How to import building materials from China?China is today known as the factory of the world. It has become a manufacturing powerhouse with its products available almost everywhere.On our last post,we introduce Top 100 Building Materials Suppliers in China in details.On this post we will offer the comprehensive guide for importing building materials from China.

1.1  Is it a good idea to purchase building materials from China?

1.2  Is it cheap to order building materials from China?

1.3  Why is the quality of building materials produced in China better than other countries?

1.4  Where are the most building materials manufactured (Foshan, China)？

1.5  Pros and Cons of China Building Materials

1.6  New Home Construction Costs

Many construction companies and retailers all around the world see the benefits of importing building materials from China. China is known as a production super power, manufacturing a sizable amount of the world’s requirement for construction materials such as ceramic tiles,marbles,bathroom fittings,windows,doors,lights,kitchen cabinet,ceilings and so on.

1.1 Is it a good idea to purchase building materials from China?

Many builders and retailers find purchasing building materials from China quite a good idea. Building materials suppliers in China are in high demand in the US and all over the globe. They are preferred because of these four main reasons:

Low Manufacturing Costs

Many people think the low wages in China compared to the US is the main reason for low manufacturing costs. This is, however, only partially true because labor costs, in most cases, make up only about 20% of the total manufacturing cost.China has a population of roughly 1.39 billion people. As the most populous country in the world, the huge labor force of China helps produce wholesale building materials in bulk and can even accommodate sudden rises in the demand of these products.Moreover,Chinese is very wise and hard-working.They are willing to work longer hours with high-efficiency to get more payment .This is one of the important reason why China has achieved so much rapid growth in just a few decades.

One the other hand,the high volume of raw materials purchased by Chinese factories brings the prices as low as it could possibly be.Therefore,you could find that the actual building construction materials cost is much lower than other countries.

Multitude of Manufacturers across Various Industries

China manufactures more products than any other countries in the world,such as aluminum, iron, steel, cement, as well as aircraft, cars, electronic, toys, textiles, and many other products.Manufacturing is the largest industry in China.The manufacturers of China are preferred by businesses in other countries around the world for having low manufacturing and labor costs, and high production capacity. There are large numbers of manufacturers for building materials and construction solutions to choose from in China.

Building construction materials in China are classified per city. There is a city that is a manufacturing hub for stones and marbles, and another city for steel building materials.An industrial chain is the main factor that a city or even a country can develop and grow. In China, almost every industry can find its suppliers and service providers within 100 kilometers, which is almost impossible in any other countries.

With the huge number of manufacturers across various industries, it is easy to choose the right one for your requirements. The wholesale building materials suppliers in China offer unmatched value in terms of varieties, quality, and most especially affordability.

Distance and Communication is Easy to Deal With

Communicating with building materials manufacturers in China can create some problems, but there is nothing that cannot be resolved.In China,now most of the international sales are Millennials.They are well educated in the school and English is their required course.Communication is not so hard as before.

Sometimes if you don’t want to visit the factory and meet building materials suppliers in China.You can source those products online or work with a professional sourcing agent whom is near your suppliers.If you want to visit the factory of your Chinese building materials supplier, consider bringing along a translator or a sourcing agent. Simple, clear, and open communication is key to better understanding despite the distance and language barrier. The use of the English language is gaining ground in many workplaces in China.

Advance Technology and Trade Practices

Advance technology has become the cutting-edge advantage of wholesale building materials suppliers in China. Advance technology has allowed Chinese manufacturers to improve the quality of their products and increased productivity all through the manufacturing process.China has been ranking as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world since it started to implement free-market reforms thirty-five years ago. Close 10 10% of the total manufacturing output of the world comes from manufacturers in China.

1.2 Is it cheap to order building materials from China?

Yes.It is cheaper to order building materials from China and there are various reasons to support this claim.Here we sum up the main 13 reasons as below.

1.3 Why is the quality of building materials produced in China better than other countries?

China has capitalized on the use of advanced technology to produce better building materials than other countries in the world. With the large volume of orders received by Chinese manufacturers for building construction materials, they have mastered the production process for building materials allowing them to produce the best building materials.

Prior to proceeding with the manufacturing process, a China building materials supplier produces a sample and has an international testing laboratory check the quality and safety of the product. Quality Control Inspections are also being done prior to the shipment of your orders.

Manufacturers and suppliers of construction and building materials in China collaborate with quality control companies to conduct testing and inspection.

In the construction materials industry in China, manufacturers are required to take administrative measures to ensure product quality. The production of materials used in construction have to pass licensing procedures.

The Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) is a government agency tasked to conduct product inspections. Regulations vary per construction and building materials

Some cities in China with manufacturing hubs for construction materials for sale have enacted stricter local licensing requirements. These requirements often include a construction materials list, compliance certificates from a reputable testing institution, product license (if required), documents showing the building materials have been approved for foreign use, and product warranty.

All these factors ensure building materials produced in China have better quality than those from other countries?

1.4 Where are the most building materials manufactured (Foshan, China) ?

The cities of Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Foshan are known to manufacture building materials for export to the US and the rest of the world. The most building materials in China are manufactured in Foshan.

Foshan is a prefecture and the third largest city in the central Guangdong Province of China. It covers 3,848 km2 and has a population of 7,327,000 (2020) in the metro. Foshan forms part of the western portion of the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone.

Since the Ming Dynasty, Foshan has been well-known as the best ceramic manufacturer in China. Foshan is credited for manufacturing 54% of China’s total ceramic tile output and 25% of the worldwide output in the past 10 years.

Today, Foshan has over 30 towns specializing in the manufacture of beverages, machinery, and furniture. It has over 3,000 factories focusing on furniture production. It is also where you can find interior building materials for residential and commercial construction projects.

Foshan houses factory, suppliers, and sourcing company showrooms in its shopping malls.The markets for building materials are about 30 minutes from the city center of Foshan. One such market is the Casa Sanitary Ware Malland the Huayi Building Materials Market.

There are many other building materials markets in Foshan carries home building materials including windows, doors, flooring, lighting, wallpaper, paint, and a lot more.

Related article:Top 5 Home Decoration and Building Material Markets in Foshan, China

Foshan is the city to target if you need construction and building materials for home, office, residential condos, commercial establishments,wholesales and any of your construction and home decoration requirements.

1.5 Pros and Cons of China building materials

China is a large country with a great manufacturing landscape for building materials for construction firms,builders and retailers.However,every coin has two sides Importing building construction materials comes with numerous advantages and a few downsides.

1.6 New home construction costs 

Building a new home is the bigger single investment anyone makes in his lifetime. The investment needed depends on the area where you are building your new home, size, as well as whether you are going for a low-end, average, or high-end home design and construction. Custom designs also eat up a huge amount of the construction cost.

The National Association of Home Builders says it would cost a general contractor about $85 per square foot to build a new home. The amount would run up to about $100 to $150 after the finishing and profit of the contractor. This of course depends again on the region you are building your home.

How Much the Cost to Build a House?

New home construction cost includes

The final cost of building a new home depends on these variables

The final cost will also depend on whether you are going with a developer or a custom home builder. We can sum up above house construction costs into below main aspects:

House Construction Costs

That’s,the building materials and design cost more than half of the total when building the house.Now we know it is very worth buying from construction products from China.How about designing the house?Yes,you will find it very attractive,too.In US,the design charge may be USD65 or more for per square meter.But in China,you only need to pay around USD15 for one square meter and get very high-quality designs for your house or project.Sometimes,the design charge can be used as part of order payment if you buy building materials from the same supplier.Guess what?Design is free.

