How do I start selling things from China?
- Research the Market. Your first step to making money by selling Chinese products online is research. ...
- Contact Your Chinese Manufacturers. ...
- Negotiate. ...
- Order Samples. ...
- Create Product Posting. ...
- Analyze Sales. ...
- Re-order or Pivot.
There are three ways to ship your items from China: air courier, air freight, and sea freight. Air courier is simple for most people to understand. UPS, FedEx, and DHL are air courier services. This is what they call a door-to-door service.
...
Here are some reliable platforms for you to buy cheap products from China:
- Alibaba.
- DHgate.
- Made in China.
- Global Sources.
...
Here are the most popular and the best products to import from China:
- Apparel.
- Electronics.
- Plastics and articles made of plastics.
- Accessories.
- Small kitchen appliances.
- The Canton Fair. China's largest import/export convention is held twice a year and covers virtually every industry that makes physical products. ...
- Yiwu Market. ...
- B2B marketplaces. ...
- Sourcing agents. ...
- Google. ...
- Baidu. ...
- Your industry network.
Do you need a wholesale license? To import certain wholesale items from China, you may need a wholesale license. It may not be required for all items, but it is better to check if your business needs one. You must check your local laws regarding the licensing requirements.
Freight Costs from China to the USA
Currently, average freight costs for the various shipping methods can be range from: Air Express from China to the US: $5 to $9 per kilo. Air Freight from China to the US: $4 to $8 per kilo. Sea Freight from China to the US: $3000-$3900 per container.
- Animals and/or plants and their products carrying dangerous viruses, bacteria and injurious insects.
- Any item which is harmful to China's politics, economy, culture/morals.
The catalog identifies several types of “prohibited commodities”: used garments; used publications with licentious content; radioactive or harmful industrial waste; and junk and restricted commodities.
If you're importing clothes made in China with FOB prices exceeding $5,000 per piece, you'll have to pay 27% duty plus additional state taxes.
What is the top 10 items imported from China?
Items | Value (US$B) | % of Total Imports |
---|---|---|
Automatic data processing machines | $37.2 | 8.4% |
Trycicles, scooters and similar wheeled toys & other toys | $12.3 | 2.8% |
Communication apparatus | $11.3 | 2.5% |
Games; articles for funfair | $5.4 | 1.2% |
You do not need a special Import-Export License in India to do business with China. You just need an import-export licence with an IEC Number to do business with China or any other country in the world.

- Crude petroleum – $150 billion.
- Iron ore – $99 billion.
- Petroleum gas – $36.6 billion.
- Gold – $7.39 billion.
- Soybeans – $37.4 billion.
- Refined Copper – $31.7 billion.
In September 2022 the top imports of China were Integrated Circuits ($39.2B), Crude Petroleum ($28.8B), Iron Ore ($10.4B), Petroleum Gas ($9.26B), and Gold ($8.36B).
Most of China's imports consist of machinery and apparatus (including semiconductors, computers, and office machines), chemicals, and fuels.
Buyers can always contact Chinese manufacturers on the Business-to-Business platforms (B2B) or other online platforms without necessarily understanding the Chinese language or visiting China. Some of these include Alibaba. Amazon, DHgate, ECVV, Global Sources, and trade wheel, among others.
- Make an international wire transfer from your bank. ...
- Set up a business account in Hong Kong and send funds as a local transfer. ...
- Use Alibaba Trade Assurance. ...
- Remit the payment through a specialised remittance company. ...
- Transfer funds from your PayPal account to theirs.
4 If you do not own any company, you may choose I don't have a company' and enter your business type instead. You may submit the information after you fill in all the required field.
- Create an account. First up, is creating a free Alibaba.com account. ...
- Search and find products. Next, it is time to search for products. ...
- Compare sellers. ...
- Negotiate deals or buy right away. ...
- Place your order. ...
- Receive your goods.
Customs Duties
This rule applies so long as the total value of the imported goods totals $800 or more (known as the De Minimis value). If the goods that you're importing cost less than $800, they are not subject to duty or taxes (with the exception of goods like alcohol and tobacco).
