Trade guides

Guide to Yiwu International Trade CityA practical guide to Yiwu International Trade City, the world-famous small commodities market: how it is organised, wha… Where to find each product category in Yiwu marketsHow Yiwu market districts are organised by product category, how to plan your route, and the specialised markets outsid… How to plan a buying trip to YiwuA practical checklist for planning a sourcing trip to Yiwu: before you travel, during the market visits and what happen… Buying from Yiwu without travelling: how remote sourcing worksHow to buy from Yiwu markets and Chinese factories remotely through an office on the ground: the process, what to alway… Minimum order quantity (MOQ) in China and how to handle itWhy minimum order quantities differ between Chinese suppliers, practical ways to lower the MOQ, and when a smaller orde… How to compare quotes from Chinese suppliersHow to compare Chinese supplier quotes properly: standardise specifications, compare the right elements and calculate t… Factory or trading company? How to tell the differencePractical differences between Chinese factories and trading companies, how to verify which one you are dealing with, an… Preparing one shipment from several Chinese factoriesStep-by-step guide to consolidating goods from multiple Chinese suppliers into one shipment: one delivery address, one… Pre-shipment inspection: what to checkWhat a pre-shipment inspection in China should cover, full versus sample inspection, how to write acceptance criteria a… Sea freight: full container (FCL) or shared container (LCL)?FCL vs LCL explained: how each is priced, container sizes and capacities, and when moving to a full container becomes w… How volumetric weight is calculated for air freight and parcelsThe volumetric weight formula for air freight and express parcels, a worked example, and practical ways to reduce charg… How to calculate cubic metres (CBM) for sea freightHow to calculate CBM for sea freight shipments, a worked example, common mistakes and how weight and volume interact in… Incoterms in brief: EXW, FOB, CIF and DDPA short guide to the most used Incoterms when buying from China — EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP — and why the agreed term matters… Essential documents for a shipment from ChinaThe main shipping documents for goods from China — commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of ori… Prohibited and restricted goods when shipping from ChinaExamples of restricted and prohibited goods when shipping from China, what to check before buying, and why you must dec… Shipping products with batteries from ChinaHow products containing batteries are shipped from China: the different cases, documents that may be required, and choo… Packing fragile goods for international shippingHow to pack fragile goods from China for international shipping: inner protection, filling voids, stronger cartons, and… What to ask your China buying office during order follow-upWhich photos and updates to request from your China sourcing office at each stage of an order, and why one communicatio… Private label and custom packaging from ChinaWhat you can customise when buying from China — logo, packaging, inserts — how it changes MOQ and lead time, and practi… Paying suppliers in China: what to watch forCommon payment practices with Chinese suppliers and practical rules to reduce risk: proforma invoices, split payments,… Chinese New Year and its impact on production and shippingHow Chinese New Year affects factories, markets and shipping, what happens before the holiday, and a planning timeline… China Yiwu International Commodities Fair: is it worth visiting?What the Yiwu Commodities Fair offers buyers, how to prepare, and how to combine the fair with market visits for better… How to start an online store with products from ChinaA step-by-step approach to starting an e-commerce store with products from China: choosing products, samples, first qua… Samples before bulk orders: when and howWhen to order samples from Chinese suppliers, how to evaluate them, and how to use the approved sample as a reference f… Buying from 1688 and Taobao through an agentWhy buyers outside China use an agent to buy from 1688 and Taobao, what to watch for, and how platform orders are conso… Common mistakes when importing from China for the first timeThe most common first-time importer mistakes when buying from China and a checklist to avoid them before your first ord… Temporary storage in Yiwu before shippingWhen importers need temporary storage in Yiwu, what to agree in advance, and how storage supports consolidation and rep… How to request an accurate shipping quoteThe information you need to request an accurate shipping quote from China, a ready-to-use message template, and questio… Yiwu, Guangzhou or Shenzhen: where should you buy?Comparing Yiwu, Guangzhou and Shenzhen as sourcing hubs: what each city is best for, and how goods from several cities…