China sourcing guides & resources
Everything you need to source, verify, import and ship from China with confidence: practical playbooks distilled from 15+ years on the ground across India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
How to Source Products from China: A Step-by-Step Guide
The complete beginner-to-pro playbook for sourcing manufactured goods from China.
What Is a China Sourcing Agent? Costs, Benefits & How to Choose
When a sourcing agent saves you money and risk — and how to pick a trustworthy one.
Importing from China to India & the Middle East: Duties, Customs & Logistics
Duties, documents and customs essentials for importing into India and the GCC.
Supplier Verification & Factory Audits: How to Vet Chinese Manufacturers
How to confirm a factory is real, capable and safe to order from before you pay.
Shipping & Freight from China: Sea vs Air, Costs & Timelines
Choosing between sea and air freight — and keeping costs and timelines under control.
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The sourcing vocabulary, in plain English.
MOQ, FOB, DDP, HS codes: importing comes with its own alphabet. Here are the terms you'll meet most, explained without the jargon.
- Minimum Order QuantityMOQ
- The smallest quantity a factory will produce for one order. Often negotiable, especially against a higher unit price or a trial run.
- Incoterms
- Standard trade terms that define exactly where the supplier's responsibility ends and yours begins for shipping, risk and cost.
- Free On BoardFOB
- The supplier delivers and clears your goods onto the vessel at a Chinese port; you control and pay for freight from there.
- Delivered Duty PaidDDP
- The seller or your sourcing partner handles everything: freight, export, import, duties and final delivery to your door.
- FCL vs LCL
- Full Container Load books a whole container for your goods; Less than Container Load shares one with other shippers, which is cheaper for small volumes.
- HS Code
- The international tariff classification for your product. It decides your duty rate and the paperwork customs will expect.
- Pre-Shipment InspectionPSI
- An independent quality check on finished goods before they leave the factory; your last chance to catch defects in China.
- Landed Cost
- The true all-in cost of a product at your door: unit price plus freight, insurance, duty, taxes and clearance, not just the factory quote.
- Lead Time
- The total time from confirmed order to goods ready to ship. Production plus sampling and sourcing add up to your real timeline.
Common questions about sourcing from China.
The questions importers ask us most, with quick, straight answers before you dive into the full guides.
Where do I start if I've never imported from China?
Start by writing a clear product specification and a realistic budget, then shortlist three to five suppliers, order samples, and arrange an independent inspection before paying the balance. If that sounds like a lot, a sourcing partner can run the whole process for you, from vetting factories to delivering to your door.
How much does it cost to import from China?
Think in terms of landed cost, not just the factory price. Your total includes the unit cost, freight (sea or air), insurance, customs duty, local taxes and last-mile delivery. Calculating this up front keeps your margins predictable and avoids surprises at the border.
Do I need an import licence to bring goods into India or the UAE?
In most cases, yes. India requires an Importer Exporter Code (IEC); the UAE and wider GCC require an importer registration, and some products need additional approvals (BIS in India, ESMA in the UAE). We help you confirm what your specific product needs before you ship.
What's the smallest order I can place with a Chinese factory?
It depends on the product and the factory's MOQ, which can range from a few dozen to several thousand units. MOQs are often negotiable, and consolidating multiple suppliers into one shipment lets smaller buyers import efficiently.
How do I make sure I don't get scammed?
Verify the supplier's business licence, pay only into the company's registered bank account, use staged payments instead of 100% upfront, and insist on a pre-shipment inspection. Prices that look far too good to be true usually are.
Is a sourcing agent cheaper than buying direct from the factory?
Buying direct can offer the lowest sticker price, but a good agent often recovers their fee through better-negotiated pricing, fewer defects and avoided mistakes, while saving you the time and risk of managing it all yourself. The right choice depends on your volume, product complexity and experience.
How long does a first order take, end to end?
As a rule of thumb, expect 30–60 days for production, plus 3–7 days by air or 25–40 days by sea, with sampling and supplier vetting adding time up front. Clear specs and a partner who runs stages in parallel keep this as tight as possible.
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