2.1 Interior building materials

2.2 Exterior Building Materials

2.3 Prefabricated building materials

Sourcing construction and building materials is preferred by many because of the superior quality. low cost, and a multitude of wholesale building materials suppliers to choose from.

2.1 Interior building materials types

Doors

Tiles

Sanitary and Bathroom Fittings

Wall Paper

Lighting

2.2 Exterior building materials types

Drywall

Insulation

2.3Prefabricated building materials

These are building materials that no longer need to be assembled.  They are factory-assembled and just need to be installed in the area.

Prefabricated building materials have below advantages

3.1 How to find a building supplier in China?

3.2 How to select the right building materials manufacturer?

3.3 How to order your buildings materials?

3.4 How to do quality inspections?

3.5 How to transport building materials from China?

When purchasing building materials supply wholesale from China, there are some considerations you need to keep in mind.

Where to Find Building Material Suppliers?

First, you need to know that major cities such as Foshan are the best location to find the building materials you need. In Foshan you will find many wholesale markets and manufacturer clusters that sell construction products with superb rates. Foreign buyers will have a comprehensive selection in these building materials supplying wholesale markets when they visit Foshan.

How to Evaluate China Building Material Suppliers?

An evaluation of the capacity of the factory of your building materials supplier should be a top consideration. This can be done through a supplier audit and a factory audit that entails an assessment of the facilities and procedures of the supplier among many other things.

Conducting an assessment is important to confirm the capability of the factory to deliver quality building materials based on your specifications and to deliver them on time.

You can make use of such companies as the HQTS for Factory Audits & Supplier Audits to conduct a thorough analysis of the strength, weaknesses and conditions of your prospective supplier.It is also a good choice to hire a China local sourcing agent to help identify your suppliers.They may be more professional if they have long time experience to work in building materials business.

Check the Track Record of the Build Materials Supplier

It is also important to check the documents of the suppliers to make sure you are dealing with legitimate manufacturers in China. Production monitoring is also a must to identify registrations and certifications of the building materials companies.

There are a good number of world-class building materials manufacturers in China who utilize quality management systems based on ISO 9001 standards. Making sure the manufacturer is compliant to these standards to give you an idea of the quality of their products.

Although, it can be tasking to check the track record of the manufacturers, there and agents in China who can help you interpret and translate the documents of the manufacturer.

It is also advisable to do quality inspections of the construction materials that you intend to buy.

Request for Quotation (RFQ)

Once the building materials suppliers and their products quality have passed your standards and demand, you are now ready to get a Request for Quotation for supply of building materials.

The RFQ itemizes your proposed orders and includes the following information:

• Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)

This is the least number of pieces for each of the building construction materials. The MOQ should be practical to both you and the suppliers. This is often part of the first round of discussions because each supplier and type of building products will have different MOQ.

• Sample Pricing

This is the price of the sample order. China suppliers often offer a sample of the products to be ordered before proceeding with the bulk orders. Some manufacturers provide a sample for free while others charge a certain fee.If you can’t visit the suppliers to check the products directly,or what you order are customized goods,samples are very necessary.

• Production Pricing

This is an important part of the discussion between you and the building materials supplier. Negotiations will focus on the price range based on the quantity of your order.There are some differences when the supplier quote for distributor,wholesale,project,retail,home use.

• Payment Terms

Check Applicable Government and Trade Laws

You should be conscious of the applicable Government and Trade laws. For construction and building materials, there are certain Government and Trade Laws in place to reduce the production of substandard products and the usage of hazardous materials.

In the US, federal and state regulations guide the importation and exportation of several building materials. You should be aware of them to avoid violating state or federal laws.

When assessing the quality of building materials from China, these are the applicable Government and Trade laws to consider:

• International Building Code

Created by the International Code Council (ICC) for the safety and health of the public.

• Energy Codes

This covers such products as plastic insulating materials for residential and commercial use. Energy Codes focus on the guidelines in the production and importation of energy-efficient materials. Building Energy Codes in the US are the Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1 and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).

•  International Fire Code (IFC)

The construction and building materials should be compliant with the rules included in this code, pay fines and face sanctions. The IFC includes safety rules for new and existing structures with regards to life protection, taking protective and preventive steps, and combatting potential hazards.

• The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The codes of the EPA were created to protect human health and the environment. The EPA regulates the manufacture, processing, and distribution of chemical-related products. Fines and sanctions are meted out to violators.

Delivery Schedules

Delivery schedules are always an important aspect to consider when ordering building materials from China.Before you place orders,,it is important to confirm production time with the supplier.Sometimes you need to obligate double time for production because some Chinese suppliers may not be punctual.On the other hand,it is necessary to check how many days for shipping container from China to your country.Here I list building materials production to help you have a rough understanding.The total delivery time should be production time plus shipping time.Sometimes the China exportation custom clearance at loading port and importing customs at discharge port take more than one week,too.

Estimate Production Time When Import Building Materials from China

China is one of the key suppliers of building materials. Procuring construction and building materials from China offers several prospects in terms of quality, prices,latest designs and delivery options. The opportunities are limitless and practicing due diligence will help you procure the best discount building supplies.

3.1 How to find a building materials supplier in China?

Finding a building materials supplier in China needs a good strategy that should include knowledge, awareness and a lot of homework.

There are  many ways on how to find reliable construction and building materials suppliers in China.

3.1.1 How to search building materials manufacturers and suppliers online from China?

For whatever information you need, going online is often always your first option.

A:Building materials suppliers online-Google

It is not to say that you will not be able to find trustworthy wholesale building materials suppliers from China in Google. They may, however, most likely be in the far away pages of the search results.

You can narrow down your Google search by finding online directories for building materials from China. Online directories for building materials can be the better way to find suppliers from China.

Most online directories of suppliers from China, investigate and verify suppliers before including them in their list. Online Directories can be helpful for your identification.

A B2B service involves transactions between businesses such as a transaction between a manufacturer of construction and building materials and a wholesaler; or between a wholesaler and a retailer. Before B2B does not include transactions between a manufacturer and an individual customer.But  now the market is very competitive.Some suppliers are willing to accept small orders from direct consumers.This depends what kind of products and whether the sellers have stock or not.

There are many building materials suppliers from China listed in Alibaba.com.When you use Alibaba.com for your requirements from China, you can work directly with manufacturers. This means you can be involved in how your products are designed, manufactured, and shipped.

To start searching for the right supplier for building materials in Alibaba.com:

• Create an account
• Search for theconstruction products you need

You need to create an account simply type the manufacturer. label/brand of the products, or a particular product in your building materials list in the search bar. Your goal is to find the top 3 to 5 prospective suppliers in the search result page, get in touch with them, and request for a quote.

You can also search for products by using product descriptions or use the drop-down menu. In the drop-down menu you can select “Products” or “Suppliers.” To get the best results, it is recommended that you sort the results by suppliers, instead of by products. Searching by product will often only give you one or two of the top suppliers.

There are two types of suppliers listed in alibaba.com.

