A plain-English walkthrough of the whole journey — from finding a supplier to the goods reaching your door in the EU. It is the route we run for clients every week, written so you can see exactly what each stage involves.
Start with what you actually need: specs, target price, volume. Then find factories that make it well and verify them on the ground — that they exist, deliver, and are who they claim. A good price from a factory that ghosts you is the most expensive mistake in the chain.
Order a sample, then inspect the production run before payment and again before shipment. Seeing the goods with your own eyes — or ours — is what keeps surprises on the supplier's side instead of in your warehouse.
Incoterms decide who pays and who is responsible at each leg — EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP and so on. Getting this clear up front avoids the classic dispute where each side assumed the other was covering freight, insurance or customs.
Air is fastest (about 3–7 days), sea is cheapest for volume (28–38 days), and rail via the Belt & Road corridor sits in between (16–22 days). Pick by deadline and margin — and combine modes when it makes sense.
Customs is where time and money leak. The right HS classification sets the duty; complete, consistent documentation keeps the goods moving instead of sitting in a bonded warehouse. This is the stage worth getting expert help on.
Import VAT applies when goods enter the EU. You will usually register, declare and, where eligible, recover VAT. Planning this before the goods arrive avoids cash-flow surprises and penalties.
The final leg is from the EU port or hub to your warehouse or customer. With the paperwork already in order, this should be the easy part — predictable delivery, accurate estimates, no scramble at the end.
Let's discuss how China Shortcut can streamline your international trade.
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