Importing from China to Uganda: The Ultimate Guide

If you’re importing from China to Uganda, then this is a must-read guide for you.

Because it covers all the basic and fundamental aspects of importing from China to Uganda – from top imports, requirements, customs regulations, shipping process, and many more.

By the end of this guide, you’ll definitely be an expert in importing from China to any city in Uganda.

Importing from Guangzhou to Uganda

Guangzhou is a major manufacturing hub in China.
The city has opened doors for many Ugandan traders dealing in Chinese merchandise.

The city, as most Ugandan traders confess, offers cheap product prices as well as a variety of product alternatives.

This is one of the primary reasons for the influx of Africans in Guangzhou, especially Dengfeng that’s also known as Little Africa.
In other words, Guangzhou is an excellent source for made in China products to retail in Uganda.

The reasons to import from Guangzhou to Uganda

The reasons to import from this city are pretty clear.

One, it is because product prices here are cheap and there is also a variety of product alternatives.

Two, finding products is easy as there are numerous wholesale markets situated next to factories in the city.

And last but not least, the infrastructure in Guangzhou is tremendous.

The road network is superb.

There is also a major seaport as well as several airports from which you can easily and conveniently ship your imports.

Restricted Imports from China to Uganda

These are products whose importation requires authorization from their respective Ugandan authorities.

The restricted products include; live animals, medication, endangered species, hunting weapons, and used cars.

So for instance, if you want to import a live animal/s, you’ll need to have a health certificate along with complete validations and inoculations.

The same applies to hunt weapons; you will have to have authorization from the ministry of interior.

Prohibited Imports in Uganda from China

These are products that are totally prohibited for importation.

In other words, you can’t bring in these products from China or any other country to Uganda.

These products include narcotics, pornography, counterfeit items, henna, explosive material, cultural artifacts and other material of cultural importance, palm tree and any other products thereof.

Also, cosmetic products containing hydroquinone and mercury,

Now for these products, the Ugandan authorities do not allow their importation whatsoever.

They are wholly banned for import into Uganda.

But then, restrictions and prohibitions on product importation are not all there is to the Ugandan custom import regulations.

There is more.

Now, let’s go straight to the main subject of this guide.

Chapter 1: Main Uganda Imports from China

To begin with, Uganda imports a lot of merchandise from China, about 80% of its imports are from China.

As I’ve already mentioned, Chinese merchandise is cheaper and readily available.

This makes it easy for importers to avail a variety of goods to customers in Uganda at more competitive retail prices.

Among the goods that thrive in the Ugandan market include;

• Textiles and apparel
• Electrical appliances
• Toys
• Petroleum products
• Vehicles and their parts
• Foodstuffs such as beverages and oils
• machinery
• manufacturing equipment
• building materials such as ceramic tiles
• Pharmaceuticals, etc.

Understand that you don’t have to be a big brand to import from China.

With as little as $300 you can quickly get goods from China and resell for a profit in Uganda.

This is because China, unlike many other countries, caters to everyone in the market.

If you serve high-end clients, you can get high-quality merchandise for them from China.

Similarly, if you cater to the low-income earners, China has just the right products for your customers.

So give it a go and don’t be afraid of how much is in your pocket.

Also, carefully study your target market before you decide on a product to import

Chapter 2: Uganda Import Requirements

Like most countries, the Ugandan government strictly regulates the importation of products from other countries.

For instance, the authorities have regulations governing what can or cannot pass Ugandan borders as imports.

These include restrictions and prohibitions on product imports into the country, and they are;

· Uganda Quality Standards Compliance – What Uganda National Bureau of Standards Requires

As I said to you earlier, the market for made-in-China imports in Uganda is rapidly expanding.

Uganda merely is a thriving market for imported products.

Because of this, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has put forth stringent measures to ensure quality compliance.

Some of these measures and guidelines are:

• Importers must have a certificate of conformity when importing regulated products
• Physical inspection of regulated goods before the admission of entry
• Before admission of entry, UNBS requires that you repackage your imports first
• All importers are required to use the services of a licensed clearing agent

Other than this, UNBS has also put forth standards that product imports must comply with.

These include measures on design, material, performance, manufacturing, testing, packaging and labeling.

One most crucial regulation on imports to Uganda as I had already mentioned is product inspection.

Here, inspection of products must be done thoroughly before the admission of the imports into the country.

This is done to ensure the health safety of the Ugandan consumers and to protect the environment against dangerous and substandard products.

UNBS also mandates the inspection as a measure to ensure compliance with the set standards and regulations.

The inspection, note, is not just done on the products.

UNBS conducts both document checks as well as physical inspection of products upon their arrival at entry points.