• Gold Suppliers. Gold suppliers enjoy higher rank in the search results pages for the building materials you are searching. You will find some information about these suppliers (limited identity verification). Being a gold supplier does correlate to having good quality products. There is, however, some indication that it is a legitimate supplier or business.
• Non-Gold Suppliers. You can simply view their product offerings.

To get the most out of Alibaba.com, you also need to be a verified buyer. Being a verified buyer will give you access to a more comprehensive supplier directory. You will also be able to search for more experienced and reliable suppliers of construction and building materials. You will be able to view trade records, background information, and some of their major clients.

It will also work to your advantage to short-list Gold Suppliers. They have been verified by Alibaba as legitimate businesses.

When searching for a building materials supplier in Alibaba, it is important to note this online directory includes manufacturers/factories and trading companies. Manufacturers/factories have a limited selection of products, have unpredictable quality, but offer cheap building materials.

Trading companies, on the other hand, do not manufacture the products they carry thus, they have higher prices. They, however, have a larger selection of building materials and consistent product quality.

Building materials online sourcing Pros and Cons

3.1.2 Trade shows

Trade shows or trade fairs are exhibits where building materials manufacturers and traders showcase their products with the goal of attracting new customers.

Attending trade shows gives you an opportunity to meet face-to-face building materials manufacturers. This provides you more confidence to proceed with an order transaction. This will also give you more peace of mind that you have met and spoke personally with the representative of the suppliers. This is a much better option than dealing with a faceless China manufacturer through email or phone.

At trade shows, you can personally get to see, touch, scrutinize, and test the building materials. You can also ask the seller questions pertaining to the product and their ordering and delivery processes as well as discuss shipping and logistics.

Long before the Internet was a great business tool, trade shows were one of the few venues sellers and buyers had the opportunity of meeting face-to-face to discuss business and build lasting business relationships.

Today, China manufacturers still look at trade shows as one of the most important means of getting new customers.

A:Canton fair

The Canton Trade Fair is held twice every year (often in April and October) in Guangzhou, in southern China (near Hong Kong). This event is attended by thousands of attendees both buyers and sellers since 1957.

The venue of the Canton Fair covers the size as big as 218 football fields with one football field being 6400 sq yards. This is the magnitude of the Canton Fair base on the past years data:

Most of the manufacturers / suppliers who join the Canton Trade Fair have experience in dealing and communicating with International buyers. They also have the experience, infrastructure, and capability to export any products anywhere in the world.

Most of the manufacturer’s representatives to the Fair speak enough English so they can communicate at least at the basic level. Interpreters are also available at the venue for a minimal fee.

It can be overwhelming and time consuming to go through the many building materials suppliers in online directories.  It is also difficult to assess the quality of the products by merely looking at pictures and reading product descriptions. Cultural and language barriers can also be a challenge when communicating through text and email.

The Canton Fair is a much better venue to source building materials supply wholesale from China.

It is free to attend the Canton Fair for foreigners.If you would like to know more details about Canton Fair.Here is the website.

B: Professional building materials exhibitions

Building materials exhibitions in China are extremely important because of the increase in the level of technology and the increase in the size of the economy of the country. Hundreds of thousands of potential buyers attend these exhibits hoping to buy needed cheap building materials.

When you attend a building materials exhibition in China, it is good if you are with someone who can communicate well in Chinese to avoid culture and language barriers. It is also important that you look professional, act in a friendly manner. Make sure to bring along a lot of business cards and have the WeChat app in your phone.

Guanxi (building trust and relationships with someone) is an important concept in China when it comes to building relationships. The Chinese value business relationships and it can be challenging to build relationships with Chinese suppliers through WeChat and email.

Attending preessional building materials exhibitions in China is key to meeting potential Chinese suppliers in person and instantly building a closer relationship. Below are part of trade shows for finding building materials suppliers.All these trade shows provide a complete solution for the construction and decoration industry.

Building Materials Trade Shows Pros and Cons

3.1.3. Wholesale market (Where can I find China’s building materials market and suppliers)

More and more construction companies and retailers are relying on China for building materials with good quality,nice design but cheap prices. Many buyers prefer to buy directly from manufacturers /factories or attend trade fairs. Visiting Chinese wholesale markets is another feasible option.

There are many building materials markets in China.However,those in Foshan city are the best choices because you can find them not only for domestic sales,but very professional for exportation.It is important to note that the manufacturing hubs for building materials are categorized by city. One city in China may serve as a manufacturing hub for lighting and another city may be for ceramic.However,Foshan houses a comprehensive list of one-stop shop building materials such as doors, windows, flooring, hardware, lighting,kitchen cabinets, wallpaper, paint, and a lot more.You don’t need to visit many different cities to get what you need.Consolidation loading and shipping will be easier if you buy all building materials in the same city.

Moreover,wholesale markets for building products in Foshan offer unbeatable venues for cheap materials. In Foshan, you may visit the China Ceramic City, Huayi Decoration Materials City, and the Casa Ceramics & Sanitary wares Mall.

A:China Ceramics City  (CCC): Best tiles shopping malls and markets in Foshan

Location: 2 Jiangwan 3rd Rd, Chancheng District, Foshan, Guangdong Province, China

Operating Hours: 9 AM – 6 PM

The China Ceramics City in Foshan, Guangdong spans 130,000 square meters across a five story-complex with 53,000 square meters covering the main building.

This building materials market specializes in ceramic tiles and sanitary ware, catering to the high-end market. CCC opened its doors on October 18, 2002 and within this high-end market building are displays of big brands with expensive prices but with much better quality and better services than what you will find in other building markets with the same products.

The CCC is the first information service and trade platform of this magnitude for ceramic and bathroom fittings in China. Combining exhibition, trading, and business services, the CCC houses over 300 brands,a combination of the best and most expensive ceramic and bathroom products in China and famous foreign brands. It is the only trading platform in China operated by manufacturers.

The China Building Ceramic and Sanitaryware Association has recognized this export platform with the ‘Unique Export Base of Building Ceramic and Sanitaryware in China’ award.

Guangdong Provincial People’s Government has recognized this market building as the Guangdong Building Sanitary Ceramics International Purchasing Center.

The CCC hosts the China International Ceramic & Sanitaryware Fair twice a year, the most influential and prestigious exhibit for export of high-end building products in China. It also hosts the International Architectural Design and Ceramics Conference once a year.

The CCC showcases ceramic tiles, sanitary wares, as well as limestone tiles, mosaic tiles, pebble tiles, terrazzo tiles, porcelain tiles, glass tiles, slate tiles, marble tiles, linoleum tiles, and many more, all for the high-end market.  It houses such high-end brands as:

B:Casa Sanitary Ware Mall: top shop for sanitary ceramics

Location: Jihua 4th Rd, Chancheng District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, China

Operating Hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Casa Sanitary Ware Mall in Chancheng District, Foshan, Guangdong, China is a huge trading hub showcasing arts and crafts ceramics, leisure sanitary ware, sanitary ceramics, architectural ceramics, water accessories, hardware, and daily use ceramics. Products include all kinds of sanitary ware such as:

Casa Sanitary Ware Mall houses about 650 suppliers, about 550 of which are manufacturers/factories. The quality of the products displayed in this building materials and supplies wholesale market range from cheap to mid and high-end and from simple, modern, and luxury homes and buildings.Comparing with CCC,prices in this market is lower.

