Importing from China in 8 steps; Cost and suitable goods for import
The vast country of China produces more than 18 percent of the world's products and has a 25 percent share of total imports of goods to Iran. This statistic indicates the very high potential for profitability of imports from China. Iranian small and large traders have not been unaware of this profitable platform and are engaged in business with the help of companies that simplify and optimize the processes of importing goods from China. In this article, we will present to you the methods of importing goods from China in bulk and in small quantities, along with important points you should know; stay tuned with Sepex.
Learn about the eight main steps of importing from China.
In general, the process of importing goods from China involves several steps. These include how to import bulk goods from China, how to import small quantities from China, and complementary tips. Let’s get to know them better.
1. Choosing a suitable product to import
The first step to importing from China is to consider a suitable and user-friendly product for the Iranian market. Of course, choosing the type of this product depends a lot on your target market; for example, traders who focus on importing industrial goods and raw materials for factories are facing a different market than traders who focus on consumer goods for a large segment of the population.
2. Searching for the right supplier
The second step, which we can consider equally or even more important than the first step, is finding a supplier or manufacturer for our desired product. Taking this step is not so easy, given the remoteness of Chinese factories and manufacturers, and this can open the way for Chinese fraud and scams. For this reason, it is very important to keep the following in mind when reviewing these companies.
- Brand credibility
- Brand reputation
- Company’s history of activity in the export market to Iran
- The experience of other Iranian companies and traders about that brand
- The legal history of that company
- Flexibility in payment methods
- Quality and variety of goods
- Competitive price
- Various methods of sending cargo to Iran
- Approximate shipping time to Iran
Although a face-to-face visit to the factory is one of the best ways to ensure the quality of the goods being shipped, nevertheless, careful examination and discovery of information that is also available on the Internet can greatly help you in finding the best supplier for importing from China.
3. Negotiating with the supplier
After clarifying the task of the product and its supplier or manufacturer, it is time to get to know the supplier better. In this section, you can use the communication channels that the company has provided to users to negotiate with them about “price”, “payment methods”, “methods of sending goods to Iran” and other matters. In this step, you can ask the seller to send you a sample of the product or provide you with its detailed technical specifications.
4. Signing a contract and placing an order
In the fourth step of importing from China, when you have reached a general conclusion about the product, supplier, and price, you should, to prevent any problems, sign a formal contract with the supplier, specifying what product, with what specifications, in what quantity, at what price, with what payment method, and by what shipping method you should receive it.
5. Registering an order for goods to import from China
In order to be able to obtain the necessary permits to import your goods, you must complete the steps to register an order for goods from China. If the goods you intend to import are not on the list of prohibited items, you can continue the process of obtaining a permit. You should keep in mind that importing any goods requires obtaining a permit from a special organization; for example, to import medicine, you must obtain a permit from the “Ministry of Health”.
6. Paying for the desired goods and starting the import to Iran
After receiving the permits to import goods into Iran, according to the experts’ judgment, you will be given the required currency. When you receive the currency you need, you can transfer it to your desired company in China through exchange offices or deliver it to the Chinese company by other methods.
7. Sending the purchased goods to Iran
In this step, you must insure the goods you have purchased from the Chinese company and send them to Iran using the specified shipping methods. Note that if you do not insure your goods at this stage, you will not be able to clear them from customs in Iran.
8. Clearing the goods from customs and receiving them by you
The final step of importing from China is to submit documents to Iranian customs and clear the goods. The documents that must be submitted to Iranian customs in this step include the following:
- Bill of lading
- Invoice
- Goods insurance policy
- Import permits
- and …
After completing the complicated customs paperwork, you can load your goods from customs to your warehouses.
What are the suitable goods to import from China?
Except for prohibited goods such as “alcohol”, “drugs”, “cold and hot weapons”, etc., it is possible to import almost anything for which you can find a market in Iran from China. Let’s take a look at some of the goods suitable for import from China.
- Computer and laptop
- All kinds of electronic accessories and parts
- All kinds of sports equipment
- Car parts and spare parts
- All kinds of small and large kitchen appliances
- and …
How much does it cost to import from China?
In order to have an accurate figure for the cost of importing goods from China, you need to consider many things. The main challenge here is that some of these things are floating costs that fluctuate for various reasons. Among the coarse-grained examples of them, we can mention the fluctuation of the free exchange rate, which if your product includes, your costs will also fluctuate according to the daily dollar rate. Other things that affect the final cost of the product include the following.
- Cost of placing an order for goods
- The size and dimensions of your product
- The number of goods you intend to import
- Warehousing costs
- Packaging, insurance and shipping of goods
- Inspection, testing, etc. costs
- Customs fees
- Shipping costs to your warehouses in Iran
- and …
Leave importing from China to the professionals.
Carrying out each step of importing from China can be complicated and full of question marks. From finding a reputable Chinese company to shipping goods from China to Iran and getting confused in the complexities of customs administration, each of them is a complete process. By choosing a reputable company for transporting goods from China, you can carry out these processes calmly, without worries and with the certainty of carrying out all the steps correctly. If you are serious about taking advantage of the profitable potential of importing goods from China, contact Sepex consultants today.
