How to Import Building Materials From China?

Estimated reading time: 12 minutes

Do you know? Importing building materials from China can save you almost 30% to 50% in costs. If you read this guide about importing building materials, you’ll learn how to find a reliable building materials supplier. Please remember, that a trustworthy partner offers more than just short-term gains. Their value is immeasurable.

In this blog, you’ll find everything you need about importing building materials from China. Moreover, we’ll share some handy tips on selecting the right materials. Let’s discuss them from A to Z.

What are the Benefits of Importing Building Materials from China?

In 2022, China was the country with the highest value of exports of cement, concrete, gypsum, asphalt, stone and other mineral building materials in the world. China’s exports of articles of cement, concrete, or artificial stone amounted to five billion U.S. dollars that year.

According to Statista, China is the world’s largest exporter of building materials. This also means building materials from China are incredibly popular.

But why choose to import building materials from China? Because of these three main reasons:

1. Lower Manufacturing Costs

According to statistics, labor costs in China are much lower than in the U.S. In Chinese manufacturing, the average hourly wage might be just $4 to $6, while in the USA, it’s around $20 to $30. That’s nearly five times higher!

Labor costs typically affect around 20% of the total manufacturing cost.

With over 1. 4 billion, which signifies that China is a country with a large workforce. This assists in committing a large number of human resources towards the production of construction material thus making sure that in instances of high product output, there will be enough labor power.

Chinese workers are extremely diligent and are constantly trying to figure out what can be done better. They will do these for longer hours compared to American workers but at only one-fifth the cost of American labor. Acquiring necessary goods at a cheap rate. How can you say no to that?

2. Wider Range of Products

China, being the central hub of manufacturing for the world, boasts of its efficiency in the manufacturing of diverse products. This includes building elements such as iron and cement and embellishments such as glasses and ceramics.

Chinese manufacturers can boast significant experience in the production of building materials. A very wide range of products can be sourced in China for importation, and this is one of the advantages of importing building materials. Talking about the opportunities, there are more variants to choose

As compared to the other techniques, getting more options for sale, which are available to cheap in China. Besides this, you will not have to fear for lack of products required for your target market as is usually the case with other markets. Indeed, many buyers lose potential purchases merely because they cannot locate the kind of products they are looking for.

3. Product Quality

Why is the quality of building materials manufactured in China superior to those produced in other countries?

In China’s building material sector, stringent administrative standards are mandated for quality assurance. Each product undergoes necessary licensing protocols.

The AQSIQ is a governmental body, that oversees these product inspections, applying distinct regulations for various building materials.

Several Chinese cities, known as manufacturing powerhouses, have enacted stricter local standards. These require comprehensive material lists, compliance certificates from renowned testing agencies, mandatory product licensing, documentation for international approval, and assurances of product quality.

What Types of Building Materials Are Worth Importing from China?

My answer is: Everything.

As we mentioned earlier, there are a variety of products available in China. Whether it’s concrete, steel, or decorative materials like tiles and glass. Whatever you need, you can find it in China. Below is a type list of building materials:

1) Importing Construction Materials from China

• Steel: Rebar, beams, steel plates.

In 2022, China was one of the countries with the highest value of exports of selected iron and steel building materials. China exported 19 billion U.S. dollars worth of structures and parts of structures. The following countries in the ranking were Germany and Poland. China was also at the top of the ranking of global mineral building material exporters.

From: Statista

• Concrete: Precast concrete components, cement.
• Timber: Plywood, wooden beams, engineered wood.

2) Importing Decorative Materials from China

• Tiles and Stones: Floor tiles, wall tiles, marble, granite.
• Paints and Wallpapers: Various interior and exterior paints, and decorative wallpapers.
• Glass Products: Flat glass, tempered glass, decorative glass.

3) Importing Functional Materials from China

• Insulation and Soundproofing: Insulation boards, soundproofing cotton, etc.
• Waterproofing Materials: Waterproof membranes, waterproof coatings.

4) Importing Doors, Windows, and Accessories from China

There are different types of window materials which are as follows, Vinyl, wood, aluminum, and composite windows.
Select window types that will fit both new and old types of buildings.

