Foreign-owned
New Zealand-owned sourcing agency in Luohu, Shenzhen
Shenzhen · LuohuPartner network
Sourcing & project managementQuality inspection & auditsSourcing agentQC & inspection
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Station 09 / 10
Logistics 物流
Freight forwarders, Hong Kong consolidation, and 3PLs that ship to your customers.
Lead1–6 weeksWhat happens at this stage
You get finished goods from the factory to your customers or warehouse. A freight forwarder (a company that organises shipping and customs for you) books sea, air or rail freight. You'll also agree Incoterms, standard rules like FOB or DDP that say who pays for and is responsible for each part of the journey.
Why it matters
Shipping costs, duties and delays can change your margins a lot, and paperwork mistakes can hold goods at customs.
What it costs and how long
Sea freight is cheapest but takes weeks; air is fast but expensive. Budget for duties and taxes in the destination country.
Common mistakes
- Not knowing your product's customs code (HS code) and duty rate in advance
- Shipping lithium batteries without the right paperwork
- Leaving shipping plans until the goods are ready
Who helps
Freight forwarders and fulfillment (3PL) companies. Many Shenzhen forwarders consolidate small shipments through Hong Kong.
Companies at this station
Chinese Sourcing Agents
毅孜国际贸易British-owned: UK contracting company plus a licensed Shenzhen entity
Shenzhen · LonggangPartner network
Sourcing & project managementQuality inspection & auditsSourcing agentQC & inspection
Native-English project managerSource ↗
Foreign-managed
Prototype-to-production NPI management for foreign hardware teams, on site in Mandarin
ShenzhenPartner networkPrototypesMass production
Sourcing & project managementQuality inspection & auditsElectronic component sourcingStartup NPI partner
Native-English project managerSource ↗
Foreign-managed
Began in 2003 as Seasonal Visions, a Halloween and Christmas décor supplier
Dongguan · Chang'anPartner network
Sourcing & project managementProduct design & engineeringTesting & certificationQuality inspection & audits
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Foreign-managed
Founded by quality engineer Renaud Anjoran, author of QualityInspection.org
Hong KongIn-house + partnersPrototypesLow volumeMass production
Contract manufacturing / box buildProduct design & engineeringTesting & certificationQuality inspection & audits
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Chinese
Built for small overseas businesses and low-MOQ, multi-SKU orders
Shenzhen · NanshanPartner networkPrototypesLow volumeMass production
Sourcing & project managementQuality inspection & auditsSourcing agent
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Guides
01Working in China · 9 minIncoterms for first-timers: EXW, FOB, DDP and more
What Incoterms are, what EXW, FCA, FOB, CIF, DAP and DDP mean in plain words, who pays for what and who carries the risk, and which terms first-time importers from Shenzhen commonly use.
02Basics · 11 minProduct development stages: how to make a physical product from idea to finished product
The stages of making a physical product, from first sketch to boxes on a ship, explained for first-timers. What happens at each stage, why it matters, what you get out of it, and who in Shenzhen helps.
03Working in China · 10 minQuality inspection explained: pre-shipment checks and AQL
What pre-shipment inspection is, when to inspect, how AQL sampling works in plain words, what an inspector checks, and how to prepare so the report is actually useful. For first-time importers.
04Working in China · 9 minShipping from Shenzhen: sea vs air
Express courier, air freight or sea freight? A plain-English guide to shipping parts and products out of Shenzhen: how each option works, rough transit times, how weight is charged, batteries, and customs.