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Need help with your imports from China?

Ramsden Purchasing Ltd is a Lancashire-based company that specialises in sourcing from China.  It is designed to help companies that are seeking suppliers from whom to import quality products at a competitive price.

 

Our staff include two Chinese buyers who source directly from approved Chinese factories.  We inspect all the goods before dispatch from China and organise delivery to your door. As part of the service, we advise on import duty, freight options (sea or air freight) and the payment process.

 

With our expertise and experience, we are uniquely placed to support companies looking to import goods from China.  To arrange a no-strings discussion or meeting and find out more about how we could assist you, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

China sourcing for you from Ramsden Purchasing

What do our clients think?

We worked with Carly Green, Managing Director of EC Ecology Ltd, helping her to source and import her new range of uniquely illustrated reusable bottles.  Click on the video to listen to Carly’s feedback. Click on EC the Whale to see more of the bottles.

How it works

sourcing from china

Meet the China Sourcing team

Mick Ramsden specialist at sourcing from china

Mick Ramsden MCIPS

Mick’s career has been in quality, logistics and procurement.  He has been doing business in China for 15 years and also owns a business that trades polymers. His mission is to always deliver what the customer wants and, to help clients develop their businesses.

Jecky Guo part of our specialist team sourcing from china

Jecky Guo

Jecky has a Masters Degree in International Trade and has worked as an Export Manager for a major chemical plant.  He runs his own import – export business that has an export licence, enabling him to trade both inside and outside China.

sourcing from china

Jecky’s Blog

China has been the manufacturing centre of the World for over 30 years.
In China you can find almost anything you want from small handicrafts, like jewellery, to large capital equipment such as agricultural machinery.

 

Many people have heard of the Yiwu market (4) where you can source many of the popular products you see sold on Ebay and Amazon. We wanted to talk you through how we can help you import from China.

sourcing from chinaGot a question? Just give us a call on +44 7957 928862or email mr@ramsdenpurchasing.com

Frequently asked questions

How much does your service cost?

The search is free.  We will discuss either a service fee or import on your behalf through our Chinese import / export company.

Will there be import duty and VAT on my product?

All products have a commodity code which can be found via https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff  A customs import duty is charged on arrival in the UK, dependent on the commodity code, plus VAT at the current rate (20%).  This is usually payable before shipment from customs, unless you have a deferment account.

What will happen after Brexit?

Contrary to current public opinion, we are confident that the world will not end! However, the import rules will change if we leave the EU without a trade deal.  We would revert to WTO (World Trade Organisation) trade rules; China is part of the WTO and import tariffs will be decided by the UK.  It is important to remember that, under the WTO’s “most favoured nation” rules, the UK could not lower tariffs for the EU or any specific country alone; it would have to treat every other WTO member around the world in exactly the same way.

How and when do I pay a Chinese supplier?

We can advise and help set up accounts with FX brokers (currency exchange) such as Western Union or Cornhill FX.  It is now possible to pay your supplier in Chinese yen (RMB) rather than in US dollars; this may be advantageous in the event of a weak pound.

Payment terms are usually 30% on order and 70% on presentation of the bill of lading (see paperwork explanation).

What are the freight terms FOB, CIF and ex-works? Which should I use?

These are among many incoterms (terms relating to international commercial law). FOB and CIF respectively stand for ‘free on board’ and ‘cost, insurance and freight’, while ‘ex-works’ means that it is the buyer’s responsibility to collect the goods from the Chinese factory. We recommend FOB for importing, due to lower cost and controls, however we always calculate the best value means of door-to-door freight.

What is FCL and LCL?

FCL denotes a full container load, while LCL means less than a container load (groupage).

Will the Chinese New Year affect my delivery schedule?

Yes, it is the main Chinese holiday with a shutdown of several weeks.  As shipping is usually more expensive in the run-up to Chinese New Year and since delays can occur, it is best to plan ahead.

What paperwork is used for importing?

The main documents are a bill of lading, a packing specification, a commercial invoice and – sometimes – a certificate of origin is used to calculate the duty and VAT paid.  The presentation of the bill of lading usually prompts the final supplier payment and the commercial invoice is used to calculate the duty paid on the goods along with the freight cost.

What is the role of the freight forwarder?

The freight forwarder organises delivery to your door from either the factory (ex-works) or the Chinese port (FOB).  We use several freight forwarders and can advise you on costs and service.

Get in touch