Is Alibaba shipping free?
Shipping costs on Alibaba and AliExpress depend on who you are buying from—manufacturers and retailers set their own prices. Many suppliers offer “free shipping”, but they're simply rolling the costs over into the unit price just like dropshippers.
DHL. DHL is considered the leading carrier for overseas shipments and a great option for shipping to China. Their rates are slightly cheaper than UPS or FedEx while offering the same delivery windows. If you want to ship to China, consider DHL as one of your first options when checking shipping prices.
Travelers are allowed to take up to US$5000 equivalent of foreign currency or 20 000 RMB of local currency in cash in or out of the country. This applies to both foreigners and Chinese nationals. If the amount does not exceed this limit, one will not be required to declare this to customs.
One of the best way to import the goods from China i.e is Online through Alibaba or AliExpress or you can use some other third parties agent which can do this on your behalf as Commission Basis. So Let's understand about How you can Import the Goods from China through Online Websites or Agents.
When importing from China, importers must pay VAT on top of the total sum of the Customs Value and the Import Duty.
Before importing from China, every business must first secure IEC Registration, i.e., Import Export Code, from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade. The IEC refers to a pan-oriented registration that comes with lifetime validity. It is mandatory for both importers and exporters in India.
- Cooperate with Reliable Suppliers to Source Products from China. ...
- Buy Wholesale Products from Reliable Online China Websites. ...
- Visit the Factory when Buying Products from China. ...
- Hire a Third-party Supplier Audit. ...
- Perform Proper Quality Control. ...
- Quality Control.
The PRC bans certain content regarding independence movements in Tibet and Taiwan, the religious movement Falun Gong, democracy, the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, Maoism, corruption, police brutality, anarchism, gossip, disparity of wealth, and food safety scandals.
...
Lowest Tariffs.
Country | Weighted Mean Applied Tariff |
---|---|
Macao (China) | 0.0% |
Sudan | 0.0% |
Brunei Darussalam | 0.0% |
Singapore | 0.1% |
(See the Checklist under item #3.) Importing Process Paying Duty: The importer is ultimately responsible for paying any duty owed on an import.
How do I avoid customs charges?
Tell the seller explicitly that the item is for personal use. Import duties typically apply to items imported for commercial use (business or resale)—not personal or retail sales. If you're importing something for your own personal use or as a gift for someone else, you don't have to pay them.
② Kitchen Tools. Kitchen tools are one of the most profitable products to import from China, covering many types of products. Generally, the cost prices of these products are low provided by suppliers or manufacturers, and their retail prices are high on Amazon.
- Electronic goods and technology. The Chinese market of e-commerce appreciate foreign electronic goods and technology to a great extent. ...
- Fashion and accessories. ...
- Dresses and gears for sports. ...
- Gourmet. ...
- Beverages. ...
- Beauty products. ...
- Jewels. ...
- Supplements for health.
...
Best Small Business Ideas in China
- Automation Control Products. ...
- Supplemental Education? ...
- Import and Export. ...
- Pharmaceuticals. ...
- Health Products. ...
- Ecological Environment Construction.
You don't need an import licence to buy and import goods from overseas, however you may need to get permits to clear some goods from customs control. It's most important that you understand and comply with any customs legislation and procedures.
World's 10 Largest Importers
The United States is the world's largest importer of goods, followed by China and Germany.
- Find reputable suppliers and quality products.
- Understand why Amazon.cn market share so small.
- Learn where to sell.
- Understand the difference between CNH and CNY.
- Mobile Phone Manufacturing in China. ...
- Integrated Circuit Manufacturing in China. ...
- Smart Phone Manufacturing in China. ...
- Computer Manufacturing in China. ...
- Computer Peripheral Manufacturing in China. ...
- Building Construction in China. ...
- Apparel Manufacturing in China. ...
- Steel Rolling in China.