For importing Doors from China, Choices can be pre-hung or door slabs, so whether they will slide or swing, and the type of material ranges from classic wood to more modern fiberglass.
Buying should be done while carefully considering door handling, whether the door swings in or out, as well as the door’s width.

• Aluminum or uPVC doors and windows.
• Door and window hardware accessories.

5) Importing Staircases and Railings from China

Standard or customized staircases such as straight, spiral, and circular staircases are easily found in the market.

6) Importing Kitchen Cabinets and Wardrobes

On this, one can opt between flat-packed and ready-to-assemble cabinets based on the cost of labor in the region.

7) Importing Flooring from China

• Wood Flooring: Prevent variation in texture on different batches and also prevent repetition in the pattern manufacture of laminate floorings.
• Vinyl and Laminate Flooring: To cater for installation mistakes, buy extra quantities (7- 10%).
  Windows

8) Importing Roofing Materials from China

Types of roofs include asphalt, metal, tiles, and solar shingle roofs. In addition, see that the material of the building fits the area where it is located.

9) Importing Bathroom Fittings from China

Washbasins, toilets, and bathroom cabinets can be bought at various prices that determine the quality of the material and its working usefulness.

10) Raw Building Materials to Import from China 

It should be noted that China is one of the largest sources of raw building materials to import around the world.

• Marble: Select different types, colors, and textures and ensure that they are standard between different batches.
• Glass: Possible products are toughened, laminated, and insulating glass for specific uses.
• Cement: This provided that the importation of cement may warrant certain permission and test as may be dictated by the importing country.

11) Importing Eco and Green Building Materials from China

• Solar panels, eco-friendly materials.
• Sustainable materials like bamboo.

How to Find Building Materials Suppliers in China?

There are many building material manufacturers in China. But how do you find them? And how do you choose the supplier that’s best for you? In this section, we’ll provide you with methods to do just that.

Google Search

Google Search is an easy method of sourcing suppliers from China. If one is to search on Google, they are bound to find millions of results that deal with the suppliers of building materials. But this can be very overwhelming sometimes since it is rather hard to distinguish between good and bad sources.

This does not mean that you cannot search for authentic Chinese building material wholesale suppliers via Google. But then again, they could be found on the further pages of the search engine.

To refine your Google search you may want to type in search phrases such as directories of Chinese building materials online. These online directories could perhaps be better to use in seeking Chinese suppliers. These Chinese supplier online directories perform investigations and verifications before they post a supplier online. This way you can get some ideas of credible participants from online directories.

Online B2B Platforms

You can find Chinese suppliers on online platforms, such as Alibaba. Alibaba is the world’s largest online directory for wholesale suppliers. It boasts over 8 million active sellers and around 280 million active buyers.

Alibaba lists many building material suppliers from China. When you use Alibaba to meet your needs from China, you can work directly with manufacturers. This means you can be involved in the product’s design, manufacturing, and shipping methods.

Note: You must be aware that through Alibaba, you’ll be dealing with a third-party manufacturer currently listed under Alibaba.

Sometimes you might find sellers displaying very cheap building materials on their websites, but when you intend to place an order, the quoted price differs, as the price marked on Alibaba is not the sale amount. You need to get the supplier to quote based on your requirements.

China wholesale market

More and more construction companies and retailers are starting to rely on China for building materials that are of good quality, well-designed, and affordable. Many buyers prefer to purchase directly from manufacturers or attend the Canton Fair. However, visiting Chinese wholesale markets is another viable option.

1. China Ceramics City (Guangdong Province)

Location: 2 Jiangwan 3rd Rd, Chancheng District, Foshan, Guangdong Province, China

China Ceramics City is the first information service and trade platform of this magnitude for ceramic and bathroom fittings in China. Combining exhibition, trading, and business services, China Ceramics City houses over 300 brands, a combination of the best and most expensive ceramic and bathroom products in China and famous foreign brands.

2. Huayi International Decoration Expo Market (Guangdong Province)

Location: Wugang Road, West Kuiqi, Chancheng, Foshan, Guangdong, China

This market features mid to high-end quality products. Most of the exhibitors are manufacturers. This huge mecca of building material supply includes products for your construction and renovation needs.