Every supplier is given a large showroom for all their products in this 2-story market building. On the first, you will usually find hot and popular products that are on sale, as well, as small products such as shower sets, bathroom accessories and other small products.

The big items such as shower rooms, big bathtubs, bathroom cabinets, sauna rooms, and other products are on the 2nd floor. The exhibitors include manufacturers and wholesalers of bathroom fittings and other building materials.

Casa Sanitary Ware Mall is an extensive trade procurement venue providing not just product displays of Chinese brands but offers international business services information exchange as well.

Casa Sanitary Ware Mall has an extensive selection of almost everything you need for bathroom building materials and a lot more. It is very popular for many international buyers.The marker is large, though, and you will need to do a lot of walking. Some of the staff speak English but most of them do not so you will need to be a little patient or better yet, bring along an interpreter or a buying agent.

C.Huayi International Decoration Expo Market

Location: Wugang Road, West Kuiqi,Chancheng, Foshan, Guangdong, China  (New address)

Operating Hours: 09:00 AM – 6:00 PM

The Huayi International Decoration Expo Market is China’s another big building materials market in Foshan. This market covers an area of over 54,000 square meters and with over 600 suppliers of construction and building materials. You can find in this market the most extensive selection of decorative materials.

This market is divided into the North, South, East, and West sections. Each section showcases different products. The South Section is the main section where you can find building materials for exportation.

The Huayi International Decoration Expo Market is larger in scale when compared to other markets in China.It is also the most comprehensive with the greatest number of products and suppliers.

This market features mid to high-end quality products. Most of the exhibitors are manufacturers. This huge mecca of building material supply includes products for your construction and renovation needs.Here are the construction materials list.

D.Star Alliance: Best lighting shopping malls and markets in Guzhen

Location: Zhongxing No. 68, Guzhen, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China

Operating Hours: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

The Star Alliance Global Brand Lighting Center just opened its doors in 2014, yet it has already built a reputation as the best lighting shopping mall and market in Guzhen. It is often referred to as the ‘“China window of world brand, world window of Chinese brand”.

Located at the center of Guzhen Town, the lighting capital of the world, the Star Alliance Global Brand Lighting Center covers of 360,000 m2 carries various sizes and forms of LED lighting as well as standard and unrivaled lamps, various sizes of chandeliers, pin-up lamps, spotlights, LED illuminations,etc.

This lighting center features a 1000-square meter UHD LED screen and ten huge LED invisible screens, each with a size of over 100 square meters. Its lobby has a 60-meter floor-to-ceiling lobby. It also has 8 high-speed mute panoramic elevators, and 4 five-tier elevators.It also includes leisure areas, luxury decorations, spectacular architectural lighting, and a humanistic and scientific space.

Star Alliance includes suppliers offering the best lighting products with medium and high-price ranges. This international lighting shopping mall consists of 11 floors making it the largest shopping mall in the Guzhen area and the leading and largest lighting market in China.

This top global lighting brand center has an international pavilion featuring LED lighting effects. The pavilion offers an amazing visual experience making the shopping experience unforgettable for global buyers.

The lighting products currently manufactured in Guzhen Town accounts for over 70% of the lighting market in China and exports to over 130 countries in the world.

The Star Alliance ensures they only carry high-quality lighting products within the middle, luxury, and high-end price range. It also provides top level service and makes it convenient for buyers to do business with lighting manufacturers.

E.Sunlink Lighting and Kitchen Cabinet City

Location: Xingle Road,Lecong Town, Shunde District, Foshan

Operating Hours: 09:00 AM – 6:00 PM

The Sunlink Lighting and Kitchen Cabinet City, also referred to as the Shunle lighting and kitchen cabinet mall has two sections: the kitchen cabinet section and the lighting section. Visiting the Sunlink Lighting and Kitchen Cabinet City is like simultaneously going to the Foshan lighting market and the Foshan kitchen cabinet market.This lighting section of the center offers products on retail and wholesale and are within the mid-range prices. The kitchen cabinet section offers various types and sizes of kitchen cabinets. The center also sells wooden doors and other home building materials.

Professional foreign buyers love going to the Sunlink Lighting and Kitchen Cabinet City because of its extensive selection of top-quality lighting products and kitchen cabinets that are not too expensive, yet come in attractive designs.The beauty of the Sunlink Lighting and Kitchen Cabinet City is the ability of the center to layout lighting products and kitchen cabinets based on the theme of a home.

Wholesale Market Pros and Cons

Buying construction and building materials from online B2B marketplaces have made importing from China much easier.  Many professional buyers, though, still opt for the traditional approach of going on a buying trip to China.

Visiting wholesale markets in China offers many advantages:

•  Hands-on Experience

One of the major advantages of visiting wholesale markets in China is being able to personally see, touch, and feel the products.

• Effective Pricing

Wholesale markets are often located in cities close to the manufacturing hubs of the featured products. In one wholesale market manufacturers and suppliers of similar products are housed under one roof allowing buyers to quickly go over them, make price comparisons, and finally get the best price.

• Smaller Minimum Order Quantity

Buying directly from manufacturers/factories that are in a wholesale market often requires a much lower Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ). You can also opt to buy from multiple suppliers and have all the products in one container to save on shipping cost.

• One-Stop-Shop

In China, each city is usually a manufacturing hub for a particular set of products. A wholesale market often consists of products from these different cities. This means that you do not have to go from one city to another to complete the products you need. Everything you are looking for is in one wholesale market.You can have easy one-stop shopping for building materials in Foshan and no need to worry about consolidation from different suppliers.

Foshan Building materials wholesale markets allow businessmen, professional buyers, and consumers to see various products under one roof.

Disadvantages of buying from Chinese Wholesale Markets

Buying building materials supply from wholesale markets in China is not as simple as buying from a local store in your country. Knowing which wholesale market to explore for your building construction materials list is just the beginning of your journey.

Albeit the convenience offered by wholesale markets, there are some disadvantages of opting to buy from these venues in China.

• Language Barrier

China has experienced an explosive growth in their economy the past decades, yet the level of English spoken by the people is still extremely low. About less than 1% of the population speak English.

When you go to a wholesale market, in all probability, the staff manning the manufacturer’s space speaks little or no English at all. If you start babbling away, the vendor or staff will only be able to grasp bits and pieces of what you are saying.

If you are buying buildings materials for your home, you will get the price of the item and pay for it. It is a different story, though if you are buying for a retail store or a construction company back home. There are many details you need to know and discuss before closing a deal such as MOQ, customization, and the production process, to name a few.

• Some Suppliers are not Reliable

We can’t deny that there may be individual suppliers who are unreliable.Wholesale markets are venues for suppliers to showcase their products and meet new customers. There is no way you can determine if the suppliers you are meeting face-to-face are reliable even they seem to be nice when communicate with you.It will be quite helpful if you can get guide from local companies,like exporting sourcing agents.

• Products may not be Acceptable in your Country

Some building materials suppliers in the wholesale markets do not only target foreign buyers. They also cater to the domestic market. The products you buy may not be suited for your country in terms of Quality Standards and Certificates.

• Many Suppliers in Wholesale Markets do not Ship Overseas

Almost all prices quoted for construction materials in wholesale markets are based on Ex Works (EXW). This means the supplier will have the products you ordered available at a prescribed location (for often in their factory) and you will have to cover the cost of transportation.

