How to import from China into Europe: step-by-step guide (2026)

Importing from China is not complicated, but it has many steps, and most costly mistakes happen early: a product that cannot legally be sold in the EU, a supplier that was never checked, or a price quoted on terms you did not understand. This guide follows the order in which decisions are actually made.

1. Define your product and its compliance requirements

Before you contact a single supplier, write a specification: materials, dimensions, colours, packaging, labels, target price and quantity. Then check which EU rules apply. As the importer, you are legally responsible for the conformity of what you place on the EU market, even if the factory made it.

• CE marking: required only for products covered by specific EU legislation, such as toys, electrical equipment, radio equipment, machinery or personal protective equipment. You need a declaration of conformity and a technical file, usually backed by test reports from an accredited lab.
• REACH: restricts certain chemicals in articles (for example some phthalates, azo dyes or heavy metals) and requires information when a substance of very high concern exceeds 0.1% by weight.
• RoHS: limits hazardous substances such as lead, mercury and cadmium in electrical and electronic equipment.
• GPSR: the General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988 has applied since 13 December 2024 to consumer products. It requires a responsible economic operator established in the EU, product traceability (type, batch or serial number) and manufacturer contact details on the product or packaging. Online listings must show this information too.
• Labelling: importer name and address, instructions and warnings in the language of the country of sale, and sector rules such as textile fibre composition, the WEEE bin symbol or national recycling marks.

Do not rely on a supplier's certificate alone. Ask for the full test report, check that it names the exact product and that the lab is real.

2. Find and vet suppliers

The main channels are B2B platforms (see our comparison of Alibaba and 1688), trade fairs such as the Canton Fair, wholesale markets like Yiwu, and referrals.

Factory or trading company?

A factory usually offers better prices and more control over customisation. A trading company often accepts smaller orders, handles several product lines and speaks better English, but adds a margin and may change the production source without telling you. Both can be good partners. The problem is not knowing which one you are dealing with.

Basic checks

• Ask for the business licence (营业执照) and check the company name, registered capital, scope of business and date of creation in China's official enterprise credit register.
• Make sure the bank account you pay belongs to the same company as the contract. Payment fraud through changed bank details is common.
• Ask for export references and certificates, then verify them with the issuing body.
• For significant orders, arrange a factory audit: production capacity, equipment, quality process and working conditions.

This is where having people in China helps. Vitalic Trading's teams in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Yiwu visit suppliers and confirm who actually makes the product before you commit.

3. Order and test samples

Always order samples before a production order, ideally from two or three suppliers. Test them as your customer would, and send them to a lab if the product needs certification. Once approved, keep a signed "golden sample" as the reference for production and inspection.

4. Negotiate price and payment terms

Compare quotes on the same basis: identical specifications, quantity, packaging and Incoterm. Then put everything in a purchase contract or detailed proforma invoice: specifications, tolerances, labelling, delivery date, inspection criteria and what happens if goods fail inspection.

The most common payment structure is a bank transfer (T/T) with 30% deposit at order and 70% balance before shipment, after the inspection report. Avoid paying 100% upfront to a new supplier. For large orders, a letter of credit offers more security but costs more and is heavier to manage. On Alibaba.com, paying through Trade Assurance adds a layer of protection.

5. Inspect quality before shipment

A pre-shipment inspection is the last point where you still have leverage, because the balance has not been paid. Inspectors pull a random sample based on the AQL tables (ISO 2859-1) and check appearance, dimensions, function, labelling and packaging against your specifications and golden sample. Many buyers use AQL 2.5 for major defects and 4.0 for minor ones, but the right level depends on your product.

For complex or first orders, add an inspection during production to catch problems while they can still be fixed.

6. Choose the right Incoterm

The Incoterm decides who pays for what and where the risk passes from seller to buyer. FOB is often a sensible default for sea freight, while EXW and cheap DDP offers hide traps. Our guide on EXW, FOB, CIF and DDP explains each option.

7. Choose a shipping mode

Transit times below are indicative, port to port or station to station. Add time for pickup, customs and final delivery, and expect variation with the season and route disruptions.

Mode	Indicative transit time to Northern Europe	Best for
Sea freight (FCL or LCL)	About 30 to 45 days	Heavy or bulky goods, regular stock, lowest cost per unit
Rail (China to Europe)	About 18 to 25 days	Mid-value goods when sea is too slow and air too expensive
Air freight	About 5 to 10 days door to door	Urgent, light or high-value goods
Express courier	A few days	Samples and small parcels

If you buy from several suppliers, consolidating goods in one warehouse in China before shipping usually cuts freight costs and simplifies customs.

8. Clear customs in the EU

EORI number

Any business importing into the EU needs an EORI number, issued by the customs authority of the Member State where you are established. It is free, but request it before your first shipment.

Classification and duty rate

Every product has a commodity code. The duty rate, any quota and any extra measures are listed in the EU TARIC database. Check the code before ordering, not after: it can change your margin.

Customs value

In the EU, duties are calculated on the customs value, which is broadly the price paid plus transport and insurance costs up to the EU border (a CIF basis). If you buy FOB, freight and insurance are added to the invoice value.

Anti-dumping duties

Some Chinese products carry anti-dumping or countervailing duties on top of the normal rate. Bicycles, e-bikes, ceramic tableware and a range of steel and aluminium products have been concerned. These duties can be very high and sometimes depend on the named manufacturer, so always check TARIC with your forwarder.

Import VAT

Import VAT is due on the customs value plus duties and certain costs to the destination. The rate depends on the Member State: for example 20% in France, 19% in Germany, 21% in the Netherlands and Spain, 22% in Italy. Some countries let VAT-registered businesses account for import VAT on their VAT return instead of paying it at the border. In France, this self-assessment has been mandatory for businesses with a French VAT number since 1 January 2022.

Documents

• Commercial invoice
• Packing list
• Bill of lading (sea), air waybill (air) or rail consignment note
• Certificate of origin, when required for a specific measure
• Test reports and declaration of conformity, which market surveillance authorities may request

Most SMEs use a customs broker or their freight forwarder to lodge the declaration.

9. Low-value parcels: what changed on 1 July 2026

Until mid-2026, goods worth €150 or less were exempt from customs duty in the EU (VAT has been due since 2021). Since 1 July 2026, a flat €3 customs duty applies to e-commerce parcels up to €150 sent to consumers from outside the EU. It is charged per item category in the parcel, based on tariff classification: five T-shirts count once, but a T-shirt and a cap count twice. The measure is temporary and is set to run until 1 July 2028, when normal duty rates are due to apply. A separate handling fee on these parcels is also planned. Check the European Commission's announcement for current details.

This mainly affects dropshipping and direct-to-consumer shipping from China. If you import stock in bulk, you pay the normal TARIC rates as before.

10. Receive, check and prepare the next order

When the goods arrive, count and check them against the packing list, note any damage on the delivery receipt and inform the carrier quickly. Keep all customs, compliance and payment documents: authorities can ask for them years later. Then review the order with your supplier. The second order is usually where lead times, quality and prices improve.

If you would rather have a team in China handle supplier checks, inspections and consolidation, Vitalic Trading can manage these steps with you, in English, French or Chinese.