How to Import Wine from China: The Ultimate FAQ Guide

I know you would like to import wine from China.

Or, you want to learn more about Chinese wine market.

That’s why this guide covers everything you need to know about importing wine from China.

Whether you want to know more about Chinese wine brands, import documents, quality, taxes, or HS codes – every information is right here.

Keep reading to learn more.

Why Should You Import Wine from China?

China is a very good producer of many wonderful things and among them is wine.

You should consider importing wine from China because of the ease if importing from China.

Here are other reasons which should compel you to import wine from China.

· Marketable Wine

You are sure of selling the wine that you will get from China due to the very high demand of wine.

Implying that the Chinese make very high-quality wine from different products that is on high demand.

· Affordable Prices

Apart from the marketability, you should also consider importing wine from China because it is cheap.

You will get high-quality wine at affordable prices while the cost of importing it from China is also manageable.

· Profitable Wine

Whenever you factor in the cost of importing wine and get the difference from the sales, you will realize a profit.

In other words, importing wine from China is a lucrative business that will earn you great profits from the sales.

· Ease of Conducting Business

You will also find it easy to conduct business in China thus making the process of importing wine quite simple.

The logistics of importing wine is very simple with clear rules that you must adhere to simplify business transactions.

Which Incoterms Do You Use When Importing Wine from China?

You should also be aware of the established commercial regulations when importing wine from China.

Incoterms will help you make the process of international transactions very simple depending on the type of incoterms.

Here are the main incoterms that you should consider looking at.

· Ex Works (EXW)

You will choose Ex Works (EXW) when you want the wine seller in China to deliver the wine to your premises.

As a buyer, you are responsible for clearing the cost of loading, clearing goods for export and custom clearance.

· Free Carrier (FCA)

In this case, you will leave the responsibility of delivering wine to the destination of choice on the seller.

You are responsible for paying for every possible fee and then dictating the destination for delivering goods.

· Carriage Paid To (CPT)

You will agree with the wine seller to deliver wine to an agreed warehouse or to a carrier of your choice.

In this case, the wine seller is responsible for transporting the wine to the carrier and cease responsibility from that point.

· Carriage and Insurance Paid To (CIP)

Here, the seller of wine will deliver the wine to the carrier that you will choose and cover the cost of delivery.

Apart from that, the seller will also pay for minimum coverage of insurance and leave other options to the buyer.

· Delivered at Terminal (DAT)

As a wine supplier, you will be responsible for delivering wine at the terminal which the buyer will choose.

As a buyer, you will assume responsibility of the other costs till the wine arrives at the destination of choice.

· Delivered at Place (DAP)

Here, the seller will deliver goods at the destination the buyer will choose and can go ahead with unloading the goods.

As a seller, you will be responsible for all the risks of transporting wine all the way to the point of unloading.

· Delivered Duty Paid (DDP)

At this point, the seller will deliver the wine at the port and then clear all the fees for exporting wine.

The seller will pay for all the expenses such as transporting to destination and clear with all import and export fees.

· Free Alongside Ship (FAS)

You will cease responsibility on the wine as long as you deliver the goods alongside the transporting vessel.

As a buyer, you will take all the responsibility such as loading of wine and subsequent shipping to final destination.

· Free on Board (FOB)

You will deliver the goods all the way to the shipping vessel and ensure that the wine is on the shipping vessel.

After that, the buyer will assume all the responsibility of transporting the wine all the way to the destination.

· Cost and Freight (CFR)

As a seller, you will pay for every transaction for delivering the goods until it reaches the ship or delivery point.

After that, the buyer will assume responsibility of ensuring the wine is safe on board up to the final destination.

· Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF)

Here, the buyer will contact an insurance company to cover minimum insurance cost of wine during delivery.

In other words, your wine seller will pay for minimum insurance coverage and allow you to make further insurance choices.

What Should you Consider when Before you Import Wine from China?

Well, before you decide to import wine from China, there are particular factors that you have to consider.

Here are the main factors that you should consider to help in making the right decisions.

i. Identification of Import Rights

You must make sure that you have the right import rights of importing wine from China to your country.

This involves having the right documents that will allow you to import wine from China to your country.

ii. Identification of Goods

You must also have proper knowledge on the type of goods that you would like to import from China to your country.

In this case, you will look at the market where you will deliver the goods and if you can sell them.

iii. Ensure the Permit for the Goods

Here, you will have to know if your country will permit the importation of wine from China.

There are countries which do not permit the importation of wine hence making importation from China impossible.

iv. Classification of Goods and Calculation of Landed Cost

Here, you will determine the tariff classification number for the wine you are importing as well as certificate of origin.

