Your product and intended use
Provide product name, materials, dimensions, performance, photos/drawings, variants and whether goods are for resale, production or project installation.
BUYER RESOURCE · IMPORT PLANNING CHECKLIST
Wholesale import checklist for sourcing from India and China
For importers, distributors, purchasing managers and private-label brands: define a quote-ready product specification, compare supplier offers fairly, and identify destination obligations before you commit.
STEP 01 / PRODUCT BRIEF
Six questions to answer before contacting a manufacturer
Send every supplier the same baseline specification. Otherwise two offers can look comparable while excluding different quality controls, packaging, tooling, shipping or warranty responsibilities.
Order size and repeat programme
State the trial order, expected annual volumes, acceptable MOQ, target price basis and expected replenishment schedule. Never treat an advertised MOQ as verified.
Quality evidence before payment
Request samples, relevant test reports, inspection criteria, batch/lot traceability, and the name of the party responsible for independent verification.
Labels and packaging
Specify carton dimensions, gross/net weights, retail labels, translated warnings where required, barcodes, print proofs, palletisation and transport protection.
Commercial and delivery terms
Compare quotes using the same Incoterm and currency. Specify payment milestones, tooling ownership, production deadline and the buyer’s actual city/warehouse.
Importer of record and compliance
Identify who imports the goods, the commodity code, permits, safety/testing obligations, customs declaration responsibility and destination-specific tax treatment.
STEP 02 / COMMERCIAL REVIEW
Compare total landed cost—not only the factory unit price
A useful sourcing comparison separates supply, verification, transit and destination charges. A lower price may not represent a lower cost if quality, packaging or clearance obligations differ.
- Factory price or agreed ex-works / FOB quotation
- Sample testing, laboratory checks and independent inspection
- Packing, tooling, export handling and documentation charges
- Freight, insurance and potential port/storage costs
- Duties, import taxes, destination brokerage and inland delivery
- Exchange-rate exposure, defect provision and replenishment costs
No tariff, freight-rate or landed-cost estimate is provided here; values depend on the exact goods, applicable rules, order and destination.
STEP 03 / DESTINATION REVIEW
Importer checklist by destination market
Use these city examples to plan delivery locations and required documents. Confirm current product rules with the importer or a qualified customs broker.
Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah — UAE
Distinguish UAE mainland imports from free-zone or re-export movements. Agree who holds the trade licence and confirms commercial invoice, country of origin, packing list and product permits.
Read market sourcing guide ↗Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam — Saudi Arabia
Review product registration and conformity obligations with the importer or licensed broker. Verify current ZATCA/Fasah documentation and submission requirements before cargo dispatch.
Read market sourcing guide ↗London, Manchester and Birmingham — UK
Verify EORI, customs commodity code, product safety/labels and who makes the import declaration. Confirm the buyer’s warehouse delivery terms.
Read market sourcing guide ↗Hamburg, Berlin and Frankfurt — Germany/EU
Determine whether the product requires EU technical documentation, a particular safety assessment or importer declarations. Consider onward EU resale, not just arrival in Germany.
Read market sourcing guide ↗Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Eindhoven — Netherlands/EU
Clarify Dutch import versus EU distribution, port-to-warehouse responsibilities, customs classification and relevant EU product rules.
Read market sourcing guide ↗STEP 04 / NEXT ACTION
Request useful supplier quotations with fewer follow-up emails
A clear brief contains the exact product, required specifications, order quantity, desired origin, destination city and delivery terms. For regulated products, add destination safety requirements, test evidence and the importer responsible for clearance.
PRIMARY REFERENCES
Official trade and customs sources
Trade rules and source datasets can change. These links are a starting point for due diligence—not a substitute for product-specific customs, legal or testing advice.