Sourcing agent Advantages
Expert advice and support:
Sourcing agents in China will give you the best advice for your business because they are local Chinese and understand the real situation.
In addition, sourcing agents support your business every step of the way in product sourcing.
Local knowledge and relationships:
Relationship is a term that means “connection” or “network”.
In order to run a successful business, meaningful connections must be made.
An experienced China Sourcing agent with a strong network in the local market can prove to be beneficial to your business.
Build Strong Relationships:
Find the right supplier:
Finding the right supplier for your business can be tiresome.
Because the right supplier guarantees high profits and quality products, you will find the right supplier in China because of the language barrier and other restrictions.
Therefore, purchasing agents can also assist you in this regard.
Minimize risk:
If you are doing business in China for the first time, you may be falling prey to some kind of fraud.
So, as a precautionary measure, you can ask your sourcing agent to verify and audit the suppliers.
Negotiate like a pro:
Negotiation in business transactions is the key to success.
You can negotiate well if you know other people better or have knowledge of related products.
A competent China import agent can also negotiate on your behalf and bring great success to your business.
Networking and connections are very important to building any business.
A purchasing agent can act as a communication bridge between you and your suppliers.
Thus, it builds strong relationships with other business people, which plays an important role in your future success.
Do I need an import license to buy goods from China?
If you want to export from China, you need an export license, also known as an export license.
It is issued to enterprises by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of China.
And almost all trading companies have import licenses. However, these export licenses are required if Chinese companies want to sell goods outside of China.
Foreign buyers do not need to obtain an import license.
In the past, export licenses were not mandatory due to reasons such as bureaucracy and its cost.
But now things have changed and customers prefer to deal with licensed ones
Since a license secures the transaction, if you do not have a license, you have less chance of dealing with international markets.
How to import goods from China?
find the best Sourcing agent
You must try to order from a reputable manufacturer. You can follow supplier reviews to get a good buying agent.
Otherwise, you must ensure that you can export products from China.
In addition, you must confirm that you do not need any permission from the Chinese government. After selecting a seller, proceed to the next step.
place an order
After selecting the products you need, you can place an order with a Chinese company or factory.
You can seek help from a Chinese import agent to ensure product quality at the end of production.
product shipping
Choose the shipping method, air or sea. Speed and volume are two very important factors in the transportation of goods.
Air freight is a bit more expensive but will deliver your shipment on time.
On the other hand, sea freight is economical, but the delivery time is more than expected.
Beyond that, size and weight can limit your options. You have to make an informed decision keeping all factors in mind.
custom
At this step, you will be responsible for any kind of problems. So please make sure that all cartons have the carton quantity, net and gross weight, and the country of shipment on the top of each carton.
Because after clarification from customs, you can enter the market.
Ship the goods to the warehouse
After clearing from customs, you have to transfer all the goods to the warehouse before delivering them to the market.
Now you can resell your items and make a profit.
What documents are required to import goods from China?
There are a number of formalities and documents that you will need to complete before doing business with China.
You must collect and provide the necessary documents to customs.
Depending on the region, the list of documents may vary, but the following are the documents required in international trade.
commercial invoice
It is issued by the exporter. It is used to get declarations from customs.
This is like a license that allows you to export material on an international level.
Since commercial invoices are checked by customs, if something goes wrong, your goods may be detained and you may face significant losses.
Bill of Lading (B/L, BOL)
Issued by the shipping company. A bill of lading provides details of the shipment of goods, the name of the product and the carrier. It is used as proof for customs.
Sellers can also use it to execute letters of credit. The buyer can use it to pay back the contract.
Air Waybill (AWB)
The air waybill is issued by the airline as evidence that the goods have been shipped.
The air waybill has a serial number that is used to locate the shipment.
Packing list (waybill, bill of lading)
You can get it from the shipping company. The packing slip contains details of the goods shipped.
It also includes packaging information, which can be used by all parties to understand aspects of what is in the bag.
proforma invoice
This document is prepared by the exporter.
It includes shipping details such as several products, their characteristics and especially the final cost.
Certificate of Origin
This certificate is provided by the exporter. This is proof that all shipments were produced in a specific country.
The document explains the place of manufacture and describes that the product is shipped following the agreement.
reference license
You can obtain this document from the national CITES administration.
This certificate is required to prove that the cargo is carried under the International Wildlife Regulations.
If you want to import products from any of the city lists, you must obtain permission from CITES. Otherwise, all your products may be confiscated.
Import and export declaration
Import and export declarations are issued by the importer/exporter.
This is a list of imported and exported goods, which is required by customs
Import/export declarations can vary depending on the particular office.
CE certificate
You can obtain CE certificates from notified bodies, a list of which can be found on the Internet.
This file is not required in all cases.
Sometimes the producer can also clarify the product, but in some cases, a quality inspection procedure is required.
Single Administrative Document (SAD
This document is prepared by the importer. This form is available on the Internet.
In various countries such as Europe, Norway, Switzerland and Iceland, customs declarations require unique administrative documents.
Fumigation Certificate (SAD)
You can get this certificate from the customs of your own country.
It is used to clarify that all edible products such as cereals, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables and wooden packaging are sterilized.
In China, it is the Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau of the People’s Republic of China.
Fumigation is a necessary process to protect food from insects and other pests.
As a sourcing agent in China, Ningbo Greentime Imp & Exp Co., Ltd have more than 20 years of experience in exporting daily necessities. And you can find us for any product you want to import from China.