You will use these details to have a rough estimate on the duty you will pay alongside other importation costs.

v. Finding the Right Wine Supplier

After placing every importation permit in order, you are now free to look for a wine supplier in China and order.

There are specific guidelines that you will follow to help you get a trustworthy wine supplier in China before ordering.

vi. Transportation of Wine

You will also look at how you will transport the wine from China all the way to the country of choice.

Here, you can make a deal with your seller to help you in the distribution or transportation of wine to the destination.

vii. Tracking Services

It is also important to look at the tracking services of the wine cargo while on transit to your destination of choice.

After that, the cargo will arrive at your destination for pick up and further processing if need be.

How Much Does It Cost to Import Wine from China?

Well, the overall cost of importing wine from China will depend on quite a number of factors.

Here are the main factors that you have to take under consideration when calculating the cost.

· Cost of Wine

First, you must know the cost of wine you are importing by looking at the quality as well as quantity.

Obviously, the higher the quality and quantity of wine you purchase, the more money you will pay.

· Mode of Transport

Your mode of transport will also dictate the overall cost of transporting wine to your destination of choice.

The safer and faster the mode of transport, the higher the cost of transporting the wine to your destination.

· Destination of Delivery

Here, you will have to look at the distance that you will cover from China all the way to destination of choice.

Apart from that, you will have to factor in the cost of custom duties and taxes at the destination point.

There is a price calculator which will help you determine the cost you will pay for importing wine from China.

You will have to factor in all the above details in the price calculator to get the right price estimates for importation.

How Do You Find the Best Wine Suppliers in China?

You can simply find a reputable wine supplier in China by looking or combing through the internet.

When looking through the internet, you should consider the recommendations from other wine importers.

This information will make it very simple to know the kind of supplier is reputable and will not let you down.

Apart from that, you can also attend China wine trade fairs where you can meet different wine suppliers from China.

At the trade fairs, you have the opportunity to taste the wine and exchange contact details with different suppliers.

There are cases where you might opt to travel all the way to China to look for a wine supplier.

This is a seldom scenario since communication is very easy over the internet with the suppliers.

You MUST be very careful during this process to avoid falling in the hands of scam artists.

Who are the Leading Wine Suppliers in China?

When looking for wine suppliers in China, you are likely to come across the leading wine suppliers.

Here is a list of the leading wine suppliers in China to whom you can trust with the supply of wine.

• ASC Fine Wines in Beijing
• Summer Gate Wine Suppliers
• FWP Wine Suppliers (The Paradox)
• Jointek Fine Wine Company
• Jebsen and Company Wine Suppliers Limited
• Links Concept Company Limited
• Globus Wine Company
• The Wine Republic
• Roque Fine Wines
• Fancy Cellar Wine Distributors
• Xianzu Trading Company Limited

You can get all the information about their location, prices and services offered through their websites.

You can trust such wine suppliers in China since they have been in the business for a very long time.

Which are the Best Chinese Wines?

You should consider getting the best Chinese wines when importing from China.

These are the best wines that have proper taste and great aroma making them quite pricy.

Here is a table detailing some of the best types of wines that you can import from China.

These are the top selling wines that you should consider to import from China.

You are sure of getting a good market for them since the demand is also very high.

How Do You Transport Wine from China?

As soon as you secure your wine cargo, you will have to transport it from supplier to the destination.

The means of transport that you will use will depend on the destination, speed and types of goods.

The most common means of transport that you can use to move wine from China are:

· Road Transport

You can use the great road infrastructure that connects China to other neighboring countries.

It is the most convenient means of importing wine from China if the destination is close enough.

Despite that, it is the cheapest mode of transport and will take longer if distance is long.

· Rail Transport

You can also opt for railway transport especially when the destination has a railway connection with China.

It is a convenient mode of transport that will cost you less while ensuring the wine cargo is safe on board.

You will use this mode of transport when importing large quantities of wine to a country with good railway networks.

· Sea Transport

You can also rely on sea freight which is often quite slow, cheaper and convenient transportation of large wine quantities.

It is capable of transporting wine to different destinations all over the world in conjunction with other forms of transport.

• Air Transport

This is the fastest means of transport that you can use to import or transport wine from China.

Air freight is quite costly and you must prepare to pay higher prices in comparison to the other forms of transport.

How do you Track Shipment when Importing Wine from China?

You need to track your wine shipment from China to know the right location of the cargo on transit.

First, you must have the right shipping and tracking codes and details of the wine shipment.

The company transporting the wine from China will provide you with all the details that you need for tracking.

You should note that every cargo has a unique code depending on the company transporting the cargo.

You will use a tracking software which will help you in the tracking process of the wine cargo.

The software will give you the right location of the wine cargo while on transit.

