China is known as “The World’s Factory”. The Chinese economy thrives as a manufacturing powerhouse and the nation’s products seem to be everywhere.
If you are looking to start a business or looking to learn the basics about how to import from China to Nigeria, keep reading. Adequate information about how to start, who to contact, and where to get the best deals will save you time and money.
There are a couple of ways to import products from China. You can sign up on Alibaba, 1688 (China’s biggest e-commerce websites) Taobao, JD.com, join group buying chats where Vendors from China post products and customers can shop, or better still, hire a procurement company that will simplify your importation process and save you time and stress.
Steps to take to Import from China
Step 1: Decide on the product you want to sell
The first step to take is to conduct product research. This might not be difficult if you already know what you want to buy. If not, you can search for in-demand products or best-selling products to ship from China.
Step 2: Find a supplier to place your order
The next step would be to find a supplier for the product(s) you want to import. Search on sites like Alibaba and 1688 for the product (s) of choice; then proceed to contact the suppliers of these products.
This process requires a lot of time and effort especially if it’s your first time buying the product. However, It is important to have at least 5 suppliers to vet before proceeding to purchase;
To find out if a supplier is reliable, you need to research their years of operation. You need to confirm that they have trade assurance (a form of insurance that protects your goods). You can also order product sample to determine the quality of the product . In some cases, you might have to conduct factory visits, which may not be possible if you do not reside in China.
Step 3: Make payment to your supplier
There are various channels to make payment to your supplier: payment via debit card/bank transfer or payment via PayPal. In some cases, paying your supplier might be difficult from Nigeria; A solution to this, is to employ a Nigerian sourcing company that can properly handle the payment and help you make payments to the suppliers.
Step 4: Shipping
After you make payment to the supplier, the next step is to ship your products. Shipment can be done via air cargo or sea freight. Air Cargo takes 7-14 days. It is faster than sea freight it is more expensive . Air cargo is usually used when the gross weight of goods is less than 50kg. Sea freight on the other hand takes 2-3 months and is ideal if you intend to import a large number of products.
You will need to contact a logistics company or freight forwarder that ships from China to Nigeria after which you have your items delivered from the suppliers factory to your forwarders warehouse. When your products arrive in Nigeria, your forwarder notifies you of this and you can either pick it up from the warehouse or have it delivered to your doorstep.
Conclusion
I am sure that you have gathered quite a bit of information about how to import goods from China. An important thing to consider as regards importing from China is the amount of time and effort that goes into it. From researching products to contacting suppliers, collecting samples, shipping, and clearing your goods; It is not an easy process but it can be simplified with a little bit of help. You can hire a procurement/sourcing company in that imports from China to Nigeria. They can find and visit suppliers on your behalf. They can also check out the product samples for you, and run quality checks on your items to look out for any product defects so that you get what you paid for. Contact us today to start your importation process and receive guidance and expertise from our team