China is still the UK's largest source of manufactured goods, from electronics and furniture to clothing, toys and machinery parts. Importing from China is straightforward once you know the steps. The businesses that do it well aren't the ones with the cheapest supplier. They're the ones that work out the real landed cost, check the product is legal to sell, and control their shipping.
Here's how to do it.
Step 1: Get set up
Before you place an order, you'll need:
- A GB EORI number. Free from HMRC and needed for any commercial import.
- VAT registration, if you're eligible. It means you can use postponed VAT accounting and reclaim import VAT, which makes a big difference to cash flow.
- A business bank account that can make international payments.
Step 2: Find a supplier
Common ways to find Chinese suppliers:
- Online B2B platforms, with thousands of manufacturers and trading companies
- Trade fairs, such as the Canton Fair, where you can meet suppliers and see products
- Sourcing agents, who find and vet suppliers for a fee or commission
- Referrals from other importers in your industry
Factories usually offer better prices; trading companies offer lower minimum order quantities and a wider range. Both can work.
Step 3: Check the supplier and the product
Before you commit:
- Ask for samples. Always test the product before placing a production order.
- Check the business. Ask for the business licence, look at how long they've been trading, and ask for references.
- Agree specifications in writing: materials, sizes, colours, packaging and labelling.
- Arrange a pre-shipment inspection for larger orders. An independent inspector checks quality and quantity before the goods leave the factory and before you pay the balance.
Payment terms
Paying 100% upfront puts all the risk on you. A common arrangement is a 30% deposit to start production and the 70% balance after inspection, before shipping. For large orders, a letter of credit gives more protection.
Step 4: Make sure it's legal to sell in the UK
As the importer, you are responsible for the goods you place on the UK market. Many products have to meet UK safety rules and carry the right marking, often UKCA (or CE, which is still accepted for many goods). Products that commonly need certification include:
- Toys, which must meet the toy safety regulations
- Electrical and electronic goods, including chargers and batteries
- Machinery and tools
- Personal protective equipment
- Cosmetics, which need a UK responsible person and safety assessment
- Products that touch food, such as kitchenware
Ask your supplier for test reports from a recognised laboratory and check that they match your exact product. Unsafe or non-compliant goods can be seized, and you can be held liable.
Step 5: Find your commodity code and duty rate
Look up the 10-digit commodity code on the UK Trade Tariff and select China as the country of origin. The tariff shows:
- The duty rate, often between 0% and 12%
- Import VAT, usually 20%
- Any anti-dumping or countervailing duty: some steel, aluminium, ceramic, chemical and other products from China pay extra duties, sometimes high
- Any licences or restrictions
Check this before you order, not after. An unexpected anti-dumping duty can wipe out your margin. Our guide to HS codes explains how to find the right code.
Step 6: Agree the Incoterms
The Incoterm in your contract decides where the supplier's job ends and yours begins.
- FOB (Free on Board): the supplier delivers the goods to the Chinese port, handles export clearance and loads them on the ship. You or your forwarder take over from there. This is the most common and usually the best option for importers.
- EXW (Ex Works): you take over at the factory door, including collection and export clearance in China. More work and risk for you.
- CIF or CFR: the supplier arranges the sea freight to the UK. It looks simpler, but you lose control of the shipping, and destination charges in the UK can be high and unexpected.
- DDP: the supplier delivers duty paid. Convenient, but you can't see what was declared to UK customs, and errors can still come back to you.
FOB with your own forwarder gives you control of cost, timing and customs.
Step 7: Choose how to ship
| Method | Best for | Typical transit |
|---|---|---|
| Sea, full container (FCL) | Around 15 cubic metres or more | Around 5–7 weeks port to port |
| Sea, part load (LCL) | 1–15 cubic metres | A little longer than FCL |
| Air freight | Urgent or high-value goods | Around 5–10 days door to door |
| Courier | Samples and very small parcels | A few days |
Transit times are currently longer than usual on some sea services because of rerouting around Africa. See our article on how the Middle East conflict is affecting shipping. Shipping a small order? Read can I import small cargo from China?
Step 8: Prepare the documents
Your supplier provides:
- Commercial invoice, showing the price you actually paid
- Packing list, matching the invoice
- Test reports and certificates, where needed
Your forwarder or the carrier provides the bill of lading or air waybill.
Step 9: Customs clearance and delivery
When the goods arrive in the UK:
- Your customs agent lodges the import declaration, ideally before the vessel arrives
- You pay or postpone the duty and VAT
- The goods are released and delivered to your premises or warehouse
Working out the real landed cost
The price from your supplier is only part of the cost. Here's a simple example for a consignment with an FOB value of £8,000, duty at 4% and freight and insurance of £1,200:
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Goods (FOB) | £8,000 |
| Freight and insurance to the UK | £1,200 |
| Customs value | £9,200 |
| Import duty (4%) | £368 |
| UK port charges, clearance and delivery (example) | £600 |
| Landed cost before VAT | £10,168 |
| Import VAT (20% of £10,168, reclaimable if VAT registered) | £2,034 |
In this example, the landed cost is about 27% higher than the supplier's price. Always compare suppliers on landed cost, not the factory price.
Common first-timer mistakes
- Paying in full before the goods are made and checked
- Buying products that don't meet UK safety rules
- Comparing suppliers without working out the landed cost
- Ignoring anti-dumping duty on the commodity code
- Leaving the freight to the supplier on CIF terms, then facing high destination charges
- Vague invoices, leading to customs queries and delays
Your import checklist
- GB EORI number, and VAT registration if eligible
- Supplier checked and samples approved
- Product compliance confirmed, with test reports
- Commodity code and duty rate checked, including anti-dumping
- Incoterms agreed, ideally FOB
- Payment terms agreed, with inspection before the balance
- Forwarder booked, and documents ready before arrival
We move full containers, part loads and air freight from China, and clear them in-house. See our China to UK lane or ask for a quote.
General information, correct as of October 2026, not legal advice.