Apart from that, you can also call in at the customer service desk to get the right information on your cargo.

They will check the reference number against their tracking system and then give you the right details.

What is the HS Code for Wine?

HS Code is a harmonized system code that you will use when dealing with the shipment of different products.

Since we are importing wine, you will have a unique harmonized system code for shipment of wine.

The HS code for wine is 2204 followed by other codes that will identify the wine you are importing from China.

What is the Significance of Having Correct Commodity Code for Importing Wine?

You must have the right commodity code when importing wine from China to other countries.

Depending on the destination country, you will realize that the commodity code will vary considerably.

You should have the correct commodity code to help in classification of goods for the purpose of.

• Complete declaration of the goods among other types of paperwork
• To help in identifying the VAT duty to pay
• Checking for duty reliefs on the wine you are importing

Do I Have to Pay VAT when Importing Wine from China?

Yes, you will have to pay VAT when importing wine from China.

You will pay VAT on top of the total sum of customs value as well as import duty.

This will happen especially when you are VAT registered which allows you to claim it back through standard VAT return.

After paying the VAT, you will receive a certificate which will prove that you have already made payments.

How do you handle Custom Clearance when Importing Wine from China?

You can handle custom clearance when importing wine from China through a number of different ways.

One of the simplest ways is allowing the freight forwarder to handle all the necessary processes.

You can use express shipping companies such as DHL, or UPS to handle all these transactions.

Apart from that, you will also have a great time importing through online shopping platforms.

Alibaba is one of the shopping platforms which will also take care of custom clearance for you.

In case you are importing wine on your own, you can simply identify the custom clearance charges.

With that information, you will pay for the custom clearance and obtain all the necessary documents you need.

How can I Avoid Scammers When Importing Wine from China?

You might be afraid of importing wine from China due to the possibility of being scammed.

Well, this is true as there are people posing as suppliers yet they are scammers.

You can avoid being a victim of scam artists by dealing with reputable suppliers with plenty of experience.

You can ask for referrals from other wine importers who would recommend particular wine suppliers.

Apart from that, you can use qualified online platforms such as Alibaba, AliExpress, and DH gate.

They have reputable wine sellers on their platform and money back guarantees if the supplier is fake.

You should also be weary if wine suppliers posing with wine at lower prices than the normal suppliers.

Which Quality Certifications Must Chinese Wine Manufacturers Adhere to?

You have to ensure that the wine you are importing from China is of very high quality.

This is possible through testing and certification through the quality certification systems.

Here are some of the main quality certificates that you must look out for.

• AQSIS Order 27 (2012) for prepackaged wine labeling
• AQSIQ Declaration 55 (2012)
• AQSIQ Declaration 59 (2011)
• AQSIQ Decree 144
• Food Security Law of the People’s Republic of China (2015)
• SAIC Quality Certificates
• GB (GUOBIAO) Quality Certificates

How Do You Package the Wine Before Shipping or Importing it from China?

Since most of the wine packages are made of glass, you need to be very careful when packaging wine.

It is among the fragile products that you must label as fragile and ensure proper positioning of the bottles.

To avoid cracking or breaking the bottles, here are some of the ways of packaging wine for transportation.

· Use Boxes with Dividers

You will package the wine bottles in boxes with dividers which will help in separating them from knocking against each other.

It will help in securing the wine bottles from cracking thus ensuring that it arrives safe at the destination.

· Reinforcement of the Bottom Part

You must also have proper reinforcement at the bottom of the package to ensure that wine doesn’t fall off.

This will increase the security of transporting the bottles from one place to another without falling off the bottom.

· Ensure Tight Cocks on the Bottles

You must also take care of spillage from the bottle by ensuring that you place a tight cock over the bottle.

It is important to make it tight to prevent the cork from falling off during the transportation process.

· Wrap the Bottles

You can use a bubble wrap or paper to wrap the bottles to absorb the shock on the bottles during transportation.

After wrapping, you should secure the bottle with shipping tape to ensure that the wrapper does not fall off.

· Seal the Top of the Box

After placing the boxes in the box with dividers, you will seal the top of the box generously with enough tape.

Sealing the top of the box will help in making the box more secure in case of objects fall from above the box.

· Proper Labeling of the Package

You must label the package properly with information that will let the handler know that the products are fragile.

You must also indicate the part that will face up using arrows and proper labeling on the package.

How do you Test Quality of Wine from China?

Well, the testing process will depend purely on the mode of purchasing the products.

In case you are purchasing the goods online, you will have to trust the supplier.

It is the reason why you have to purchase the goods from reputable suppliers who can be trusted.

Apart from that, international regulatory rules also protect you from getting low quality products.

Purchasing through online platforms such as Alibaba will also ensure that you get the right quality of goods.

