Buying goods from China is only the first part of importing. You also need to organise the cargo, prepare the necessary shipping documents, choose a freight method and complete the required export and destination customs procedures.
Whether you buy from Alibaba, 1688, manufacturers or wholesale markets, having a clear export process can help prevent unnecessary delays and unexpected costs.
1. Confirm Your Supplier and Goods
Start by confirming exactly what you have purchased. Record the supplier’s details, product descriptions, quantities, prices, carton sizes and estimated weight.
Make sure the products are permitted for export and that any special requirements for your product category are identified before shipping.
2. Send the Goods to a China Warehouse
If you are buying from multiple suppliers, you can have the different orders delivered to a China warehouse. The warehouse can receive and organise the packages while you wait for other suppliers to complete their orders.
This is particularly useful for Alibaba and 1688 purchases because several small orders can potentially be consolidated into one international shipment.
3. Inspect and Prepare the Cargo
Before export, check the quantities, packaging and general condition of the goods. If necessary, request photographs or a more detailed inspection.
The cargo can then be repacked and consolidated to make the international shipment easier to manage.
4. Prepare Export Documents
Export shipments commonly require documents such as a commercial invoice, packing list and transportation document. Depending on the goods and destination, additional licences, certificates or other documents may be required.
Product descriptions, quantities, values, weights and other information should be accurate and consistent across the relevant documents.
5. Choose Air or Sea Freight
Air freight is generally suitable for smaller, urgent or time-sensitive shipments. It offers faster transportation but normally costs more per kilogram.
Sea freight is commonly used for larger or heavier cargo. LCL can be suitable for shipments that do not require a full container, while FCL is generally used for larger consignments.
Your choice should consider cargo size, urgency, destination and total landed cost.
6. Arrange Export Customs Clearance
Before the goods leave China, the shipment must go through the applicable export customs process. A freight forwarder or customs declaration agent can help coordinate the required declaration and documentation.
China Customs requires accurate information about the goods and supporting business and transport documents as applicable.
7. Complete Destination Customs
Once the shipment reaches your country, it must comply with the destination country’s import requirements. Customs may assess the goods based on their classification, declared value, origin and other relevant information.
Import duties, taxes, permits or product-specific requirements may apply depending on the country and goods.
How Travo.ng Can Help
Travo.ng can help coordinate the logistics involved in exporting goods bought from China, including supplier collection, China warehouse coordination, cargo consolidation and international freight planning.
If you are buying from several Chinese suppliers, bringing the orders together before international shipping can make the process easier to manage.
Before requesting a shipping arrangement, prepare your product descriptions, quantities, supplier locations, carton count, weight, dimensions and destination. Accurate information helps determine the appropriate freight and export process.
Exporting goods bought from China becomes much easier when supplier collection, inspection, consolidation, documentation, customs and international transportation are planned together.