This is unlike a Freight-on-Board (FOB) arrangement wherein the supplier is responsible for the cost of transportation of the products you ordered until they are turned-over to the shipping forwarder. The liability of the buyer therefore starts upon pick-up from the location specified by the supplier.

This also means that you will need to handle the shipment booking, shipping documentations, container loading, customs declaration, etc…

• Suppliers in Wholesale Markets do not Accept International Credit Cards

Suppliers in wholesale markets do not accept international credit cards as payments for purchasing building materials.They seldom accept USD T/T payment because some of them don’t have bank account for dollars.You can pay by Chinese Yuan (RMB)  and US dollar cash.It is not a big deal if you buy from one or two suppliers.However,you will feel very headache if buying from several shops or sometimes more than 20, when doing the payment.

3.1.4  Purchase building materials through sourcing agent

If you need to find a high-quality and reliable supplier of building materials in China, you may need a sourcing agent.

A sourcing agent is a third- party service you can hire to help you find competent and reliable suppliers in China. A sourcing agent can be an individual or company that can help foreign buyers in dealing with manufacturers and suppliers in China.

If you are working with a sourcing agent, you no longer need to find the suppliers by yourself. Your sourcing agent in China will find you the best suppliers and will liaise with them. He will visit the factories and do on site-verification for you, too.

The person or company acting as your sourcing agent will be your purchasing agent, representative, or right hand in China.

A sourcing agent in China can do these tasks for you

Sourcing agents, in short, reduce the risk of importing products from China because you have a representative on the ground.

Given the many benefits of hiring a buying agent in China, you need to make an informed decision when finding the sourcing company to work with. Anyone can call himself a sourcing agent and making the wrong choice can make you lose a lot of money and opportunities.It is better to hire a sourcing company than an individual,especially sometimes you need to ask your agent to arrange payments to all your suppliers.

Moreover,the sourcing company you choose should be local with your suppliers and know building materials very professional.The more professional they are,the better suppliers you can find and save more charges.For example,when you plan to buy construction products from Foshan but hire a sourcing agent who locating in Yiwu and he mainly sources jewellery.This is not a wise choice.Please feel free to contact with us if you have any questions when import from China.

Building Materials Sourcing agent Pros and Cons

Sourcing agents for building materials live in China and they know how to better deal with Chinese suppliers.

Pros

Cons

3.1How to select the right building materials manufacturer from China?

There are numerous considerations you need to bear in mind when selecting the right building materials manufacturer in China. There is a need to qualify potential manufacturers before making the final choice.

A:Product Scope

There is no manufacturer in China that carries all building materials you need under one roof. Just like any industry, wholesale building materials suppliers in China have their own areas of specializations.

While you will be able to find a manufacturer that carries more than one category of building materials, it is impossible to find one manufacturer that offer all the building materials and construction solutions you need.You can check their website or catalogues.It is normal for manufacturer that sells one or two close material products like kitchen cabinets and wardrobe,ceramic tiles and ceramic sanitary wares.If the suppliers sell too many kinds of building products which don’t have too much relationship (except group company),like lightings,marbles,wall papers,normally they are not the real manufacturer for all the goods.

B:Building Materials Supplier Identification

You can hire some standard factory audit companies to help you identify if your purchasing value is high.For home builders and retails buyers,it is not worth paying big amount to identify the suppliers.Picking the top 10 building materials suppliers from the industry and asking quotation is quite a good way to select the right suppliers but no need to waste time and money.For example,you can search “Top 10 Best Tile Suppliers & Manufacturers in China” when plan to import tiles, while search “Top 10 Best Door and Window Suppliers & Manufacturers in China” when import doors and windows.On the other hand,you can contact the China sourcing agent to help you find the good suppliers.Especially the building materials sourcing companies,they know the whole markets very well and know who are the good suppliers can cooperate.

C:Product Compliance

Compliance with all applicable safety standards must be completed and verified with the country of destination before the cargo is shipped out of China.

When importing building materials from China to your country, it is necessary to ensure whether compliance testing and certificate are necessary for importation custom clearances.For example, security certificate for lights,fireproof for doors,SNI for tiles to Indonesia.Normally the legitimate companies will have the required certificate for their building materials.If the suppliers can’t offer the documents,importers may pay much more for for customs clearance,sometimes they even can’t pick up the container from the discharge yard.

The International Building Code was created by the International Code Council (ICC) to ensure the health and safety of the public. These codes include specific materials that can be used in the construction of homes and buildings.Buying building materials from China is cheap.But the most importance is,those construction suppliers should be  green and eco-friendly.

D:Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)

Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) refers to the least number of units a manufacturer is willing to sell at a certain price point. The MOQ of building materials varies depending on the product and the factory.

For example, a kitchen cabinet manufacturer may require only 10 units while a manufacturer of bathroom fittings or LED lights may require 1000 units to service an order.

MOQs may be based on the number of units to get the lowest possible price or the number of units that could fill up a shipment container.

Therefore,choosing which building materials suppliers depends on your purchasing quantity.Somtimes even you like to buy from the top brands but they may not accept small orders.

E:Quality Management System

A Quality Management System refers to the implementation of standards to monitor strict quality control. It applies to manufacturers only and not to traders or wholesalers of building materials. An ISO 9001 certification means the manufacturer has complied with all the guidelines set forth for product quality and manufacturing processes.

The best building materials suppliers in China are often ISO-certified so they have the stability and product quality to compete with developed markets such as the U.S and the EU.

There are more details need to be considered when select the building materials manufacturers,such as price,designs,delivery time,service,payment terms and so on.Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions when import construction supplies from China.

3.3 How to order your building materials?

3.3.1:Processes to buy building materials from China

A: Factory Showrooms

Most major building materials manufacturers in China have factory showrooms either their own or in wholesale markets. Some factories have their showrooms beside their factories, in other major cities in China and even in select cities all over the world.

Factory showrooms make it easy for local and foreign buyers to view, feel, touch, and try out the various products of the manufacturer without having to take a tour of their factories.

B: Factory Checklist

Here are some questions you need to consider when qualifying or making a short list of manufacturers/ suppliers for the building materials you need to procure from China:

• Do they specialize in the product category of the building material you need? If you are buying marble tiles, the manufacturer you choose should be a major manufacturer of marble tiles.
• Are they manufacturing just for the local Chinese market or for the global market as well? There are some manufacturers that produce only for the local market. While the Chinese market is quiet discerning, there are certain product quality standards needed when catering to the global market, too.
• What are the profiles of their customers? Are their customers residential owners, commercial establishment owners, retailers, or construction companies?
• How do they deal with defective units? It is important that you ask this question. Some manufacturers discard defective units. Some refurbished defective units and sell them as brand-new units.Taking a look at their warehouse of defective units will give you an idea of their production ratio in terms of good vs defective units. It will also give you an idea of their strict quality control standards especially when there are only minimal defects in the products.
• Product Packaging. Are you seeing a jam packed warehouse with products either ready for shipping or par stocks? If you have a chance to visit the factory of the manufacturer, try to observe if there are name brands or big brands printed on the boxes.
• Customer Reviews.Ask them whether they exported to your country before.If yes,get the importers’contact information to ask reviews.

