Why I wrote this guide

In 2013, I left Ghana for China with one goal: to become a medical doctor. I was not thinking about logistics, shipping containers, or supply chains. I was thinking about medicine.

But China had other plans for me.

Living there, I saw something that most people back home in Ghana — and most people in the West — had no idea about. The factories. The scale. The sheer volume of products being manufactured and exported every single day to every corner of the world. I studied Mandarin the way you study something when you know it will change your life. I graduated. I came back to Ghana. And then I went back to China — not to practice medicine, but to build something.

Today, through Dansa Logistics, we help thousands of customers every year source and ship products from China safely, without stress and without costly mistakes. This guide is built from everything I have learned — and everything I have seen go wrong when people skip the fundamentals.

China is not just one of the world’s largest manufacturers — it is the world’s largest exporter of goods, full stop. In 2023 alone, China exported over $3.3 trillion worth of products. A significant share of what is on the shelves at Walmart, Amazon, Argos, or any high street in Europe was made in a Chinese factory.

Why does this matter to you? Because those factories are not just supplying giant corporations. They are open to anyone willing to meet a minimum order quantity and communicate clearly. That includes you, from your laptop in New York, London, or Berlin.

China’s manufacturing advantage comes from four things working together: decades of specialisation in specific product categories, enormous infrastructure built around export, a deep network of raw material suppliers, and a workforce with deep expertise in high-volume production. These are not advantages that appeared overnight, and they will not disappear quickly.

The opportunity is real. So are the risks — if you go in without knowing what you are doing.

Here is a mistake I see constantly: someone gets excited about sourcing from China, jumps straight onto Alibaba, types in a vague product name, gets overwhelmed by thousands of listings, and either freezes or contacts the wrong supplier entirely.

Before you open a single sourcing platform, you need a clear product brief. Think of it as a one-page document that answers these questions:

• What is the product — exactly? (Not “bags” but “canvas drawstring backpacks, 30 litres, with zip front pocket”)
• What materials, dimensions, weight, and colours do you need?
• What is the quality level you are targeting? (Budget, mid-range, premium?)
• How many units do you want for your first order?
• What price per unit do you need to be profitable after all costs?
• Do you need custom branding, packaging, or labelling?
• Are there any safety certifications required to sell this product in your market?

Answering these questions before you contact a single supplier will save you weeks of back-and-forth and protect you from ordering something that does not actually work for your business.

There are four main platforms Western buyers use to source from China. Each one serves a different type of buyer at a different stage.

When you search for a product on Alibaba, you will see hundreds of listings. Some are manufacturers — factories that actually produce the goods. Others are trading companies — intermediaries who buy from factories and resell to international buyers.

Manufacturer vs trading company — which is better?

Neither is automatically better. Here is the real difference:

• Manufacturers offer lower unit prices, more customisation capability, and direct visibility into production — but often require higher minimum order quantities and may have less polished English communication.
• Trading companies offer more flexibility on order sizes, broader product ranges, and often smoother communication — but add a margin on top of the factory price.

For a first order, a trading company may actually serve you better. For a branded product at scale, going direct to a manufacturer is usually the right move.

How to verify a supplier before sending any money

• Check how long they have been on the platform and review their transaction history and buyer ratings
• Request their business licence — any legitimate Chinese company can produce this immediately
• Ask for a video call or a live factory walkthrough video — you want to see the actual facility, not stock photos
• Request references from existing international clients and follow up on them
• Check for product certifications relevant to your market (CE, FDA, ISO, etc.)
• Assess their communication — slow, vague, or evasive responses before an order are a warning sign

This is one of the most important rules in importing, and one of the most commonly broken. A sample is your proof of concept. It tells you the actual material quality, weight, finish, functionality, and packaging — things that a product listing photograph is designed to hide, not reveal.

When requesting a sample:

• Be specific in writing — materials, dimensions, colour, packaging, and any branding or labels you require
• Request samples from two or three shortlisted suppliers simultaneously so you can compare directly
• Expect to pay for the sample and shipping — this is normal and legitimate
• Test the product thoroughly against your quality standard and, if applicable, against relevant certification requirements
• If the sample falls short, communicate exactly what needs to change and request a revised sample

Chinese business culture is built around negotiation. Suppliers quote with room to move — they expect you to push back. If you accept the first number without question, you are almost certainly overpaying.

