Why importers choose BharatMart for China sourcing
Importing from China to India looks simple from a distance — find a supplier on a marketplace, wire money, wait for the container. In practice it's a maze of supplier verification, sample lead times, MOQ negotiations, freight bookings, BIS certification, customs HS codes and IGST refunds. One slip and your container sits at JNPT for three weeks racking up demurrage. BharatMart compresses the whole flow into a single managed channel.
The China → India sourcing flow on BharatMart
- Submit your RFQ — product spec, quantity, target landed price (CIF JNPT or your destination port), required certifications. Free.
- Receive matching quotes — within 24-48 hours from pre-vetted Chinese manufacturers in the relevant production cluster.
- Order paid samples — couriered to your India address; payment via BharatMart so you have recourse if samples don't match spec.
- Place production order — payment held in escrow until pre-shipment quality inspection passes.
- Ship and clear — sea freight with consolidation if needed, customs filing with correct HS code, BIS certification where applicable, last-mile to your warehouse.
Production hubs we cover in China
Shenzhen & Dongguan
Consumer electronics, mobile accessories, IoT, smart home, components.
Guangzhou & Foshan
Apparel, leather goods, lighting, ceramics, furniture, beauty.
Yiwu
Small commodities, gifts, accessories, packaging — best for low-MOQ mixed containers.
Ningbo & Hangzhou
Hardware, industrial machinery, plastics, home goods.
Suzhou & Wuxi
Textiles, garments, industrial textiles, technical fabrics.
Tianjin
Metals, chemicals (where compliant), industrial supplies.
Compliance & certification for India imports
Indian imports trigger compliance requirements that catch first-time importers off guard:
- BIS certification — mandatory for electronics, toys, footwear, electrical appliances. We coordinate testing through BIS-authorised labs in China before the goods ship.
- HS code accuracy — wrong code can trigger 30-40% extra customs duty. Our customs desk validates the HS code against your invoice line items.
- FSSAI — for food, supplements, ayurvedic products. Pre-import licence required.
- BIS compulsory registration scheme (CRS) — for IoT and electronics with built-in batteries.
- Country-of-origin certificate — needed for FTA benefit claims (where applicable for China-route China-only goods, generally not).
Freight options India-bound
- Full Container Load (FCL) — 20ft, 40ft and 40HC containers. Best for orders > 15 CBM. Direct port-to-port from Shenzhen / Shanghai / Ningbo / Qingdao to JNPT / Mundra / Chennai.
- Less than Container Load (LCL) — consolidated shipping for smaller orders, 1-15 CBM. BharatMart aggregates multiple buyers' shipments to keep per-CBM cost competitive.
- Air freight — for fashion launches, high-value electronics or urgent restocks. Shenzhen / Guangzhou / Hong Kong → Delhi / Mumbai / Bangalore in 4-6 days.
- Door-to-door — full managed shipping including last-mile delivery to your warehouse. We handle every party in the chain.
Common questions from India importers
What's the typical lead time from PO to delivery?
Production: 25-45 days for most consumer goods. Sea freight: 18-25 days from China to West India ports. Customs clearance: 3-7 days. Total PO-to-warehouse: 50-75 days, depending on category and shipping mode.
Can I get smaller MOQs than 1,000 units?
Yes — BharatMart consolidates orders across multiple buyers, bringing per-buyer MOQs down to as low as 100 pieces on standard SKUs. Custom OEM still requires higher MOQs (typically 300-500).
How do I avoid getting scammed by a Chinese supplier?
You don't deal with the supplier directly. BharatMart's escrow holds your payment until our independent inspector signs off the goods at the factory. Money releases only after pass. If quality fails, the order doesn't ship and you're refunded.
What about IGST and customs duty?
IGST is paid at customs and reclaimed against your output GST liability — same as domestic purchases. Customs duty depends on the HS code; typically 7-15% basic + cess for consumer goods. We provide a landed-cost estimate before you commit.
Get started
The fastest path is to post your first RFQ — free, no obligation. Open the BharatMart app, describe what you need, and you'll have quotes in 24-48 hours. For larger or more complex projects, talk to a sourcing manager first. More on how sourcing works · Browse electronics · Import from Turkey · Import from Vietnam.