Why thinking backwards is a good idea when importing goods to China

The changes in the Chinese market – from producing to consuming

As the people in China get better economy, the consumer market in the country grows stronger. Living standards and minimum salaries are increasing and work conditions are improving. By the year of 2020, the number of upper-middle class and affluent households are expected to increase to 100 million. Consequently, Chinese consumers are focusing less on price when they are deciding whether to purchase a product or not. Instead, the consumers are considering factors such as quality and brand. Also, they want more products that are produced outside of China. This is a great opportunity for manufacturing companies in other parts of the world that want to reach new customers in a steadily growing market.

Avoid problems in Chinese customs with accompanying documents

Even though Chinese consumers want more imported products, the process of importing them is not always easy. Local customs procedures in China differ in many ways from those in, for example, Europe and can be perceived as relatively complex. There are different policies and procedures to consider depending on what type of product that is imported, to which city or region the goods are transported to and whether the goods are transported by air, rail or sea. If you send your cargo without considering these things first, problems can occur when the cargo arrives at the Chinese border. For example, received containers can be stopped and stored in a terminal or harbour if they are missing required documents. After a certain amount of free days, you need to start paying for the stored container until the documents are provided.

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