Importing clothing from China: process, cost and inspection

DS Trading is a German company with two founders: Felix Sander works in China with a whole team, and Ben Detert looks after customers in Hamburg. Wei Ming Wai leads our network of more than 100 producers the team knows personally, from makers of shirts and hoodies to a specialist for technical trousers. If you want to know whether a manufacturer has your fabric in stock or can manage your quantity in the time planned, we check it on site straight away.

On a first import in particular, China is a black box for many buyers. Your one European contact goes through the whole process with you, from the product definition through sample and production to DDP delivery, and carries it out. If something is not going to plan, we tell you openly and on our own initiative, before you have to ask. We are honest about timing: production takes three days to four weeks depending on the article, after which the goods reach you in 50 to 65 days by sea or in about 15 days by air. These dates are calculated realistically, and we do everything we can to keep them.

You know us personally, and your trust is the most important thing we have. If there is a quality problem, we speak to you immediately and come to see you. On price we are usually below sourcing yourself or other sourcing agencies, because we take on the buying in China and the handling in Germany ourselves: we look at both sides, pick the more economical option each time and negotiate the best possible price with the producers. You receive an invoice from Germany, and duty and import VAT are already paid on DDP delivery.

A clothing import begins with a written product definition, not with freight booking. Manufacturer selection, quotation, physical sample, written approval, production, inspection, transport, customs clearance and delivery build on one another. If the product changes, cost and timing must be recalculated before the next step.

This page covers the purchasing decision instead of repeating our service overview. Detailed responsibilities for each stage appear on the linked process and service pages.

The factory price alone is not the cost at your warehouse. A complete view includes product and packaging, sample shipping, quality inspection, transport from the factory, main freight, insurance where selected, customs duties, import handling and delivery to the agreed destination. The applicable tariff treatment depends on the exact article and classification.

The minimum order is 300 pieces. Fabric availability, colour, size split, printing or embroidery, labels and packaging still influence which manufacturer and production method make sense. A standard T-shirt made from an available fabric is planned differently from a new cut with a custom dye.

You send the intended product and target quantity first. We then clarify which details are fixed and where alternatives are acceptable. This makes it possible to compare offers that actually describe the same product. If the requested setup is not economical at the target quantity, you receive that information before sampling or production starts.

An initial order from 300 pieces should reduce inventory risk, not the standard of inspection. Material, measurements, workmanship, colour and branding must still match the approved specification. Depending on the product, a pre-production sample establishes that reference before the series begins. The finished goods are checked again before shipment so deviations are identified while they can still be addressed at the source.