Buy building materials from China on a Foshan buying trip
Tiles are the product most people think of when they think of Foshan, and for good reason: the kilns around the city produce more porcelain than any other region in the world. They are also the product where first-time buyers make the most avoidable mistakes. This guide walks through an order the way we run … Read more
There are two practical ways to buy building materials from China: order remotely through an online sourcing platform, or buy in person from the factories with someone representing you on the ground. Both work. They suit different orders, and the choice gets easier once you see what each method actually asks of you. Knowing who … Read more
“How much for a container?” is the first question we hear. The honest answer is that it depends on what is inside, but a worked example helps. Below is a typical villa finishing package from recent orders, with rounded numbers. The goods (FOB Foshan / Shenzhen) Category Quantity Indicative value Porcelain tiles, first choice, 800×800 … Read more
Every tile carton from a Chinese kiln carries a grade mark. Buyers see “AAA” in showrooms and “Grade A” on invoices and assume they mean the same thing. They usually do, but the terms are informal; the labels that matter are the Chinese ones on the box. The three grades 优等品 (yōuděngpǐn) – first choice. … Read more
Windows are the most technical thing most buyers put in a container, and the item where a vague specification costs the most. This is the checklist we run through with every factory in Dali before a client pays a deposit. System and series – the factory’s system name and frame depth (e.g. 65-series casement, 120-series … Read more
Bathrooms are where a container of building materials most often goes wrong in a small way – a toilet that does not fit the drain position, a tap with the wrong thread. All avoidable. Here is what we check in the showroom and again on the pro-forma. 1. Rough-in and trap Floor-mounted toilets are made … Read more