Be recognised as an exporter by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), Register with the local foreign trade department to become a so-called Foreign Trade Company (FTC) Apply for an export license.
What is the #1 export of China?
# | Product | Value |
---|---|---|
1 | Computers | 210.231 |
2 | Broadcasting equipment | 110.979 |
3 | Telephones | 91.759 |
4 | Office Machine Parts | 47.079 |
Machinery & Electrical: 24% of U.S. imports from China. Miscellaneous: 19% Metals: 10% Textiles: 8%
Rank | China's Import Product | 2021 Value (US$) |
---|---|---|
1 | Integrated circuits/microassemblies | $390,338,214,000 |
2 | Crude oil | $229,291,241,000 |
3 | Iron ores, concentrates | $173,599,744,000 |
4 | Petroleum gases | $61,923,492,000 |
Key Takeaways. China, which owns an estimated $972 billion in U.S. Treasuries, is the number-two investor among foreign governments.
What is China famous for? China is known for its architectural wonders such as the Great Wall and Forbidden City, its staggering variety of delicious food, its martial arts, and its long history of invention. More than just tea and temples, China is a fast-changing mix of the ultra-modern and the very ancient.
- Step 1: Select Products to Import. ...
- Step 2: Find Chinese Wholesale Suppliers. ...
- Step 3: Purchase Products. ...
- Step 4: Arrange Cargo Transport. ...
- Step 5: Clear Your Shipment Through Customs.
Do I Need a Permit to Import from China? There is no general import permit for importing products from China. However, you might need a permit to import from a federal agency certain goods from China. Different federal agencies oversee different imported products and requirements can vary.
- Find A Good Product To Import. ...
- Find Reliable Chinese Suppliers. ...
- Request A Sample And Confirm. ...
- Place The Order And Negotiate Payment Terms. ...
- Preparing For Your Shipment. ...
- Shipping Your Goods From China. ...
- Find Chinese Suppliers On The Internet. ...
- Through Wholesale Markets.
There is no legal requirement for you to hire a Customs Broker to clear your goods. However, many importers opt to do so for the convenience. Customs Brokers are licensed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to conduct CBP business on behalf of importers.
Customs Duties
This rule applies so long as the total value of the imported goods totals $800 or more (known as the De Minimis value). If the goods that you're importing cost less than $800, they are not subject to duty or taxes (with the exception of goods like alcohol and tobacco).
Do I have to pay tax on items from China?
When importing from China, importers must pay VAT on top of the total sum of the Customs Value and the Import Duty.
- Get your business basics in order. ...
- Pick a product to import or export. ...
- Source your suppliers. ...
- Price your product. ...
- Find your customers. ...
- Get the logistics down.
Company Name | Services | Location |
---|---|---|
Pinnacle Sourcing | Global sourcing company | India & Shanghai, China |
Meeno Group | China product buying agent in Yiwu | Yiwu, China |
Asiaction | Specialized in sourcing | Hongkong and Guangzhou |
Baysource Global | Accelerate your product launch | US & Shanghai, China |
Buyers can always contact Chinese manufacturers on the Business-to-Business platforms (B2B) or other online platforms without necessarily understanding the Chinese language or visiting China. Some of these include Alibaba. Amazon, DHgate, ECVV, Global Sources, and trade wheel, among others.
Buy From China Through Wholesale Markets
Wholesale markets are open year-round (except for Chinese holidays) so you don't have to wait for a trade show to find a supplier. Goods are sold off the shelf so you can see exactly what you're getting and gauge the quality of the product through physical inspection.
Necessary documents vary by product but may include standard documents such as a bill of lading, invoice, shipping list, customs declaration, insurance policy, and sales contract, as well as more specialized documents such as an import quota certificate for general commodities (where applicable), import license (where ...
- Endangered wild animals and plants and their products exported for commercial trade purposes.
- Commercial export of wild yew and its parts and products is prohibited.
- Pearl shellfish endemic to China, such as Bai's shellfish, penguin shellfish, and white butterfly shellfish.