China is the largest furniture exporter, producing more than 35% % of the world’s furniture. Every year, many people buy from Chinese furniture markets for business purposes and personal use like home decorations, up to about 30% cheaper than sourcing locally.
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However, many newcomers to the industry often have questions about how to import furniture from China. Here are the top 5 questions they’re concerned about.
Conduct quality control (QC) before packing and shipping your furniture from China to avoid receiving poor or inconsistent quality products. Otherwise, you will be dealing with a logistical and expensive nightmare. Typically, QC in China can be done by third-party inspection or sourcing companies.
However, for furniture, I wouldn’t recommend third-party inspectors. Most of them aren’t specialized in furniture inspections, so it’s hard for them to assess the quality and details accurately due to their unfamiliarity with different materials and craftsmanship. Also, inspection companies only identify issues but don’t resolve them. If the inspection fails, and you request another, you’ll have to pay again.
I suggest using JingSourcing for your QC. They have 10 years of experience in furniture sourcing and inspection, mainly for EU and US clients. Beyond standard checks, JingSourcing’s in-house inspecting team lists out specific issues clients care about most and quickly spots problems that clients or inexperienced inspectors might miss.
Furniture is large, so sea shipping is the most common option. It’s slower, with shipping time around 25-40 days from China to major US regions, but shipping costs are the cheapest among all shipping methods.
If your furniture volume is over 20 CBM but less than 28 CBM, ask the freight forwarder to book a 20″ container only for you. If the volume is larger, the forwarder will book bigger containers, usually, 40 GP for 58 CBM, and 40 HQ for 68 CBM.
When your furniture volume is less than 13 CBM, LCL (Less than Container Load) is cheaper, as you’ll share a container with others to reduce costs.
If your volume is between 13 CBM and 20 CBM, ask your forwarder to check the cost of both FCL and LCL to see which is cheaper. Note that FCL is usually faster and safer than LCL.
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Once your furniture arrives at the port and clears customs, it’s typically transported to you by rail or truck. Since furniture is high-value, it’s best to get cargo insurance.
Check JingSourcing’s shipping solutions. They can consolidate furniture from different suppliers and arrange transport. Also, they can provide you with the most competitive shipping rates through long-term partner freight forwarders.
The most popular option is Alibaba, easy to find a lot of Chinese furniture suppliers. However, Alibaba is best suited for importers with their purchasing team to deal with different suppliers for each type of furniture. This is time-consuming and requires expertise in furniture, and experienced buyers know how challenging it can be.
There are too many suppliers to select, and not all can meet your production needs. Some suppliers may exaggerate their workmanship and quality just to attract you to place the order.
For example, some suppliers claim their three-seater sofas use top-grain leather. You might see quotes as low as $490 (still negotiable) or starting at $790. At first glance, the color, structure, and even feel of the leather seem almost identical.
The real difference lies in the leather: eco-leather combines leather scraps with synthetic materials, mimicking real leather’s texture and feel. It’s hard for beginners to look and tell the difference. There’s also a type labeled “top-grain leather” that actually contains only 50% real leather—this labeling is said to meet industry standards.
If you lack experience, whether buying furniture for home decor, sourcing office/hotel furniture, or customizing certain furniture items for resale, using JingSourcing is a better option.
They help you find the right furniture factory for each item and negotiate good prices. JingSourcing has established relationships with reliable factories that specialize in chairs, sofas, beds, etc., with high-quality craftsmanship. They oversee sampling, mass production, inspection, and shipping, handling all the details and issues you might overlook. If there’s a quality issue, you only need to reach out to them for a solution.
This article will give furniture importers a complete guide on where and how to find reliable Furniture Manufacturers in China. In this guide, you will learn everything you need to know about importing furniture from China.
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