Key things to negotiate:

• Unit price — especially as you commit to higher volumes
• Minimum order quantity (MOQ) — many suppliers will lower their MOQ for buyers who show they are serious and long-term
• Payment terms — standard is 30% deposit upfront, 70% before shipment. Never pay 100% upfront to a new supplier
• Lead time — the time from confirmed order to completed production
• Packaging and labelling — especially if you are building your own brand
• Quality control checkpoints — what inspections happen during and after production

Sea freight — the standard choice

For most import businesses, sea freight is the workhorse. It is significantly cheaper than air on a per-kilogram basis and is the practical choice for any order that weighs more than a few hundred kilograms.

Transit time from major Chinese ports — Shanghai, Shenzhen, Ningbo — to the US West Coast runs 15 to 25 days. To UK ports, roughly 25 to 35 days. You will choose between FCL (full container load) for larger shipments and LCL (less than container load), where your goods share a container with other importers.

Air freight — fast but expensive

Air freight is typically 5 to 10 days door to door, but the cost per kilogram is dramatically higher. It makes sense for high-value, low-weight products, urgent restocks, or time-sensitive launches. For most standard bulk orders, the economics do not work.

Express courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS)

Ideal for samples and small test orders. Expensive at scale. Use it to test products, not to build a supply chain.

What is a freight forwarder — and do you need one?

A freight forwarder is a logistics specialist who manages the movement of your goods from the supplier’s factory to your destination. They handle cargo booking, export documentation, port coordination, and customs clearance at the destination end.

When your shipment arrives in the US or UK, it goes through customs. This means your goods are assessed for duties and taxes based on the product category, declared value, and country of origin. Understanding this before you order — not after — is essential.

In the United States

US customs duties on Chinese goods vary by product category. On top of standard rates, many Chinese goods are subject to additional Section 301 tariffs that were introduced during the US-China trade tensions starting in 2018. These tariffs can be substantial — in some categories, they add 25 percent or more on top of the base duty rate. Check the Harmonised Tariff Schedule (HTS) code for your specific product before placing any order.

In the United Kingdom

Post-Brexit, the UK applies its own Global Tariff system. Import duty rates vary by product category, and VAT at 20 percent applies to most imported goods on top of the customs value plus any applicable duties. You will also pay customs clearance fees through your freight forwarder or customs broker.

What is landed cost?

Landed cost is the total cost of a single unit by the time it reaches your warehouse or fulfilment centre. It includes:

• The ex-factory product price
• Inland transport from factory to the port in China
• Sea or air freight costs
• Cargo insurance
• Port handling and destination charges
• Customs duties and taxes
• Customs clearance fees
• Final delivery to your warehouse

Quality control from abroad

Quality control is not a one-time check — it is an ongoing process. The most common point of failure for import businesses is receiving a bulk order that does not match the agreed specification. By that point, your money is spent and your options are limited.

There are three stages where QC can happen:

• Pre-production inspection: Verifying raw materials and components before production begins
• During-production inspection (DUPRO): Checking a sample of units while production is still in progress — problems can still be corrected at this stage
• Pre-shipment inspection (PSI): A final check of completed goods before they are packed and loaded. This is the most commonly used stage for buyers who cannot visit the factory

Independent third-party inspection companies operate across China and can conduct these checks on your behalf. The cost is small relative to the cost of a failed order.

Legal protection basics

• Use formal purchase contracts for every significant order — not just Alibaba messages
• Pay securely — use Alibaba Trade Assurance, letters of credit for large orders, or verified escrow. Never wire money to personal accounts
• Register your trademark in China before sharing your brand with any supplier — China operates a first-to-file system
• Carry cargo insurance — freight losses and damage happen. Insurance is cheap relative to the cost of replacing a shipment

Final thoughts from Daniel

I built my entire career on the supply chain between China and the rest of the world. What I know for certain is this: the opportunity is real, the factories are accessible, and the margins are there — but only for buyers who respect the process.

The people I have seen lose money importing from China did not lose it because China is risky. They lost it because they skipped steps — they did not verify suppliers, they did not sample, they did not calculate their landed cost, they did not protect themselves legally. Every single one of those mistakes is preventable.

If you are ready to start importing from China and you want a partner who knows this supply chain from the inside — someone who has lived in China, speaks Mandarin, and has built a logistics company from the ground up — that is exactly what Dansa Logistics is here for.