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Shipping your products to South Africa from China is just as important as placing the order itself. It is valuable to understand the shipping process and the role you play as the client. We have put together some tips on how you can ship your valuable commodities both timeously and in a cost-effective manner.
Before you even conduct business with your Chinese supplier or manufacturer, ensure that you acquire a quote or at least 3, before agreeing to import the products. As shipping prices may fluctuate, rather secure the cost and account for it in a budget prior to agreeing to purchase products from China.
Once you have found a reliable shipping company who can import your products at the right prices, sign the deal. This helps you fix your costs beforehand, as the price won’t change when you do decide to ship the products and have finalised the details and contract with your supplier.
Once the Chinese supplier has packed your products, account for at least 2 to 3 days for the products to be packed in the container and on the ship. You can account for delays as shipment is weather dependent. Your shipping agent will help you with all the details but you can get ready for delivery by acquiring all the documentation you will need in order to collect your products when they arrive in South Africa.
While your products are sailing across the high seas, make sure to have the following documentation at your South African shipping agent at least 7 days before your products land in the country:
The supplier will release the original shipping bill once the payment is made.
Your shipping agent will assist you with the import duties and customs tax when your shipment arrives in the country. It is your duty to ensure that all invoices are paid immediately so as to avoid delay in receiving the goods and paying additional taxes.
