How to Import Goods from China to Africa: Step-by-Step Guide for Retailers and Distributors

1. Pick one product and check the math first

Start with one product. Not five. Choose something you know your buyers will repeat. Before you contact anyone, build a simple landed-cost sheet. Unit price, MOQ, sample cost, freight, insurance, duty, clearing, inland delivery, bank charges, and your margin. If you cannot sell at a 35–50% markup after all that, the product is wrong. A supplier quote of $1.20 per unit means little until you add the rest. Keep an eye on weight and volume. Bulky, low-value goods eat profit in freight.

2. Vet the factory, not the catalog

Ask for the business license, factory address, and product photos with a ruler or date card. Search the company name. Ask for two or three current customers — not only names they give, but countries and product types. Then message the supplier on a different channel. Fake traders often copy factory photos. A real factory can answer technical questions: material grade, carton size, production lead time, and packaging options. If answers are vague, walk.

3. Order samples and test the packing

Pay for samples. Cheap samples are not a favour; they are part of the cost. Test the product yourself. Then test one carton as it will arrive. Drop it, stack it, check the labels. Ask for the carton dimensions and gross weight. These numbers set your freight cost. If the supplier cannot send clear packing data, they will be hard to work with on shipping.

4. Agree price terms and Incoterms in writing

Get quotes for FOB and CIF. FOB means you control the forwarder. CIF can be easier, but check what the supplier includes. Put everything in the proforma invoice: product spec, quantity, unit price, MOQ, lead time, payment terms, packaging, carton size, and Incoterm. Check the HS code. A wrong code can slow customs or raise duty.

5. Choose the shipping route by volume

Small orders usually go by air or courier. Air is fast and expensive per kg. Sea LCL works for 2–15 CBM. Sea FCL works when you can fill a 20ft or 40ft container. For landlocked markets such as Niger and Chad, plan the transit route early. Goods may enter through a port in a neighbouring country and move by truck. Ask your forwarder for door-to-door time and all port charges. Do not compare only the ocean freight. Compare the full clearance and delivery cost.

6. Clear customs with local help

You need a clearing agent who knows your country's rules. Prepare the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, and any product permits. Check duty and VAT rates before you order. Some products need standards approval. If the paperwork is wrong, the container sits and rent starts. Get a written quote for clearing, duty, terminal charges, and transport. Ask what is not included.

7. Control payment and quality

Do not pay 100% upfront to a new supplier. Start with 30% deposit and 70% against a copy of the bill of lading or after inspection. Use a third-party inspection for larger orders. Check quantity, function, labels, and carton marks. Pay the balance only when the documents match. Keep every chat and invoice. If you use a bank transfer, confirm the account name matches the company.

8. Common pitfalls that cost real money

• Believing a low unit price before checking MOQ and carton size.
• Paying a trader who has no factory address.
• Skipping the sample and finding defects in 5,000 units.
• Using the wrong HS code or missing certificates.
• Comparing ocean freight only and ignoring port and clearing fees.
• Not planning inland transport for Niger or Chad.
• Ordering without a written packing list.

9. Use a process you can repeat

After the first shipment, write down actual costs. Compare quoted vs paid. Keep a supplier scorecard: quality, delay, communication, and packing. Then scale the product that works. This is how you build a wholesale business, not by chasing the cheapest quote every month.

When you are ready to buy, you can browse factory-direct products and order on GlobemX. You see local-currency prices and clear MOQ. A local agent confirms stock and freight before you pay, so you know the numbers before money moves. GlobemX supports buyers in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Niger and Chad.