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Practical guides to importing from Asia
Incoterms, freight, 3PL, quality control, customs: clear explanations, costed examples and free tools, written by the NOVASEA teams in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Paris.
- 25guides
- 6topics
- 3free tools
- 127glossary terms
Topics
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Incoterms & international trade
Who pays the freight, who carries the risk, who clears customs? Incoterms® 2020 answer these questions in three letters, provided you choose them well. Our…4 guidesLogistics & freight
Sea, air, rail, full container or LCL: how to move your goods from Asia to your warehouse at the best cost and with no nasty surprises. Real lead times, hidden…3 guides3PL & e-commerce
Storage, order preparation, returns, Amazon FBA: what a third-party logistics provider (3PL) really does, what it costs and how to prepare your products at the…2 guidesQuality & inspections
AQL, pre-shipment inspection, factory audit, laboratory testing: the quality control methods that keep you from discovering defects on arrival. With an ISO…4 guidesSourcing & suppliers
Finding a real manufacturer, checking its strength, negotiating price and terms, protecting your designs and your brand: the NOVASEA method for selecting and…8 guidesCustoms & compliance
HS code, customs duties, import VAT, EORI, CE marking, UKCA or FCC requirements: what to prepare before the goods arrive in Europe, the United Kingdom or North…4 guides
Tools
Free tools
Three tools to decide fast, with no sign-up.
Incoterms® 2020 Explorer
Choose a rule: the diagram shows where costs pass, where risk passes, and who clears customs.
Open the toolAQL sample size calculator
Batch size, inspection level, AQL: get the sample size to inspect and the acceptance thresholds (ISO 2859-1).
Open the toolLanded cost calculator
Factory price, freight, duties and taxes: estimate the landed unit cost at your warehouse.
Open the tool
Read this first
The essential guides
AQL and ISO 2859-1: the guide to sampling inspection
Understanding AQL and ISO 2859-1: reading the tables, classifying defects, interpreting an inspection result and writing criteria that truly protect the buyer.
Incoterms & international tradeIncoterms® 2020: the complete guide to the 11 rules for importing from Asia
The 11 Incoterms® 2020 rules explained simply: where risk changes hands, who pays for freight, insurance and customs, what has changed since 2010, and the pitfalls of importing from Asia.
Incoterms & international tradeFOB, CIF, DDP or EXW: which Incoterms® rule should you choose when importing from Asia?
FOB, FCA, CIF or DDP: what each Incoterms® rule changes for your costs, your risk and freight control, with a costed example Yantian → Rotterdam and a choice by buyer profile.
New arrivals
Latest published guides
Customs & complianceHow to Import from China to the USA (2026 Guide): Tariffs, Customs and Costs
HTS codes, the tariffs stacked on Chinese goods, the end of de minimis, importer of record, customs bond, ISF and landed cost: a practical guide to importing from China into the US, checked in October 2026.
Sourcing & suppliersImporting from China on Your Own or With a Partner: The Real Cost of Mistakes
The 10 mistakes that cost first-time importers the most, the hours importing from China really takes, and an honest comparison of going it alone, hiring a sourcing agent or using full-service support.
Sourcing & suppliersCanton Fair Guide: How to Prepare, Register and Choose Suppliers
Phase dates, buyer registration, visas, hotels, the questions to ask at each booth and a post-show follow-up plan: how to leave the Canton Fair with suppliers worth vetting.
Customs & complianceImporting from China to the UK: Duties, VAT, UKCA and EORI (2026)
GB EORI, the UK Global Tariff, anti-dumping duties, import VAT and postponed accounting, UKCA vs CE, customs agents: a practical guide to importing from China into the UK, checked in October 2026.
Quality & inspectionsHow Much Does a Quality Inspection in China Cost? Prices, Quotes and ROI
What a third-party quality inspection in China really costs: published man-day rates, what drives the number of man-days, the traps in cheap quotes, and the math that shows when an inspection pays for itself.
Sourcing & suppliersChina Sourcing Agent: What They Do, What They Cost and How to Choose One
Independent agent, sourcing company, trading company or DIY: what a China sourcing agent does, what sourcing agent fees really cost, and how to avoid hidden factory kickbacks.
Incoterms & international tradeHow to Negotiate with Chinese Suppliers: Price, MOQ and Payment Terms
Target price, itemized quotes, MOQ, 30/70 deposits, letters of credit and contract penalties: a practical method to negotiate with Chinese suppliers without sacrificing quality.
Quality & inspectionsHow to Order Samples from China and Approve a Golden Sample
Catalog, custom, pre-production and golden samples: how to order samples from China, clear them through customs, test them against a written checklist and make them the reference for your contract and inspections.
Sourcing & suppliersHow to Manufacture a Product in China: From Idea to Production (OEM vs ODM)
OEM, ODM or private label, NNN agreements, DFM, prototypes, molds, pilot runs, inspections and certification: the steps to get your product made in China without losing your design or your schedule.
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