Before you visit suppliers in China or import goods

Buying a product directly from China can seem cheaper. But a low factory price is not yet a reliable import price. Transport, customs, inspections, product safety and rejected stock can turn an attractive quote into a costly decision.

How do you check whether a supplier really has a factory? When is a trip to China worth it? Who bears the import obligations? And how much money do you need to have available before the goods can be sold?

FOREFACT researches what you need to know before you visit suppliers in China or import goods if you operate from the Netherlands. From supplier selection and factory checks to total import costs, EU regulations, payment risks and a safe purchasing decision.

What will you discover in this research?

• Comparing sourcing routes: explore buying within the EU, sourcing from China remotely and sourcing from China with a factory visit.

• Checking suppliers and factories: verify company registrations, bank details, production capacity, subcontractors and samples.

• Travel and trade fairs: find out how to prepare a factory visit, the Canton Fair, a travel budget and independent audits.

• Transport and customs: understand Incoterms, transport documents, import duties, TARIC codes and import VAT.

• Product safety and liability: check CE marking where required, the GPSR, technical documentation, labels, recalls and importer obligations.

• Real financial feasibility: compare nine fictional worked cases on import costs, rejects, larger orders, exchange rates and available cash.

• Contracts and purchasing risks: look into MOQ, advance payments, inspections, production agreements, tooling and the moment you can release an order.

Including import calculations and practical tools

The research contains nine financial worked cases and a comparison of three sourcing routes. The models show, among other things, the difference between the factory price and the cost price per saleable product, the financing of an import order and the cost of a trip to China.

You also receive twelve English-language supplier scripts, fill-in sheets for factory visits and import costs, a comparison of three suppliers, a 90-day import protocol and a GO/INVESTIGATE FIRST/NO-GO check before you pay a deposit.

Who is this guide for?

For entrepreneurs who want to find suppliers in China, visit a factory or import their first goods from China into the Netherlands.

Also suitable for entrepreneurs who have already received quotes and want to assess whether the supplier, product specification, import costs, safety documentation and payment terms are sufficiently substantiated.

What do you receive?

FOREFACT guide — 31 pages (PDF)

Independent research into sourcing and importing from China, including three sourcing routes, nine financial scenarios, product rules, customs, supplier checks, scripts and practical worksheets.

Research market: the Netherlands
Delivery: digital, via download after purchase.
Language: English

Based on 44 numbered official and primary sources and illustrative worked examples. The amounts are not current supplier quotes, bookable travel fares or official import duties. Costs and rules differ by product, destination and import date. The dossier does not replace an individual customs, product safety, legal or tax assessment.

FOREFACT — Know it before it costs you.