How to Start Shipping from China

Currently, China holds a leading position in the production of various goods. The number of entrepreneurs shifting their manufacturing to this country and subsequently establishing new businesses specializing in supplying goods to the United States is increasing every day.

The process of transporting goods from China is relatively straightforward and can be broken down into several stages.

Market Analysis

The initial stage involves market analysis, which requires answering key questions:

• Is there a demand for the purchased goods in the U.S.?
• What is the total cost (including the product's price, shipping costs, and customs fees) of this merchandise in the United States?

With a positive response to the first question and an acceptable figure for the second question, one can move forward to the next stage.

Supplier Selection

The first stage involves identifying and selecting suppliers. They can be found at specialized trade shows, on websites, or in industry directories. It is essential to consider the reputation of the supplier by utilizing client feedback and publicly available company rankings. After selecting approximately 4-5 preferred companies, you can proceed to the next steps.

Supplier Familiarization

The second stage entails direct interaction with the selected supplier. This phase involves meeting with the management, reviewing all registration documents, and understanding the production process of the goods.

Contract Negotiation

The third stage involves contract negotiation and potentially additional agreements. During this phase, terms of cooperation, costs, delivery schedules, and responsibilities for contract breaches are discussed.

Purchasing and Transportation

The fourth stage includes purchasing the goods and arranging transportation. The transportation of goods can be carried out via various methods such as rail, air, sea, and road transport. Maritime and road transport are the most popular delivery methods. Sea transport is facilitated using specialized containers, while road transport utilizes dedicated trucks. To minimize costs, consolidation and delivery of consolidated cargoes can be utilized.

Customs Clearance

The fifth stage involves clearing customs. This can be done independently (requiring registration as a participant in foreign trade) or by engaging a customs broker who can efficiently manage all customs-related matters for a fee.

Product Implementation

The final stage involves selling the merchandise that was sourced from China. This marks the culmination of the entire process initiated by exploring new business opportunities in the Chinese market.