Foshan
Importing from Foshan to the UK
Foshan
Port, located in Guangdong Province, serves several major factory
districts within the Pearl River Delta region (a key economic zone in
China).
The
port primarily facilitates trade for Foshan itself, known for its
significant manufacturing capabilities, including furniture,
ceramics, household appliances, and machinery.
The
port's strategic location supports the transportation needs of
various industrial clusters, such as the Shunde District. This area
is recognised for its strong economic development and status as a
manufacturing hub, especially for electrical appliances and
furniture.
Foshan
Port also serves the Nanhai District, which is home to numerous
manufacturing enterprises focusing on aluminium products and
machinery.
What are FOB and EXW terms?
Businesses
looking to import goods from Foshan to the UK should understand two
of the most important international trade standards, also known as
‘incoterms’: FOB and EXW.
- FOB
FOB stands for 'Free on Board', which means that the seller is
responsible for shipping the goods to the nearest port and all the
costs and risks associated with handling the goods until they’re
loaded onto the ship for shipping.
Once the goods are safely on board the ship, control is transferred
to you (the buyer). You’ll then need to pay for the import fees,
customs clearance fees, and transportation from the port of origin to
your final destination.
- EWX
If you assume ‘Ex work’ conditions, your seller is only obligated
to make the items available at their location (such as a factory or
warehouse).
You, the buyer, will have to take charge of the import and export
procedures, loading the items, insurance, and customs clearance by
taking on the least responsibility.
Sea Freight service options from
Foshan to the UK
When
it comes to shipping goods from Foshan Port to the UK, importers have
two shipping options based on the volume of goods they intend to
ship.
-
FCL: When a shipper uses the Full Container Load (FCL)
transportation method, their cargo fills a single, fully-owned
container.
-
LCL: When shippers with smaller cargo volumes share a
container with other shippers because their goods do not fill the
entire container, this practice is known as LCL shipping or
less-than-container loading.
Do you need an export licence?
The
Ministry of Commerce (MoC) divides goods into three categories:
"approved goods," "restricted goods," and
"forbidden goods."
The
MoC provides export permits containing details about the exporter(s),
buyer(s), cargo, value, and mode of transportation.
A
licence is needed to export banned items. When exporting to UK
subsidiaries, Foreign Trade Companies (FTCs) in China are also
required to obtain a licence. However, a licence is not needed to
trade with a supplier in foreign overseas countries (FOBs).
Mandatory customs clearance import
documents
Essential
documents for UK businesses importing from Foshan Port include:
-
EORI number
-
Commercial invoice
-
Packing list
-
Import licence (if required)
-
Bill of Lading (BL)