Common questions about sourcing from China

The most reliable route is to work with a sourcing company that has a permanent, experienced team on the ground in China. Platforms like Alibaba give you access to thousands of suppliers, but they cannot verify quality, capacity or reliability on your behalf. Sauce Asia has offices in Foshan and Hangzhou and visits factories in person before recommending them to clients. We check production capacity, quality systems, financial stability and track record before any order is placed.

A China sourcing agent is a company or individual based in China (or with a team there) who acts on your behalf — finding factories, negotiating prices, managing production and arranging shipping. If you are placing your first order in China, or if you have had problems with quality or reliability in the past, a sourcing agent with genuine in-country presence is strongly recommended. Sauce Asia is a UK-managed sourcing company with permanent offices in Foshan and Hangzhou, giving clients the benefit of UK communication standards and Chinese manufacturing expertise.

The cost depends on the product, quantity, materials and complexity. China manufacturing is generally significantly cheaper than UK or European production for most product categories, but the savings need to be weighed against shipping costs, lead times and the cost of quality management. Sauce Asia provides honest cost assessments at the outset so clients understand the full landed cost before committing to an order.

MOQs vary enormously by product and factory. Some factories will produce small runs of 50–100 units for the right product; others require thousands. Sauce Asia's factory network includes suppliers who are willing to work with smaller UK businesses on lower initial quantities, with the expectation of growing volumes over time. We negotiate MOQs on your behalf as part of the sourcing process.

Quality in Chinese manufacturing is directly related to how closely the production process is managed. The most effective approach is to have someone physically present at the factory — inspecting materials, checking production at key stages and approving finished goods before they are packed and shipped. Sauce Asia arranges appropriate in-person inspections at agreed stages of production, based on the product, risks and inspection requirements.

A pre-shipment inspection is a physical check of finished goods at the factory before they are loaded for shipping. An inspector visits the factory, checks a sample of the production run against your specifications, and produces a report covering dimensions, materials, finish, packaging and any defects. It is the last opportunity to identify and resolve problems before goods leave China. Sauce Asia conducts pre-shipment inspections as a standard part of our service.

A factory audit is a structured assessment of a Chinese factory's capabilities, quality systems, capacity and compliance. It covers the factory's equipment, workforce, production processes, quality control procedures and financial stability. Sauce Asia recommends a factory audit before placing any significant order with a new supplier. Our team conducts audits in person and provides a detailed written report.

Shipping times depend on the collection location, destination, route, carrier schedule, shipping method, customs clearance and current freight conditions. Port-to-port sea transit commonly takes several weeks, while air freight is considerably faster. Sauce Asia provides shipment-specific estimates based on the latest available schedules when preparing a quotation.

Consolidation means combining goods from multiple factories or suppliers into a single container for shipping. This reduces freight costs significantly compared to shipping separate smaller consignments. Our China team can coordinate the collection of completed goods from multiple factories and arrange consolidation before international shipment.

Import duties on goods from China to the UK depend on the product category and its commodity code. Most manufactured goods attract duty rates of between 0% and 12%, though some categories are higher. VAT at 20% is also payable on import. Sauce Asia can advise on likely duty rates for your product category as part of the initial cost assessment.

Sauce Asia has sourced an exceptionally wide range of products over 27 years — including metal fabrication, CNC machined parts, sheet metal, retail displays and shop fittings, plastic and acrylic products, PCB and electronics, packaging, building and groundworks products, DIY products, soft toys, children's toys, trophies and awards, luggage, promotional products, pet products, lighting, power banks, cleaning products, stone and granite, and many more. If you have a product in mind, contact us and we will give you an honest assessment of whether China is the right manufacturing location for it.

Sauce Asia has sourced products for over 40 well-known UK brands and businesses across retail, food service, automotive, sport and many other sectors. Our clients have included major supermarkets, high street retailers, restaurant chains, automotive brands and sports clubs. We are happy to discuss our experience in your specific sector when you get in touch.

Sauce Asia has two offices in China. Our main China base is in Foshan, Guangdong Province — in the heart of the Pearl River Delta, one of the world's most concentrated manufacturing regions. Our second office is in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, which gives us access to the manufacturing clusters of eastern China including Zhejiang and Jiangsu. Both offices are staffed by experienced, permanent team members.

The easiest way to start is to call Colin Moore directly on 07909 533840 or email [email protected]. Alternatively, use the contact form on our website to describe what you need. We will come back to you quickly with an honest assessment of whether we can help, what the process would look like, and what it is likely to cost.