Also note that depending on the value and nature of your imports, the law requires that they are subject to PVoC, undergo destination inspection or both.

Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC), is an inspection and verification program carried out on goods by appointed inspection agents in the origin country.

Here, imports with an aFoB value of above USD 2000 and are covered by compulsory standards are subject to PVoC.

In this case, you’ll need to present a certificate of conformity at the entry point in Uganda.

PVoC also applies to used vehicle importation.

In this case, the importer is also required to present a certificate of roadworthiness to obtain clearance for entry.

Confusing?

Don’t worry.

You can find all these information in great detail on the UNBS website.

For now, let’s look at the paperwork needed to import to Uganda.

· Documents Needed in Clearance and Forwarding in Uganda

Honestly, the processing of importing from China to Uganda can be hectic.

And, this is especially if you lack a clear understanding of the paperwork needed and procedures.

So here are the documents you’ll need to import goods into the country legally.

• Suppliers invoice
• Packing list
• Air waybill ( for imports by air)
• Commercial invoice
• Freight invoice
• Uganda revenue authority for 1 for motor vehicles
• Road transit customs document (commonly known as C63) prepared at seaport and entry port in Uganda
• Certificate of origin
• Railway consignment note (for import by rail)
• Bill of lading
• Trade license
• Release order certificate of compliance
• Import declaration form
• Declaration of customs value form
• Any other relevant documents

Make sure that you have the all the required documents for your imports.

Otherwise, you will have a hard time getting clearance for your goods.

Chapter 3: Importing from Different Cities in China to Uganda

You should know that initially, Uganda wasn’t importing much from China.

It is until the early 2000s that Ugandan importers started exploring China for goods that can resell at a good profit locally.

Now, 80% of consumer and personal care goods sold in Uganda are made-in-China products.

I believe that you know most of the reasons for this.

Majorly, however, it is because of the ease in importing from China.

Yes!

Importing from China to Uganda is no hustle.

One, it is because China has excellent infrastructures for exports and imports.

And secondly, the Ugandan import authorities have streamlined their processes to ensure the smooth importation of goods into the country.

No matter the city you’re importing from in China, there are a million ways to do it.

So depending on the product you’re importing, here are some popular cities to source your products from in China.

· Importing from Shenzhen to Uganda

Like Guangzhou, Shenzhen is also a significant manufacturing hub in China.

It is in fact known as China’s manufacturing hub.

There are thousands of factories in Shenzhen producing a variety of goods from shoes, kids and women clothing, electronics, etc.

The city simply is a scene of bustling trade with hundreds of retail and wholesale shops spread across entire streets.

Note that Shenzhen is located in southeastern China, it is a major city in Guangdong province.

The city is a modern metropolis that links HongKong to mainlandChina.

This proximity to HongKong has Shenzhen at the center of global trade.

The city benefits from the Pearl River, the third longest in China that runs through Guangdong.

· Importing from Shanghai to Uganda

Shanghai, the largest city in China, is located on the eastern coast of China.

It sits on both banks of the Huangpu River near where the Yangtze (Chang) River empties into the East China Sea.

This is why it is known as Shanghai which means ‘on the sea.’

Geography aside, Shanghai is China’sleading commercial, financial and manufacturing center.

Here, you can find a variety of goods ranging from iron and steel, machinery, electronics, textiles, pharmaceutical and a variety of consumer goods, etc.

The city, note, is also one of the county’s largest printing and publishing centers.

On shipping, Shanghai is home to the largest container shipping port in China.

The ports annual container throughput surpasses all of China’s other ports.

As at this moment, the port of Shanghai has 145 berths, 75 of which can serve vessels of over 10,000 tons.

This port also operates more than 20 major international shipping lines among them lines shipping from China to Uganda.

Shipping by air from Shanghai is also a breeze.

The city hosts a large international airport that is strategically located about 40km away from the city center.

This airport, please note, is the main aviation hub of China.

It is also the central Asian Pacific hub for UPS and DHL airlines.

· Buying from Yiwu to Entebbe and Kampala in Uganda

Yiwu is a remarkable city in China.

The city is regarded as the biggest commodity market in the world where you can buy anything that you want.

This city houses lots of wholesale shops, over 40,000 in total and a majority of the suppliers here are wholesalers.

Also, most goods that you can buy cheaply in Yiwu are small value products such as fashion accessories, shoes, etc.

So if you want to buy directly from manufacturers, you may have to consider going to Shenzhen or Guangzhou.

Most suppliers in Yiwu are just wholesaler sourcing goods from Shenzhen and Guangzhou.

Yiwu is an excellent source for those of you looking to import small commodities with many varieties in small quantities.

The good thing about importing from Yiwu is that you can consolidate all your goods in place.