C: Product Checklist

Before making the final decision to procure a particular building materials from a particular supplier, make a ask detailed questions:

• Ask to see the product specification sheet so you can check on the material specification, dimensions, and bill of materials. You need to know what you are buying,
• Check if they have alternative materials for the product/s you are planning to procure.
• Check if they can present you with design drawings of your orders. This is important when you are ordering such items as kitchen cabinets. The design drawings should specify dimensions and materials. Design drawings, if possible, should be in 3D format.
• Ask the manufacturer if they can customize your order. You will supply your own design so ask them in what format should you forward your design.
• Ask for the additional costs and MOQs for customized orders.
• Ask what the MOQ is for the product/s you are ordering to get the lowest price possible.
• Ask for the final unit price of each product. Pay attention to the trade term they offer.Normally EXW price is the lowest,FOB is middle and CIF is the highest among these three terms.DDP and DDU are higher prices but seldom suppliers accept these two trade terms because the shippers have to take bigger risk under these two INCOTERMS.

D: Complete Proforma Invoice

You need to ask the building materials suppliers to offer the complete proforma invoice (PI),which including all product details like materials,sizes,colors,quantities,payment term,delivery time and bank information,etc.The PI should be stamped under the supplier’s name.

3.3.2 Design & Material customization options

There are some building materials need to be designed or customized.Like kitchen cabinets, wardrobe, windows, doors, lights ,etc.You can order the product, as is, without any modifications, materials, and colors. The size and dimension, of course, will depend on your own specification.

You can order, for example, kitchen cabinets based on what is presented in the online brochure or displayed in the showroom.You can opt to use the kitchen cabinet design of the manufacturer but have it in a different material, color, hardware, and accessories.

You can also opt to create your own kitchen cabinet design and have the manufacturer customize them for you. In this case, you will need to submit your original design and full product specifications.

When opting for a customized product, it is important that you know what you want so you can effectively relay it to the manufacturer’s representative.

A: Files

Design drawing of the kitchen cabinets

B: Bill of Materials

Woof Type ( i.e. Hardwood, MDF, Veneered Particle Wood)

Hardware (i.e Knobs, Pulls,Hinges)

Drawers (i.e Built-in Knife Organizer, Peg Drawer Organizer, Pull-Out Pots and Pans Drawer Organizer)

Finish (i.e, Matt, Semi-gloss, Gloss)

C: Specification Example: Kitchen cabinet

These are the measurements you need to include in your kitchen cabinet specifications.

Base Kitchen Cabinets

Wall Cabinets

3.4 How to Do Quality Inspections for Building Materials?

It is not easy for importers to do the quality inspection after placing orders since  you are far from China when the goods are ready.In this case,you need someone to help do the checking and make sure all building materials are what you need before shipping.

3.4.1: Checklist

Here are some crucial checkpoints to include in your building materials inspection checklist:

3.4.2:Here’s a list of companies offering quality inspections in Mainland China:

 3.4.3:China Sourcing Agents

We mentioned many times that a good sourcing agent can offer one-stop shopping from China for importers.Of course,quality inspection is one of the services that they offer.Comparing with inspection company,a professional sourcing agent who mainly focus on building materials are more suitable for importers.China sourcing agent has below advantage:

3.5 How to transport building materials from China?

Transportation and logistics affect the final building material prices. Ocean freight or rail freight is the least expensive mode of transportation when shipping building materials from China.Some inland cities not only need ocean shipping but also rail shipping.In order to help you understand easily,we call it shipping because they belong the same delivery line.We simply separate the delivery for building materials form China into five-step processes:loading,China exportation,shipping,importation on destination,delivery to house.

3.5.1 Before loading buiding materials from China

When you place orders to the building materials suppliers,you have the idea about what trade term that they offer.There are  many trade terms used in international business.But for building materials business,there are 3 main trade terms used offen.

A:EXW (Ex-works)

Buyer picks up the goods from the seller’s factory or warehouse.The buyer should handle the whole deliverying process from China to destination as well as pay the charges.

Sellers love this term because they don’t need to worry about deliverying,do exportation and paper works.

This term is always used for less than one container orders.Especially you buy from different building materials suppliers and consolidate into one full container.It will be more convenient for sellers and buyers.

B:FOB (Free on Board)

The building materials supplier is responsible to load the container and delivery to loading port until it is received by the shipping company.After that,the buyer should arrange all processes from vessel shipping util the goods arriving at destination address.

This term is always used when you buy full containers from one supplier.For example,you can ask your tile suppliers to offer FOB prices when you plan to buy one full container ceramic tiles.

C:CIF (Cost Insurance and Freight)

The building materials supplier takes all charges when shipping the products from factory to destination port,which we can treat it as FOB plus ocean freight and insurance.

Because sea freight is changing every week.It is not so fair for both parties.For example,the building material supplier quotes USD1000 per container as sea freight,if the sea freight declines into USD700,that means the buyer pays USD300 more for his order.If sea freight raises to be USD1500,the seller has to loss USD500.On this situations,some suppliers would delay to ship the goods in order to wait for sea freight declining less than USD1000.That means,there is nothing to do for buyer but wait.

Incoterms® 2020 Explained for Import Export Global Trade

Under EXW and FOB,it is buyer’s responsibilty to arrange shipping agent.Therefore,you need to check sea freight from China to your port when the goods are ready.There are two different shipping ways for the goods you order.

• Less Container Load (LCL). This is when a shipper does not have enough items to fill up a container. This means you will need to share container space with other shippers.
• Full Container Load (FCL). This is when the items for shipment can fill up a container. You can choose from the different container sizes that are appropriate for your cargo.

No matter FCL or LCL,buyer should confirm the charges with the shipping agent and then ask the building material supplier to contact with this shipping agent to book container for your orders.

3.5.2 China exportation customs clearance for building materials 

A:Customs clearance and import duty and tax from China to your country.

When importing building materials from China, additional costs in the form of import duty and taxes will affect the final cost of your products. While the cost of customs clearance is already part of your supplier’s selling price, import duties and taxes are shouldered by you, the buyer.

Wandering around a trade fair or a wholesale market with building materials from China may make you feel that you were able to find great deals. These prices, however, still do not include the added costs on taxes and tariffs.

B:China Export Clearance

The building materials you bought from China needs to have an export clearance before it can be loaded and shipped. Hai Guan  or the Chinese Customs Authorities is rather strict on checking on the compliance of export clearance.

The cost of export clearances documents is already part of the FOB cost. It is more cost and time-efficient to let the supplier handle this part of the shipment process.

3.5.3 Ship building materials from China loading port to discharge port/destination in your country

This is what shipping companies/carriers do.The normal shipping companies that we use are CAM,COSOO,Evergreen,Hapag-Lloyd,Maersk,MSC,ONE,ect.No matter which one shipping company you choose to cooperate,just prepare required documents and you can pick up the container easily.Normally below 4 paper works are asked:

Below paper works may be necessary in some countries.This should be confirmed by your importing agent who helps you do the importation custom clearance.Different countries have different requirements.

3.5.4 Destination importation customs clearance for building materials

A:Importing Agent/Broker

Under EXW,FOB or CIF terms,it is building materials importers’ responsibility to hire a local importing agent to help do the importing custom clearances.You can check and compare locally to find the best broker for building materials importation customs.If you have difficulty doing this,please feel free to contact with us.

