How to Buy from China Without Travelling There: A Practical Sourcing Guide for African Buyers

Start with a spec, not a supplier

You do not need a visa, a plane ticket, or a cousin in Guangzhou to buy from China. You need a clear spec, a supplier you can check, and a freight plan you can afford.

Most first orders go wrong before payment. The buyer asks for 'good quality' and the supplier sends something else. Write a one-page spec: material, size, weight, colour, packaging, label, carton quantity, barcode, target price, order quantity. Add photos. If you sell in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Niger or Chad, check what your customers actually need: voltage, plug type, label language, heat, dust, rough roads. A cheap product that fails locally is expensive.

Find and check suppliers

Use Alibaba, Made-in-China, Canton Fair lists, or a sourcing agent. Then verify. Ask for the business licence, factory address, production video, main markets, and bank account name. The bank account must match the company. Test the WhatsApp number. Ask technical questions. A trader who cannot answer basic spec questions is a risk. Get three quotes on the same spec. Compare unit price, MOQ, sample cost, lead time, packaging and Incoterm. Do not compare a cheap quote with a full quote.

Sample before you commit

Order a sample. Pay by company account if possible. Ask for the sample to be packed exactly like bulk. Check function, finish, weight, label and carton. Keep the sample. It becomes your reference. If the order is large, pay for a pre-shipment inspection before the balance. A third-party inspector costs money. It is cheaper than a container of wrong goods.

Agree Incoterms and payment terms

Learn three terms: EXW, FOB, CIF. EXW means you handle everything from the factory door. FOB means the supplier delivers to the port and clears export. CIF means the supplier pays freight and insurance to your port, but risk and local charges still matter. For a first order, FOB with your own forwarder gives you more control. Payment: avoid 100% upfront to a personal account. Start with 30% deposit and 70% after inspection, or use a letter of credit for larger orders. Put the spec, lead time, packaging, inspection and late-delivery terms in the proforma invoice.

Work out landed cost, not unit price

Your unit price is not your cost. Landed cost includes goods, freight, insurance, duty, VAT, port charges, clearing agent, inland transport, bank fees and FX. Example: goods $2,000 FOB; freight and insurance $450; duty, VAT and clearing $600; inland delivery $150. Landed cost is about $3,200 before your margin. For Niger and Chad, add transit and border costs. For small LCL shipments, local charges can surprise you. Ask the forwarder for a full quote: origin charges, ocean or air freight, destination charges, and delivery. Ask what is not included.

Control freight and documents

For small orders, sea LCL is common. For urgent high-value goods, air. For volume, FCL. Give the forwarder the carton count, gross weight, volume and product name. Check the bill of lading before telex release. Keep these documents: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or airway bill, certificate of origin, and product certificates if your market asks. In Nigeria, clearing can move slowly if documents disagree. Make sure the invoice value, HS code, quantity and consignee match.

Common pitfalls

• Paying a deposit to a personal account.
• Ordering without a written spec.
• Ignoring MOQ and packaging cost.
• Accepting 'same as photo' as a spec.
• Using CIF and assuming local charges are covered.
• Forgetting duty, VAT, port rent and demurrage.
• Skipping inspection to save a small fee.
• Using one supplier for everything before you test them.
• Not checking plug, voltage, label language or spare parts.
• Letting the supplier choose the HS code without checking.

A simple order routine

1. Write the spec.
2. Get three quotes on the same spec.
3. Check the company and bank account.
4. Order a sample.
5. Confirm Incoterm, lead time and payment terms.
6. Book inspection.
7. Approve freight quote and documents.
8. Clear customs and arrange inland delivery.
9. Check stock on arrival and keep photos.

You can do this from Lagos, Freetown, Niamey or N'Djamena. You do not need to travel. You need patience and written records.

Where GlobemX fits

If you want a simpler route, browse the GlobemX catalog and order factory-direct products. You see prices in local currency, clear MOQ, and a local agent confirms stock and freight before you pay. That keeps the first step practical: check the numbers, then decide.