You don’t have to go through the hassles of commuting, sourcing, and shipping as occasions with most other cities in China.

Please note:

Yiwu is a huge shopping center with very many shops.

It is tough to patronize all the shops by yourself and on time to meet your supply chain demands.

As such, it advisable that new-to China importers seek the services of a professional and reliable import agent.

The agent will help source the right products for you in Yiwu and also help you ship the products successfully to Uganda.

Well, these are main cities to import from China.

As you can see, Shenzhen, Guangzhou,andShanghai are manufacturing cities.

They are best for those looking to import goods in large quantities.

Yiwu, on the other hand, is a wholesale and retail center.

It is an excellent source for small commodities as mentioned above.

Remember that importing from any of these cities has its pros and cons.

To ensure success, however, observe the following tips;

• Only choose credible traders,e. for Yiwu importers, choose traders with good credit badges. (They always hang these in front of their shops.
• Always carry out quality inspections on goods to ensure that they meet the set standards for importation.
• Use a China agent whenever you feel the need to
• The language barrier may be a limitation especially when sourcing from Yiwu. So either uses a translator or seek out traders that are familiar with the English language.

That is all.

Let’s now factor in the costs of importing from China to Uganda.

Chapter 4: Uganda Custom Tariff Guide – How much will You Pay for Imports from China?

Cost is often something importers have a hard time dealing with when importing from China.

You see,

is quite broad.

Apart from the cost of the product, you’re importing; there are others that you’ll have to incur that make up the total cost of importation.

These include freight charges, surcharges and mostly taxes and duties.

Ultimately, if you’re importing for reselling purposes, this is something you’ll have to consider.

At least then, you’ll be able to estimate the landed cost of your product and know if you’ll be able to make a profit or not.

So then, what are the costs of importing from China to Uganda?

Let’s find out below.

1. Product price

Well, first there is the price of the product.

This is the amount you pay to a product supplier for goods you order.

If you’re trying to calculate the landed cost of a product, the product price is the unit price of the time you’re importing.

2. Freight cost

Freight cost also known as shipping cost is the transportation cost of the goods from China to Uganda.

This cost includes inland transportation and carrier costs from loading port in China to the destination port.

It also includes ports fees and other surcharges such as fuel surcharge.

3. Taxes and duties

So there is the cost of cargo, transportation cost and then the biggest markup which is the import taxes.

You see, it is essential to understand the taxes and duties that apply to your goods when importing to Uganda.

Import taxes in Uganda depends on the VAT of the product as well as the product category as per the harmonized system tariff.

Taxation also depends on the declared value of the imports, the CIF value.

Uganda, note, is a member of the East African Community.

As such, it adopts the EAC duty structure that is three-tiered.

The duty structure is as follows;

Finished products are subjected to an import duty of 25%.

Intermediate products face a 10% levy.

This is on top of a VAT tax of 18% that customs charges on these goods and a 6% withholding tax that’s reclaimable.

According to Ugandan customs taxes, raw materials can enter the country duty-free, apart from foodstuffs.

You can also import capital goods to Uganda duty-free.

The government also charges an additional 1.5% infrastructure tax on all imports.

This is done to raise funds for railway infrastructure development.

Also, certain products imported to Uganda, those deemed as ‘sensitive’ are subject to higher tariffs.

This is done as a means to protect the local industry.

*Sensitive products are those that compete with the local industries

All this in an addition to other small levies that customs levies on imported products.

So note that for customs to process your clearance, you will have to pay the requisite tariff and show proof to customs.

Chapter 5: How to Find Best Selling Imports from China to Uganda

Most Ugandan traders find suppliers for Chinese merchandise on the internet.

While there are other means of locating suppliers, the internet remains the greatest of them all- no matter the number of goods you want to import.

But why the internet?

Well, first, visiting China personally is quite costly.

For a first time importer, the cost of air ticket, accommodation, etc. can be overwhelming.

Secondly, finding a good supplier without the right network is a tough task, unless you’re attending a fair.

And lastly, there are lots of middlemen in China that will want to exploit your naivety, especially if you’re a new-to-China importer.

So to avoid all this, most traders prefer going the internet way.

And so might you after going through this chapter with me.

· Alibaba

Searching for Chinese suppliers on Alibaba is always the first choice for most Ugandan traders.

The problem with Alibaba suppliers is that their MOQ is usually high.

So if you’re looking to source products with a less than USD 400 value, finding a willing supplier on Alibaba can be a problem.

On the bright side, you can find anything and everything on Alibaba.

Besides, you get to see the product picture and verify the credibility of suppliers before you make an order on Alibaba.