B:Import Duty Tax and Tariff

Taxes and tariffs are collected on the wholesale building materials shipment gets to the port of destination and upon processing customs clearance.

If you are shipping from China to the US, the import duty tax (paid in the US Port of Entry) depends on the type of product. if you are shipping LED bulb lights from China to the US, for example, import duty tax would be 3.9% excluding the 10% to 25% tariff.

One important thing that you need to keep in mind.Some countires have high  anti-dumping tax for building materials.For example,importers need to pay around 270% tax when buying kitchen cabinets from China.If plus normal tariff,importers need to pay total 300% tax.This is really big stuff when you plan to import panel furniture from China.European Union have high anti-dumping tax for Chinese ceramic tiles,too.Please contact us if you would like to know more about importation for Chinese building materials.

3.5.5 Transport building materials from discharge port /destination to your home?

Transporting from your port to your home depends on whether you have a FCL or LCL. Domestic transportation or port of destination to final address is the final leg of the delivery process.

Normally the delivery will be handled by your importing agent.This agent will not only do the importing custom clearance but also help delivery to your address.The final delivery can be done by rail or truck or both. The cost depends on the proximity of your area to the warehouse of the freight forwarding company.If your house locates in  a narrow residential area street and the container is not able to deliver to this location.Then  you need to rent a warehouse which the truck can drive easily.

3.5.6 How long does it take to ship building materials from China to your address?

Normaly the shipping time is decided by below factors

You can check the estimate time for shipping building materials from China to other countries.If you need to know the exact shipping freight and time,email us for asking.

Here is the estimate time for shipping building materials from China to your address:

3.6 Safety Regulation, Compliance Testing, and Certificates

There are safety regulations required by the US government that all new construction and/or major renovations should comply to ensure the safety of the public from substandard and hazardous building materials.

Building developers and construction companies need to comply with all safety regulations for their job sites and the building materials need to undergo compliance testing, and certificates.

Home builders, importers, and exporters should be aware of all appropriate state and federal regulations that cover building materials.

Besides those regulations we mentioned on above content,like  International Building Code,International Fire Code,Energy Codes,etc.There are some protections to supervise building matertials importation,too.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the federal government protects human health and the health of the environment. This agency regulates the manufacturing process as well as the distribution and use of possible pollutants and chemicals in building materials.

The EPA regulates and enforces restrictions pertaining to:

Polyurethane Testing

All products and materials in almost all industries use polyurethane. Polyurethane is a compound that is chemical exposure-resistant, corrosion, and abrasion.

Well-manufactured poly coating is not dangerous to humans. However, in its natural state the components of the compound pose hazardous issues to the health of humans.

Set standards pertaining to the use of polyurethane in building materials need to be followed. This is to ensure the right manufacturing process is done to ensure the safe use of this compound.

Not complying with the provisions of the applicable codes results in the fines, cancellation of business licenses and/or imprisonment.

In a word,government supervision for building materials importation works effective.But the most important thing is,the building materials suppliers you choose to buy from should be reliable and their goods should be eco-friendly.After all,we not only would like to get good prices for construction products,but also to make sure the supplies we buy are healthy building materials.

4.1 Quality and Quantity Issue

4.2 Communication issue and the Language Barrier

4.3 Long Lead time and Delayed Shipment

4.4 IP violation

4.5 How to pay for Chinese building materials suppliers

4.6 How to install building materials products

4.7 How to solve the quality problems of building materials products

4.8 How to ensure after-sales service

4.1 Quantity and quantity issue

When ordering in high volume there may be certain circumstances, situations, or conditions that may affect the state of your products when you receive them.

Some issues your products may have may include

These issues could be avoided by choosing the right manufacturer to do business with, a good building materials supplier who has a proven track record in having an established manufacturing process, performs product testing and inspection and adheres to strict quality control protocols.Therefore,choosing the superior suppliers can be the 1st defensive line to protect the quality.The 2nd defensive line should be quality control by importer.We will explain how to solve the quality problems of building materials products on 4.7.Click here to reach.

4.2 Communication issue and the language barrier

The language barrier is always an issue when you are doing business in a foreign land, especially in China. Dealing with building materials manufacturers can be a challenge because most of them speak very little or no English at all.

The language barrier can lead to miscommunication issues pertaining to product specifications and other details of the manufacturing process and the contract. Customer service can also be a problem when speaking with someone that cannot seem to understand what the customer is trying to say.

The language barrier issue can be solved by looking for a building materials supplier who has staff or representatives that can communicate well in English. You can also opt to deal with a sourcing agent in China who, almost definitely, speaks good English and know the building materials very well.

4.3 Long lead time and delayed shipment

Before you can finally receive the cheap building materials you purchased from China, there are processes that could take a lot of time.

To play around long lead times and possible delays in shipment, you will need to monitor the schedule of the building materials manufacturer and do a lot of follow-ups to make sure your shipment departs China on schedule.

It is also important to plan ahead when placing orders for building materials. Chinese people are very hard-working.But for some special holidays,they still religiously follow their holidays and businesses can be closed in some days to observe these holidays as part of their culture and tradition.The celebration of Spring Festival, for example.is a big event in China.Building materials suppliers may have about one month holiday.So make sure the important steps in the importation process do not fall on any of the Chinese holidays.

4.4 Intellectual property violation

Intellectual Property (IP) will always be present when you are ordering products where Original Equipment (OEM) is predominant. This is prevalent when you are dealing with manufacturers from all over the world, especially in China.

When you and your manufacturer enter into an OEM agreement, it is understood that the supplier recognizes that the customer has the right to the product. You can use the product as your own when you have all the proper documentation.

The problem begins when you cannot sell the product because of IP restrictions. It may also be that you have not complied with certain country regulations.

You can prevent IP violation issues with proper documentation and the right labeling from China and your country. You should also make sure to have trademarks and patents in place in areas where you are going to sell the building materials.

You can also prevent manufacturing and IP theft by having the proper documentation, making sure you have an OEM agreement with your manufacturer, have a Product Development Agreement, and a Product Ownership Agreement.

Moreover,normally the building materials suppliers would ask you to offer the “brand” or “logo”certificate of authorization when you ask them to put logo on products.It is no problem if you are the brand owner.But if you just want to copy others’ brands,this is not acceptable in China.

4.5 How to pay for Chinese building materials suppliers?

There are 5 ways you can pay your building materials supplier in China. The method you choose depends on what can be the easier or cheaper option.

Wire Transfer:T/T Payment

Bank transfers are typically the most common modes of payment for businesses with foreign suppliers. 90% factories in China prefer this payment method,

It is a straightforward and easy payment method. All you need to do is go to the bank or use the bank’s e-banking portal and transfer the funds to the supplier’s account.

The downside of paying your supplier in China through wire transfer is the paperwork. You will need to supply the bank with details such as the supplier’s invoice, shipping company. You also need to explain the reason you are making a wire transfer.

This option is ideal for large companies who can afford to pay expensive SWIFT/ international transfer fees.

Local Transfer

If you will be regularly doing business with your supplier from China, the most practical way is to open a business account in Hongkong. You can then pay your suppliers through a local transfer.

Most suppliers from China maintain business accounts in Hongkong because it is easier to transfer money in and out of Hongkong. It is also easier to do business with USD through Hongkong banks. It is also easier to move money in and out of China with a business account in a Hongkong bank.

