A lot of people and businesses can’t wait to get their import business going. Definitely, this is a better idea to work on. But it’s not easy to bring goods into your own country and sell them there. Before you start importing, you will need to do your research. If not, you could end up wasting your money.
China is a good place to start your import business. But there are some important things you should know before you buy things from China. First, let’s talk about them.
Why You Should You be Importing Products From China
If you’re reading this, you’re probably a first-time importer looking for products to bring in and countries to bring them from. Or you might be the one who wants to grow the business.
China is one of the best places to go in both cases. Why China, though?
Since 2009, China has been the country that exports the most goods. Check out the stats below from Statista to get an idea of what it’s like.
Every year, China sends out more goods worth more than $2 trillion. There must be an explanation. The Chinese government helps their exporters, and compared to the rest of the world, the cost of making and making things in China is very low. China has put its people to work and makes almost all kinds of goods at very low prices. So, if you buy things from China, you can get good prices and low import duties.
Deciding Upon The Products
Now, you should look for a good product to import from China based on what people in your area or country want. Well, you might already know what you want to sell, but if you don’t, don’t worry. You just need to read this part of the article more carefully.
I would rather look for something in your niche. Find a product you’ve been using or that you enjoy working with.
This will get you more interested in the business than any other product could. It will also help you stay in the business for a long time.
Having these kinds of products can keep you motivated as you do business and make it more than just work for you. It will become your passion, and your chances of being successful will go up.
Look for a product with the following features, keeping in mind the import point of view.
Rather small, if possible. If your product is easy to move around, it will cost less to ship.
Find a product that is different and has features that make it stand out. You can also look for better versions of products that used to be sold in your area.
Make sure the price you’re asking isn’t too high. A good price range for a product would be between $10 and $200.
Make sure the products you want to bring into your country are legal there, and you won’t have any trouble selling them.
You’ll save money and be able to reach a bigger market than with other products thanks to these features.
How Can You Find The Best Local Supplier
Don’t worry about how to find a good supplier in China. With the four ways below, it’s easy to find different suppliers.
Exhibitions
Every year, there are many trade shows in China, and the best way to find a good Chinese Supplier is to go to these fairs. Here, you can not only talk to the supplier but also look at the product in person. You’ll save a lot of time by doing this.
The Guangzhou Canton Fair is one of the largest trade shows in the city. It usually happens twice a year, in April and October. Every exhibition has three parts, and during this fair, you can look for many different things.
Social Media
Social media is a very big place to meet people. Many social media apps can be very helpful when looking for a good supplier. Even though this takes a lot of time, you can get in touch with the client directly through ads and community groups.
Keep in mind, though, that what you see on Social Media isn’t always true. For example, a picture or product might look great, but the real thing might be different or of a lower quality.
Other Online Platforms
Alibaba, which is the largest online platform in China, is the most important one. Here, you can find thousands of suppliers for a wide range of products. Aside from that, there are many more online B2C and B2B marketplaces in China, such as AliExpress.
Now, these platforms are, in theory, easy to use. However, you can run into problems, like low-quality products or B2C resellers (like AliExpress) where you have to pay the same price no matter how many items you buy. This makes it hard for you to make a big difference.
Visiting Markets Physically
In China, you could go to different wholesale markets. China’s biggest wholesale market for export goods is in Yiwu International Trade City. It takes up about 4 million square meters, has more than 70,000 booths, and is split into five areas with different kinds of products in each.
Everything is available in China, from different kinds of food to handmade items. Keep in mind, though, that going to China isn’t exactly cheap. You have to be there in person to go to these markets, so you’ll have to pay for your hotel, transportation, food, and any other costs you might have while you’re there.
Sourcing and Fulfillment Platform
Most likely, the easiest way to import products from China is to use online platforms that can help you with everything from finding products to getting them delivered.
One of these platforms is, which lets you get wholesale quotes from an online dashboard quickly and on your own.
In just a few days, you will get a full quote that includes all import costs like shipping, import duties, and customs clearance.
Only works with the best suppliers in China and offers services to help you figure out the value of a product before buying a lot of it.
With, you can safely source in China and be sure that your products are of high quality, without spending hundreds of hours researching factories or going to fairs, and without worrying about things getting “lost in translation.”
Be Aware Of The Documentation Required
It is important to know what permits, licenses, or paperwork are needed to bring goods from China into the country. The most important documents needed are,
Air Waybill or Bill of Lading.
Certificate of the Country of Origin.
Insurance Certificate.
Purchase Order.
Commercial Invoice cum Packing List.
Bill in advance.
Credit Letter.
Certificate of Health
Most of the researchers who work with Dissertation Help UK say that you will have to go through different US government departments to find out about these documents. Go to the Department of Commerce to start your trip. On the US Customs and Border Patrol website, you can easily find information about the licenses and paperwork you need.
It is best to wait until your application is approved before putting in an order for import.
Importing Products From China: Incoterms
You will hear a lot of International Commercial Terms when working with shipments and exporters. You should know these terms to keep the import process running smoothly. Let’s talk about some of the most common Incoterms used in China.
EXW – EX Works
It’s basically a shipping deal where the seller is in charge of making the products and giving them to the buyer. Now, it’s up to the buyer to get it to the right place and pay for everything, including shipping, booking, customs declaration, and inspection. Most of the time, buyers will avoid this type of shipment because it comes with all the risk and costs of shipping.
FOB – Free On Board
In this type of shipment, the seller brings the items you bought to the port and loads them onto the ship. The seller is also in charge of getting the export through customs. At this point, the responsibility shifts to the buyer, and it’s up to the buyer to get the goods to their final destination. During international trade, this is one of the most common ways to ship goods.
CFR – Cost and Freight
This is similar to FOB, but the seller is also responsible for paying the costs and freight to get the goods to the destination port.
CIF – Cost, Insurance and Freight
In this kind of shipping, the seller is responsible for the cost, the freight, and the insurance. After the products are onboarded, the risk is still passed to the buyer.
DDP – Delivered Duty Paid
In international trade, this is the most popular way to ship, but very few exporters agree on it. In this case, the seller is responsible for all of the costs and risks until the goods reach their final destination. Risks and costs are passed on to the buyer once the item has been delivered.