Bill of Landing)
B/L is a document supplied by the carrier to the shipper. It is like a contract, which permits the carriage of goods. The Bill of landing is a receipt for the cargo. Which is accepted for transportation and you need to get it before the delivery of goods.
The bill of lading includes the following components
Vessel name
Consignor’s and Consignee’s names
Ports of departure
Dates of departure or arrival
List of goods being transported
Packaging details
Weight, volume and cost of the freight
How Do I Find A Worthy Trust Suppliers?
In the import-export business, sourcing means searching a reliable supplier that would help you to import goods from china. Beside it, the supplier also ensures the excellent quality and on-time shipment of products.
With the rapid increase in production needs, finding the right supplier at the right moment is a strategic issue. Well, it is not more accessible as it seems to be.
The following are sourcing agents that can let you help in finding the supplier.
·Alibaba/AliExpress
Alibaba and AliExpress are the two most popular and highly recommended marketplaces of China. Alibaba can be a difficult place to work at if you are a beginner.
Alibaba has grown in size tremendously over the years. It has a massive variety of goods and a large number of suppliers. You can get all the details about the suppliers here, and can also contact them through the company.
The suppliers you will find here will be reliable and trustworthy. And AliExpress and Alibaba are the same company with a different name.
The suppliers can display the products at the company’s site and can attract buyers from all over the globe. And this way, suppliers provide the Chinese goods to buyers at low prices.
Alibaba is just a Chinese version of Amazon, and the only difference is in price and delivery time. The company is dedicated to serving the trade field while providing high-quality goods and supplier information for global buyers.
The only issue you will face here will be language, and therefore, you may face a communication gap.
·Global Sources
A lot of growing companies focus on offering trusted suppliers. So, customers can get reliable god quality products at low prices in a peaceful way.
Some companies can provide you cheap products, but their qualities can be susceptible. When you contact the suppliers through a company, you will get the most trustworthy suppliers.
Global sourcing takes some strict measures and follows the policies while selecting the suppliers. Besides, the company also visits the factory to ensure the quality of goods.
You can choose the supplier according to your requirements as all the suppliers are trustworthy and reliable.
·Trade Shows
When you attend the trade shows and trade fairs, you can talk to the potential suppliers face to face. While in meeting with the suppliers you can learn about
The company values
Their products
The production capacity of the company
And quality control procedures of the company
Trade shows offer direct interaction with potential suppliers, which will allow you to see the abilities of suppliers intimately and personally. The two most popular trade shows held in China are the Canton Fair and the East China Fair.
Canton Fair is the biggest trade fair of China, held twice a year in Guangzhou near Hong Kong in southern China. Trade fair attracts thousands of attendees with a great variety of goods.
The East China Fair is the largest regional trade show of China, and it is held once a year in Shanghai. This trade show offers an excellent platform for a large number of traders to exhibit a wide range of goods with the necessary details of the products.
Besides these two, there are many other trade shows held around the year in China. The primary purpose of these trade shows is to connect buyers and suppliers under the same roof.
The suppliers the trades show with their products and display them to attract the buyers. Suppliers welcome all the queries and suggestions of importers. They communicate with each other and try to develop loyal relationships.
·Yiwu Wholesale Market
The city of Yiwu is famous for providing a wide range of China products. So, if you want to get reliable suppliers, take a visit to the Yiwu market and then go with the agent to contact the supplier.
With the development of SRM, buyers search for new ways to communicate with suppliers. Customer service and technical support play a key role while making decisions.
Though it includes many other factors when it comes to the selection of a reliable supplier, you need to take much care of while selecting the supplier.
How do I get Contact with Suppliers?
An email will most likely be the only way to communicate while importing from China. Language is a significant issue while dealing with China.
Now, they can take help from Google to translate while interacting with customers. And ii addition, most of them can speak English.
For the sake of clear communication, keep your emails as simple as they can be. Your email should be straight to the point and error-free so that that manufacture can entertain it in a better way.