Since it is a local transfer, you avoid the complications and high fees of an international transfer. It can, however, be tough for small SMEs to open a bank account in Hongkong because they require you to physically be present in the branch when you open the account.

PayPal

You can also opt to transfer payment from your PayPal account to the PayPal account of your supplier in China. PayPal is not so popular in China as it is with Western entrepreneurs. Transferring payment through PayPal allows instant transfer if your supplier in China also has a PayPal account.

PayPal, though, has high conversion and transfer fees. Your supplier in China also has to use a remittance company so they can transfer the funds from PayPal to their bank account. The entire process can take about 2 days.

This is an ideal and safe method especially when you are paying for a down payment.

Remittance Centers

Western Union is a popular global remittance center. You can opt to use WU or other third-party remittance centers. They do not use a SWIFT network so there are not much hidden fees.

Transferring payments to your supplier in China is easy and quick. Your supplier can claim your remittance within 24 hours.

Most suppliers in China are not familiar with Western remittance companies such as Western Union, thus small manufacturers may not accept this form of payment. There also are not too many remittance companies that specialize in remitting funds to the Chinese market.

Use Alibaba Trade Assurance

Ideal to use if you are paying for your very first transaction with a Chinese supplier and you want to make your products be of top quality.

Alibaba Trade Assurance is an extremely safe option because while you send your payment to Alibaba, the funds will be held in escrow. Funds will only be released to your supplier once you approve of the final product in terms of specifications and quality.

The Alibaba Trade Assurance is Chinese service tailor-made for the Chinese market. Some Chinese suppliers, though, do not accept Alibaba Trade Assurance because Alibaba demands a cut from the payment due to the supplier.

 4.6 How to install building materials products

The wide array of building materials available in China are for exporting to the rest of the world. Many of the largest building materials for global construction are imported from China.

Building materials from China can be installed easily. Most of them such as some kitchen cabinets are modular and easy to install.No matter which kind of building materials you order from China,you need to ask your suppliers to offer the English instruction or videos showing how to install.All packages should have right marks showing what it is.

How to install a kitchen cabinet (Basic cabinet assembling)

More installation about kitchen cabinet and wardrobe please check our youtube channel.

4.7 How to solve the quality problems of building materials products

One of the main issues faced by customers of suppliers from China is product quality. It is also one of the reasons prospective customers get turned off from importing China-made products.

Not all China-made products are of poor quality. Many manufacturers in China, as a matter of fact, have strict quality control systems in their factories. There are some ways on how to solve the quality problems of building materials from China.

There are many reasons some manufacturers in China produce substandard building materials.

All these reasons, however, are not always true. Most manufacturers in China produce quality products. The real problem lies in the fact that when a few Chinese suppliers produce low quality products, China-made products, in general, are tagged as low quality.

There are many ways, though to solve the quality problems of building materials products from China.

• Choose a Good and Reliable Supplier

A good supplier will use quality advanced technology, top-notched equipment, superior raw materials, and will have set quality assurance standards to ensure they produce only high-quality building materials.From raw materials,production control,to package quality,standard label,a good building material supplier has the strict standard operation procedure from the beginning to the end.

• Have a Contract

Always make sure your order is covered with a contract. A contract details all the specifications of the product, as well as the materials to be used. A contract will protect you and will always make sure your suppliers will produce good quality products.

A contract also makes sure the supplier will replace substandard products. More importantly, a contract keeps the manufacturer on its toes and encourages them not to cut corners during the manufacturing process.

• Quality Inspection

Always make quality inspection an essential part of the manufacturing process. Each supplier has their own standard for producing building materials.Therefore,to make sure products are what you need before loading is quite important.

Quality inspection and testing prior to shipment acts as an incentive to manufacturers to take seriously quality control standards.These are important steps to take to ensure you are getting top-quality products. There are a lot of QA companies in China you can tap to conduct quality inspections.

4.8 How to ensure after-sales service?

After-sales services include product support and any service pertinent to the products after they have been received by the customer. After-sales services are increasingly becoming important to Chinese suppliers.

Manufacturers and suppliers now make it a point to have customer care staff render after-sales services.

To ensure after-sales services, customers should always ask for a warranty from China suppliers. After-sales services include, helping buyers with documentation, helping buyers track shipments, and the replacement of damaged and low-quality products.

5.1 How can one choose the right door and windows?

5.2 Where can I buy cheap lighting chandelier with good quality?

5.3 What is the best place to buy cheap curtain from China?

5.4 What is better? Tile, marble or wooden flooring? And where to buy?

5.5 How do I buy marble online?

5.6 What are the best sanitary ware and where can I buy them?

5.7 Where can I find kitchen cabinet & drawers for the best price?

5.1 How can one choose the right door and windows?

There are various styles available for windows and doors making the task of choosing the right one quite daunting. Being familiar with the different types UPVC doors and windows can help make the right choice.

• Check on the hardware
• Check on the reliability and stability of the supplier to make sure of after-sales-services
• Choose the type and design that matches the interiors of your home, taking into consideration your preferences.

UPVC vs Aluminium vs Wooden Windows

5.2 Where can I buy cheap lighting chandelier with good quality?

Chandeliers can be costly but they add to the aesthetic value of your home. There are many online retailers who sell a wide range of chandeliers at affordable prices. Do your research and check on feedbacks and reviews before making a purchase.  If you plan to buy from China,it is better to buy from Foshan lighting market because there are many designs for your checking and prices are quite affordable.

5.3 What is the best place to buy cheap curtain from China?

If you want to have curtains in beautiful designs and in a range of colors, Foshan city is quite a good buying city.There are many big fabric markets in Foshan selling curtains.You can see and touch how the fabric is to compare.There are many nice designs with good quality while prices are very attractive.

5.4 What is better? Tile, marble or wooden flooring? And where to buy?

Marble

Tiles

Wooden Floors

The choice of flooring depends on your preference, budget, and design of your home. You can buy flooring solutions online from any wholesaler or retailer. China flooring companies offer the best prices.

5.5 How do I buy marble online?

Buying marble online can be cost-effective, but it comes with a lot of risks, too. Do it right and with the right supplier.

• Measure your flooring area.
• Search for a supplier within your area.
• Browse through suppliers’ catalogs and choose the design
• Get quotations from at least 3 suppliers
• Pick your supplier of choice
• Arrange for a COD transaction or pay via credit card

Buying marble online is cheaper than from a retailer.

5.6 What are the best sanitary ware and where can I buy them?

Before you can select the best sanitary ware for your home, there are some details you need to consider.

• Preferred design
• Comfort and durability
• Function
• Area of your bathroom
• Price

The best sanitary ware products are the ones that will fit your design preference, specifications, and budget. You can search online for a reliable supplier. Or take the list “Top 100 Building Materials Suppliers in China” as reference.Find a China sourcing agent may be a good idea.

5.7 Where can I find kitchen cabinet & drawers for the best price?

Kitchen cabinets and drawers are available in many ways: standard, semi-customized, and customized.

If you want to get the best prices, you can search online for kitchen cabinets and drawers from China. Many China-made kitchen cabinets and drawers are available in many major cities in the world. You can check“Top 10 Kitchen Cabinet Suppliers & Manufacturers in China” as reference or ask help from a professional kitchen cabinet sourcing company.