Importing Goods From China
Importing Goods From China
Whether you are planning to diversify your business or leverage cheaper-made products, importing from China to Kenya can be an important ingredient in your small business. But before you rush to import your first batch of products there are a few things you should keep in mind.
Here are some simple business tips to guide you through the process of identifying marketable products and importing them to your small business store here in East Africa
Step 1: Identify What To Import
As with any other investment project you may be trying, make sure you have a clear understanding of what you are going to be doing before going into it. Find some good products which can attract demand locally.
Examples sanitary wares, plumbing fittings, electrical fittings, tiles, electronics and cheap jewelry. Consult the customs office to make sure the products you are planning to import are acceptable under Kenyan laws.
Also, make sure you have an active KRA pin. If you don’t have one visit the KRA website and obtain one. This will help a lot during the custom clearance process once your goods arrive in the country.
Step 2: Find a Good Suppliers
Sites such as alibaba.com or aliexpress.com have an excellent database of Chinese Manufacturers. Here you will find many suppliers supplying different product categories.
It is however advisable to double check on the credentials of your chosen supplier just to make sure you are getting the right deal. To avoid scams or cases where poor quality products are supplied take the following precautions:
- Get contacts of one of the Kenyans living in China. These might be helpful in locating the right suppliers and spot checking quality of your products.
- Before you order in bulk, request the supplier to send you a sample of the product. Normally, samples are given out free of charge but you may have to pay for freight charges (about $50 or Ksh4,500).
Step 3: Determine How Much You’re Going to Spend
Since you are importing to re-sell, it is important that before you place the order you get your math right. Apart from paying the supplier for the goods, you will be required to pay for freight, clearing, duty fee, inspection fee among other charges.
A simple formula for determining how much you’re going to spend on the whole process is to multiply the manufacturer’s price with 1.6. The answer will be the total amount you’ll spend and with this figure, you can now predict your profit even before you import the products.
Step 4: Identify the Port of Loading
Unlike in Kenya where we only have one main port city, China has many outlets. There is Guangzhou, Tianjin, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Ningbo and Dalian among others. In each port city you will find courier companies which can deliver to Kenya and help you clear with the customs offices.
Once you have identified your port and potential courier company (and assuming that you have already received the samples and are satisfied with them) you can direct your supplier to drop your goods at your agent’s office in the nearest port city. From that point, you can negotiate with the courier agent on terms of delivery
Step 5:Collect Your Goods At The Port
If you pay for your goods to be delivered by air, it goes without saying, you will have to collect them from your nearest international airport. On the other hand if you chose delivery by sea, then you have to collect your products from the port of Mombasa.
You will be required to pay custom duties and inspection charges. You can seek the assistance of your clearing and forwarding agent at this juncture to expedite the process of clearing your goods from the port.
Courtesy of Kuza Blog