Sourcing Guides

A practical guide for importers, wholesalers and retail buyers: how a China sourcing agent works, what it costs, and the 7 steps from first inquiry to goods arriving at your port.

What AQL means, how inspectors choose sample sizes, what is checked during a pre-shipment inspection in China, and how to set acceptance limits for critical, major and minor defects.

How buying from several Chinese suppliers and shipping in one container works, the difference between LCL and FCL, container sizes, and when consolidation saves money.

A clear comparison of the three most common Incoterms for imports from China: who pays for what, where the risk passes to the buyer, and which term suits first-time and experienced importers.

Practical checks to tell a real factory from a trading company or a scam: business licence, production capacity, samples, audits and safe payment, before you place an order in China.

How to buy at Yiwu International Trade City, the world’s largest wholesale market for small commodities: what it sells, how buying works, MOQs, and how to ship many small orders in one container.

Which certifications and tests your products need before leaving China: what CE, FDA, RoHS, REACH and EN71 cover, who is responsible, and how to avoid problems at customs.