What is the Cheapest Way to Import from China: The Ultimate Guide – Union Source

If you take a moment to look around, I bet you’ll see tons of Chinese products. Your phone, furniture, kitchenware, and clothes either contain elements from China or are made in China. The truth is, China is a manufacturing powerhouse. It makes a surprising number of products, often at a fraction of the price of domestic factories.

We are here to demystify the process of importing from China. After reading this guide, you should feel confident making the most of what China has to offer your business.

1. Things You Need to Know About Looking Suppliers

Once you decide what to import, you need to find a supplier who can ship or manufacture the product. There are a few things to keep in mind when looking for suppliers in China.

First, it is important to ensure that the supplier is reputable and has a good track record.

Another thing to keep in mind is the shipping cost. Importing items in bulk is often cheaper, so be sure to ask your supplier for their minimum order quantities.

Finally, it is important to be aware of any tariffs or customs duties that may apply to the products you’re importing.

China has a lot of suppliers, the following are several ways to find suppliers:

2. Yiwu Wholesale Market

Yiwu Wholesale Market has been around for nearly 20 years and has grown from strength to strength ever since. In fact, it is now considered one of the top three wholesale markets in China as it is a hub for SMEs. If you want a lot of household items, kitchen items, gadgets, and more, you can find them all here.

3. Alibaba.com

It’s the best easy way to find a Chinese supplier. This Website has millions of different suppliers and allows you to search for products by category or keyword. It’s as easy as shopping on Amazon.

4. Made-in-China.com

Another great resource for finding Chinese suppliers is Made-in-China.com. This Website is specifically for Chinese manufacturers, and it has over 100,000 different suppliers listed on it. It’s a great place to find reliable suppliers, but it’s important to be careful and do your due diligence before making a final decision.

5. Canton Fair and East China Fair

The Canton Fair is the largest trade fair in the world and is held twice a year in Guangzhou. The China Fair is also a good choice to be held in Shanghai. This is a great way to find Chinese suppliers, you can find a lot of quality suppliers.

6. Find One Sourcing Company

If you’re just starting out and don’t have any business experience, it’s best to find someone who has experience importing from China. Some people make this their full-time job and they can help you find reliable suppliers. The purchasing company of the trading company will contact suppliers and Chinese factories on your behalf. You even just need to send them a picture or description of the product you want and they will send you a detailed quotation.

Union Source was founded in 2005 and specialized in general merchandise procurement and export. We provide one-stop China sourcing solutions which include product sourcing, customization service, supplier selecting, OEM & ODM, factory audit, order follow-up, quality control, shipment, goods shipment tracking, and finance support.
Union Source, make global sourcing easier!

7. Cost of Shipping

Another thing to look out for when buying is Incoterms. Essentially, they tell port authorities, freight companies, and other parts of the supply chain who pays for their services. So it is very important for your costing to pay attention to which incoterm the price is based on. Ideally, you can look for sellers that offer FOB or better. This way, you only pay half the cost of the journey.

When the goods are completed, you can complete the transportation in the following ways:

• Air Freight

Although more expensive than sea freight, air freight is a much faster option, with shipments reaching their destination within around five to seven days.

• Express Courier

This is the fastest option, and the goods arrive at their destination within two or three days. However, it is also the most expensive shipping method. Usually suitable for small quantities of high-value orders.

• Sea Freight

This is the most common shipping method for imports from China, and it usually takes about 45 days to reach the destination. Shipping costs depend on the weight and volume of your shipment, as well as the destination country.

• Door to Door Service

Door Door service also is very favorite now by customers. If you have no relevant experience, this method is the easiest. The agent will arrange everything and get the goods shipped from China to your designated warehouse.

In fact, you have a lot of options, from a variety of suppliers to different methods of shipping your goods. How you choose these options depends on the product you buy, your experience, your budget, and more. Hope you can find the cheapest way to import from China that suits you.

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