On the other hand, in case you are purchasing from China, you have the opportunity of visiting the supplier.

You can ask for samples from the supplier who will allow you to have a taste of the wine to determine the quality.

Which Information should you Include on Chinese Wine Labels?

As soon as you are ready to transport wine from China, you must have all the labels in the right place.

You must have all the labels on the goods before the goods leave China for proper inspection.

Here is the main information that you must have on the labels.

• Name of the Products
• Address and Contact of Chinese distributor
• Storage Instructions
• Date of production
• Retention date
• Food additives added
• Barcode
• Type of production harvest (e.g., “dry red”)
• Alcohol content
• Country of origin (for diluted spirits and beverages with malt products)
• Net content
• Date of manufacture

Do You Have Quantity Limitations When Importing Wine from China?

No, we do not have quantity limitations when it comes to importing wine from China.

You have the freedom of purchasing any quantity of wine that you wish to have and we will supply.

What are the Necessary Documents for Importing Wine from China?

It is also very important to have the right documents for importing wine from China.

Here are some of the most important import documents that you should as a requirement for importing wine from China.

• Commercial invoice
• Customs declaration by value
• Freight insurance document
• Export Package List
• Certificate of Insurance
• Certificate of Origin
• Health Certificate
• Certificate of Authenticity/Free Sale
• Export certificate specific to wine

Which Import Taxes and Duties Must You Pay When Importing Wine from China?

There are specific import taxes and duties that you will have to pay when importing wine from China.

Here are the main import taxes and duties that you will have to pay close attention to.

• TVA at a rate of 17%
• Customs duty at a rate of 14%.
• Excise tax at a rate of 10%.

Why do you Need Freight Forwarders to Import Wine from China?

You should consider using a freight forwarder as the best mode of transporting wine from China.

A freight forwarder will help in taking care of all the logistical needs for importing wine from China.

You will avoid a lot of issues that come with transportation of wine from China.

In other words, you will not have to travel all the way to China to get the goods that you want.

Apart from that, they have better communication language that they use to communicate.

They can get the best deals from the best suppliers at a smaller fee making them very important.

Can you Import Wine from Alibaba?

Yes, you can import wine from China through Alibaba.

Alibaba is an online platform that connects you to a credible supplier of wine in China.

It also protects you from dealers who do not practice absolute faith in conducting business.

Through this platform, the cost you will pay will assist in purchasing the goods plus all the other logistics.

The best past, you can find many wine suppliers on Alibaba.

Can I Use Sourcing Agents When Importing Wine from China?

Yes, you should consider using sourcing agents when importing wine from China.

You must, however, be very careful when choosing the sourcing agents for importation of wine.

In other words, you should look for sourcing agents with the following:

• Long Experiences
• Proper Knowledge on wine products
• Information on the best deals
• High level of professionalism
• Ability to provide additional services

Which Online Platforms Do You Use to Import Wine from China?

There are quite a number of online platforms that you can use to shop for wine in China.

Here is a list of the main online platforms where you can import wine.

• Alibaba
• AliExpress
• Amazon China
• Taobao
• com

How Do Wine Factories and Wine Trading Companies in China Compare?

Well, you can either decide to import wine from wine factories or wine trading companies in China.

Wine factories are the main producers of wine in China who can also sell the wine directly to you.

You have the opportunity of testing the wine at the wine factories before you make a purchase.

Apart from that, you can also decide on making custom wine through negotiation by the company.

In addition to that, you can order as much wine as you want at cheaper prices.

On the other hand, wine trading companies will purchase wine from the wine companies.

They will sell the wine to you at higher prices in comparison to the price at the wine factories.

How Do You Get Best Prices when Importing Wine from China?

You will get the best prices when importing wine from China through proper negotiations of the prices.

Also, you will use a good agent who can negotiate the best prices of wine with the wine suppliers.

Apart from that, you can also purchase high quantities of wine from China to get the best prices.

In other words, you can get a good discount by purchasing wine in bulk.

You can go through the bank and transfer money to the accounts of the wine suppliers in China.

Which are the Leading Chine Wine Market?

China has three leading wine markets where you can purchase your wine for import purposes.

Here are the main Chinese wine markets that you have to take a closer look at.

• Guangdong Province with 909 million dollars of imports
• Shanghai Province with 735.5 million dollars of imports
• Zhejiang Province with 189 million dollars of imports
• Fujian Province with 136.3 million dollars of imports

The other leading Chinese markets with over 100 million dollars of imports are:

• Beijing Province
• Tianjin Province
• Shandong Province

At Tj chinafreight Chine, we help you find and import all your favorite Chinese wines.

Contact us today for all your wine imports from China.