Most builders believe that importing home building materials from China has several advantages. For foreign builders, China’s low prices for wholesale building materials from Chinese manufacturers have greatly increased their revenues, which in turn has helped them create profitable businesses in terms of revenue. As a result, China has become the preferred destination for most U.S. retailers and construction companies, as well as other overseas construction companies, to purchase home building materials.

Over time, China’s growth as an outsourcing powerhouse has been remarkable. About 25 years ago, the country accounted for only 3-5% of global manufacturing output. Today, almost every industry buys materials from China. The supply of building materials is no exception. However, Chinese product procurement has its own set of safety factors. In this blog, you can find all the necessary information about sourcing home-building materials from China.

The reason for choosing China as the purchasing destination

In today’s world, China is the largest exporter of home building materials. Several U.S. homebuilders have established secure channels to procure the necessary resources from the country. Apart from the United States, builders from Britain, Australia, and many other European countries prefer to import materials from China. The main reasons for this preference are as follows:

• In China, there are many manufacturers and suppliers that can provide you with the necessary materials.
• Manufacturing costs are relatively low in China.
• In recent years, with the help of advanced technology, improvements in trade and manufacturing practices have clearly overcome some business gaps.

Concerns related to the procurement of materials from China

While relaxed trade and customs regulations and cheaper prices have made China a popular destination for imports, there are some problems with Chinese procurement. The most common causes of this negativity are:

• Poor product quality
• Illegal and immoral labor practices
• IP security is low
• Customer service does not meet the standards
• Longer delivery times

Indeed, some black-screen companies in China may indulge in this unacceptable practice. However, this practice can be found anywhere in the world. If you purchase your products from any foreign country, you must exercise caution before entering into any contract or transaction. Some highly rated and well-known companies faithfully adhere to the ISO 9001 quality management system and produce high-quality products at competitive prices.

Guide to importing materials from China

1. Consult your local trade law and government rules:

Each country has its own rules and regulations governing its import and export rules. Therefore, before conducting any negotiations, make sure that your business complies with all necessary laws and regulations. In addition, each country has strict regulations and quality standards for building materials. You should directly ensure that the materials you import comply with your country’s standards and safety protocols.

2. How to evaluate Chinese building materials suppliers?

Assessing the plant capabilities of your building materials suppliers should be a top consideration. This can be done through supplier audits and plant audits, including the evaluation of supplier facilities and procedures.

Assessments are important to confirm the plant’s ability to deliver high-quality building materials to your specifications and deliver them on time.

You can use companies such as plant audits and supplier audit headquarters to thoroughly analyze the strengths, weaknesses, and conditions of potential suppliers.

3. RFQ:

Once the building materials supplier and its product quality exceed your standards and needs, you can now obtain a supply quotation request for building materials. RFQ lists your proposed orders item by item and includes the following information:

(1) Minimum order quantity (MOQ).

This is the smallest number of pieces per building material. MOQ should be practical for both you and your suppliers. This is often part of the first round of discussions because each supplier and building product type will have a different MOQ.

(2) Sample pricing

This is the price of the sample order. Chinese suppliers usually provide samples of products to be ordered before placing bulk orders. Some manufacturers offer free samples, while others charge a fee. Samples are essential if you cannot directly access the supplier to inspect the product, or if the product you ordered is a custom item.

(3) Production pricing

This is an important part of your discussion with building materials suppliers. Negotiations will focus on the price range based on the quantity of your order. There are some differences in vendor quotations for distributors, wholesale, projects, retail, and households.

(4) Payment terms

Some building materials suppliers may agree to payment terms, such as 30 percent as a deposit, 70 percent as a balance before loading, and others may require full payment before production. For custom building materials, suppliers usually require a deposit of 50%.

4. Delivery schedule

When ordering building materials from China, the delivery schedule is always an important aspect to consider. It is important to confirm the production time with the supplier before placing the order. Sometimes you have to take on double production time because some Chinese suppliers may not be able to do so. On the other hand, it is necessary to check the number of days of container transport from China to your country. Here, I list building materials manufacturing to help you have a rough understanding. The total delivery time should be the production time plus the delivery time. In some cases, China’s export clearance at loading and unloading ports and import clearance at unloading ports take more than a week.

5. Buy through a purchasing agent or broker:

For first-time buyers, it is especially beneficial to purchase your materials through a broker or purchasing agent. While this may sound ridiculous, having a purchasing agent can help you avoid fraudulent suppliers, given the additional costs and hassles. In addition, through a third-party agent, it is also a good choice to hire a local Chinese purchasing agent with an engineering consulting background to help identify your supplier.  In particular, custom decorative materials may be more specialized if they have engineering consulting, engineering and construction backgrounds, and long-term experience in the building materials industry.  Monitoring quality control, product compliance, and communication is easier.

In the field of science and technology and construction, China is the leading force of our times. As a result, the country remains the most popular destination for Chinese product purchases. If you plan to source wholesale building materials from Chinese suppliers, you have unlimited possibilities in terms of the price range, quality, and delivery options. Therefore, choose your suppliers carefully and do your best for your business.