Sourcing
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Import guides for buying from China
Straight answers to the questions Indian businesses ask before they buy from China: the steps, the papers, the duty, the shipping and the samples.
Start here4 min read
How to import products from China to India
The simplest way is to buy through an import platform such as Befach. Pick the product from a Chinese factory, check its price in rupees delivered to your door, order a sample, then place the bulk order. Befach pays the factory, imports the goods in its own name, clears Indian customs and delivers with a GST bill, so you need no IEC, no customs agent and no foreign currency.
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What is the best way to import from China to India?
There are four common ways: buy from an Indian wholesaler, use a sourcing agent in China, import yourself from a factory or a site like Alibaba with your own IEC and customs agent, or use an import platform such as Befach that does the whole import for you. For most small and mid-sized Indian businesses, an import platform is the simplest: factory prices, one rupee price delivered to the door, and no IEC or customs work.
Read the guideStart here2 min read
Can I import from China without an IEC code?
Yes, if you buy through Befach. The IEC (import-export code) is needed by whoever imports the goods in their own name. On Befach, Befach is the importer: it pays the factory, clears customs and pays the duty, then sells to you in rupees with a GST bill. So you need no IEC, no customs agent and no foreign currency.
Read the guideStart here2 min read
How to import from Alibaba to India
Find the product on Befach, or send its Alibaba link on the quote page. Befach shows the price in rupees delivered to your door, buys from the factory, imports the goods in its own name, clears customs and delivers with a GST bill. You need no IEC, no dollar payment and no customs agent.
Read the guideCustoms & duty3 min read
How is customs duty on imports from China calculated in India?
Customs duty depends on the item's 8-digit HSN code in India's customs tariff. You pay basic customs duty as a percentage of the value at the port (goods + shipping + insurance), a Social Welfare Surcharge of usually 10% of that duty, and IGST on the total. A GST-registered buyer claims the IGST back. On Befach, every product's delivered price already includes this estimated duty.
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How to find the HSN code for a product you import
The HSN code is the 8-digit number India's customs tariff gives every kind of goods; it sets the customs duty, the GST rate and any import rules. Find it on ICEGATE's tariff by reading from the chapter (the first 2 digits) down to the 8-digit item that describes your product by what it is made of and what it does. On Befach, each product is matched to its 8-digit tariff item for you.
Read the guideShipping2 min read
Air or sea: how long does shipping from China to India take?
By air, goods from China reach India in 7–15 days after they leave the factory; by sea, 45–60 days. Air suits smaller, lighter or urgent orders (on Befach from 50 kg). Sea is cheaper per piece for large or heavy orders (from 1 cubic metre (1 CBM)). The factory's production time comes before either.
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How to order a sample from China before buying in bulk
On Befach, open the product and choose Sample. You can order 1 to 50 pieces at one all-in price that already includes shipping, customs duty and GST, pay online in rupees, and it usually reaches you in 15–20 days. If you like it, order in bulk by air or by sea.
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