Furthermore, try to number your questions, as it will facilitate the manufacture while answering your queries.
·Requesting For Quote
A request for a quote is a standard business process, and its purpose is to invite suppliers for the bidding process to bid on the specific products.
Requesting for quote involves more than the price per item. Information like payment terms, contract length, and quality level per item can be required in the bidding process.
It is a straightforward process, but it’s better to take a few minutes so that you can plan for your email. It will help you to get better replies.
·Minimal Order Quantities
You need to check the minimum order quantity twice to make sure it’s right. If the minimum order quantity is beyond your limits, you can request the supplier if he/she can negotiate the minimums.
Let them know what you can afford. And above all, the minimum order quantity is not negotiable in all cases.
·Pricing For Sample Orders
While importing from China, quality can be an issue. So, ensure the high quality of goods to ask for a sample from your supplier.
Ask the price of samples, as a few suppliers demand a minimum amount for samples. In contrast, others can provide examples free of cost.
·Production Pricing
It is an important question you need to ask from the supplier. Suppliers can give you a wide range of costs, so It’s crucial to ask about the exact price of a single piece.
·Production Time
The customers cannot wait for a long to get their products, so ask the supplier about delivery time. A quick shipment can be a base of your successful business.
·Payment Terms
You need to know about the payment term, and it is crucial to know about it. The inventory is a high cost for the e-commerce setup.
How To Ship My Products From China Easily, Cheaply, And Quickly?
Every country has its own unique needs and requirements when it comes to freight and logistics solutions. Countless factors can affect shipping requirements.
Following are the way of shipment, you need to get through them and choose the one according to your demand and needs.
·Air Freight
Air freight is regarded as the safest and secure means of fastest delivery of goods across the country and internationally. If you want a quick shipment, wish to keep the fresh products in better condition or need to improve services, air freight can be a better option.
Pros:
Air freight is timeous
It has an extensive reach
Highly accurate shipping dates
Increased safety of goods with air freight
Easy tracking
Cons:
A costly shipping solution
Size and weight limitations
Unexpected weather conditions may cause a delay in shipments
Shipping with new horizon freight solution
·Sea Freight
There was a time when the ocean was the only choice to transport goods. But now in the age of aviation and broad-scale road, sea freight remains vital. However, there are certain conditions under which it is favorable, while other factors will make it less desirable.
Well, if you are planning to use sea freight for your next shipment, Consider its Pros and Cons first.
Pros:
There is no limit to the weight
Carry any kind of goods
Cost-effective
Ecofriendly
Cons:
Shipment can take a long time to reach the destination
Custom papers are unavoidable
Security issues
Import Duty & Tax from China
While importing products from china, you will have to pay the tax, clearance documents, and onerous duties. Chinese goods are an excellent choice for the importers, as one can easily resell the Chinese products in the local market.
The tariff depends on the goods and country to whom products are being imported. Well, it can make the whole process a little bit more complicated.
Frequently Asked Questions
All the possible questions related to the import of products from China, along with answers, are given below
·Is Importing From China Profitable?
It is a matter of the fact that Chinese products are cheap and offer you a huge profit margin.
·Required To Import From China?
Above all, you need to select the products which you want to import and a reliable supplier. And then try to get all the required documents required to cross the border.
·Is It Easy To Import From China?
A high-profit margin with good quality of products makes them most suitable to import. The only thing that you need to Consider is the required documents. So, get all the needed papers, and you are free to import from China.
·What Is The Cost Of Importing From China?
The amount of cost to import from China depends on the number of goods and destination country.
·Which Country Imports Most From China?
Well, surprisingly, it’s the United States at the top of the list, followed by European countries and Japan.
·How Do I Start Importing From China?
The following are the requirements you need to fulfill while importing from China.
Identify your import rights
Select the products you want to import from China
Get the required documents or permission to import from china
Classify your goods and calculate the landed cost
Find the supplier to place the order
Arrange your cargo transport
Track your cargo and get ready to receive the goods
Obtain the shipment
China’s market is still very large and needs more exploration.