If you want to learn how to source from Alibaba, please check out this article: Importing from China: The Definitive Guide.

It has great detail of information including a detailed step by step process on sourcing and verifying suppliers on Alibaba.

· AliExpress

Aliexpress is an excellent alternative for traders who can’t meet the MOQ demands of suppliers on Alibaba.

Suppliers on this site offer a variety of goods at relatively low prices, and you can order as little as one item per product.

The site’s interface is very user-friendly just like Alibaba’s.

So navigating through it to find supplier isn’t a hard task.

· DHgate

Apart from Aliexpress, you can also consider finding suppliers on DHgate.

This is another site that tends to small quantity traders importing from China.

So again, if Alibaba’s MOQ is hard for you to reach, try DHgate.

Also, if you’re not too impressed with the prices and demands of suppliers on Aliexpress, DH gate is a great alternative.

· Made in China

Made in china.com works pretty similarly like AliExpress and DHgate.

The site tends to both retailers and small quantity wholesalers whose buying quantity is between Alibaba and AliExpress.

However, unlike Alibaba, AliExpress and DH gate, made-in-China focuses more on industrial and construction products.

It offers very little consumer goods.

Products that you can source from made-in-China.com include;

• Machinery
• Electronics
• Industrial equipment
• Furniture
• Sporting goods
• Auto and mc products
• Construction etc.

· Sourcing Agents

Have you had bad experiences when trying to find Chinese suppliers on your own?

Or simply need help sourcing for products?

Well, sourcing agents can be a great help to you.

These agents are there to solve all your problems on finding suppliers and sourcing for products in China.

So instead of searching on the internet, you can opt to use a China sourcing agent.

They offer a wide range of services such as purchasing, quality controlling, products repacking and transportation.

By hiring an agent, you won’t have to do anything.

He/she will send purchase staff to work for you.

The good thing is that they are professional.

They know about the products that you want to buy, and they will even help you to bargain the product prices.

All you need to do is tell the agent the kind of products that you want and your price limit.

The rest is theirs to figure out and work on.

· China trade fairs

For those that prefer finding suppliers personally, visiting China trade fairs is a great option.

China holds some great fairs like the canton fair, which is quite popular among traders from Africa.

Here, you’ll get the opportunity to meet a variety of suppliers and even get to see product samples up close.

· Contacting factories directly

Last but not least, there is the option of contacting factories directly.

How do you do this?

Well first, you need to know the product you want to import.

Then, find possible manufacturers for the product.

You can search on the internet for these.

After that, take several contacts manufacturers and contact them with inquiries relating to what you want.

You’ll then compare the responses of those manufacturers that reply and choose the one that’s most suitable for you.

It’s that simple.

Chapter 6: Options of Shipping from China to Uganda

When importing from China to Uganda, you’ll realize that the shipping stage is the most challenging.

This is because of the too many shipping options available, costs, paperwork, and other logistics processes.

But then, regardless of the challenges, goods have to get to your destination in Uganda, whichever way.

Lucky for you, there are several options to transport imports from China to Uganda.

Depending on your patience, budget, type, and quantity of imports, you have the following options to consider;

i. Air freight

Air shipping from China to Uganda is predominant among small quantity traders, those shipping imports below 300kg.

If you’re shipping cargoes above 300kg, you may have to consider other shipping options as airfreight will be costly.

Also, you can’t ship liquid goods, power, and battery products among other hazardous goods by air.

So if you’re dealing in this kind of merchandise, air freight might not be for you.

In other words, air shipping is a fast and convenient way of shipping light and small volume goods.

ii. Sea freight

This is by far the most convenient and cost-effective method of international shipping.

Ocean shipping as you can also call it allows you to ship goods of any size, form or shape.

Besides, the cost of sea shipping is pretty affordable, and you have several options when it comes to shipping modes.

The only downside to sea shipping is the transit time.

Well, ships are quite slow, you may have to wait up to 2 months to receive your shipment from China to Uganda by sea.

Note that this is because Uganda is a landlocked country.

Therefore, goods will be shipped by sea to the port of Mombasa Kenya or Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

After that, the products will be transported by other means,i.e. road or air to Uganda and its hither lands.

So the delivery will take longer than usual from China to Uganda.

During this wait time, however, you can choose to track the shipment to ensure that transportation is smooth and delivery is on schedule.

iii. Express shipping

Express shipping option falls under air freight.

The thing with express shipping is that it is faster than standard air shipping.

Express shipping to Uganda takes 1-3 days while delivery by standard air freight means can take an average of 3-7 days.

Also, with express shipping, the cost of shipping is relatively high compared to standard air freight shipping.

This is why it is advisable that you consider it for very small and light cargoes such as product samples, valuable docum