Visiting Chinese markets allows you to touch with these products. And you can more easily compare prices and secure the lowest cost for your purchases.

However, during this process, there might be some language barriers, as few Chinese suppliers can speak English fluently. When you prepare to travel to China, please consider this factor. If necessary, think about hiring a translator.

Trading Companies

Pros: Opportunity to get catalogs and get immediate quotes.
Cons: Increase prices by up to 40% and restrict the visibility of manufacturers.

Manufacturers

Pros: A low cost with no fees charged by intermediaries.
Cons: Affects the necessary amount of the ordered products and assumes all possible risks.

Sourcing Agents

Pros: It means that sourcing agents are involved in quality control processes and they limit possible risks.
Cons: More service charges but nice to be paid once in a while.

Some Strategies for Identifying Reliable Building Material Suppliers in China

1. Regulate for the registered capital and business license.
2. Go and see factories or request a factory tour.
3. It is also wise not to work with suppliers that offer to supply a variety of goods.

Which Types of Building Material Suppliers Are the Best Fit?

When considering importing building materials from China, you need to hire someone who is honest, qualified, experienced, and understands the rules of your country. Maybe you could directly contact Chinese manufacturers or look for suppliers on online B2B platforms like Alibaba.

However, not all these options may suit you. Wondering which one is the best fit for you? Here’s what you need to know. We have listed categories of building material suppliers and analyzed their pros and cons to help you make an informed choice.

Of course, you can also try contacting China sourcing agents. This can save you even more money. They use their extensive sourcing experience to help you find the most suitable suppliers in China and get the best products at the lowest prices.

When sourcing products in China, you might encounter suppliers who don’t speak English. This makes it hard for them to understand your product needs. But now, you don’t have to worry about that anymore. Their offices are in China and can assist you in communicating with building material suppliers.

Moreover, I have a question for you: “Do you verify the legitimacy of suppliers before collaborating with them?“

Trust is mutual, but it requires both parties to actively maintain the relationship.

However, you can’t be sure that Chinese suppliers won’t deceive you. Some suppliers are “smart”. I believe you can understand why I use the quotes. Yes, some Chinese suppliers are bad. They might cheat you with inferior products, reduce the quantity, or even fail to provide after-sales service! They just want your money!

Contact Owlsourcing. We firmly believe that trust is the key to cooperation. Before sourcing, we will verify Chinese suppliers’ legitimacy and provide real photos or videos during the sourcing process to ensure customer satisfaction with our services. We hope all our clients can smile when working with us.

Owlsourcing Action,

Members of Owlsourcing are discussing product specific data.

What Are Some Tips for Selecting Building Materials?

When you face a variety of building materials in the Chinese market, do you know how to select? In this part of the article, here are some tips on selecting building materials for your reference:

1. Save money by buying in bulk

Most suppliers offer discounts for bulk purchases, especially Chinese suppliers on Alibaba. They favor customers who wholesale their products. This can save you on shipping costs, while also being profitable for the suppliers.

It’s a win-win situation, how delightful!

Note: You need to understand the supplier’s minimum order quantity (MOQ) in advance. Many suppliers won’t sell products in too small quantities, as they wouldn’t make a profit otherwise.

2. Where to buy quality lighting?

The prices of these lighting fixtures might be a bit high, but they can add aesthetic value. Many Chinese retailers sell a variety of lighting styles. However, if you’re considering buying from China, think about visiting local markets. This way, you can personally inspect the quality of the products.

For further information, you can read this article: Importing LED Lights from China

3. How to choose tile, marble, or wood flooring?

Additional information:

a) Tile Flooring: Ideal for high-moisture areas like bathrooms and kitchens.

b) Marble Flooring: Best suited for areas where aesthetics are a priority, and usage is less intense.

c) Wood Flooring: Great for living areas and bedrooms where comfort and warmth are desired.

More Related Articles:

• Top Chinese Wholesale Websites to Buy from China
• Top Wholesale Markets in Southern China
• Top Wholesale Websites for Bulk Purchasing
• Importing Computer Parts from China
• Best-Selling Amazon Products You Can Import from China

Final Thoughts

Are you ready to import building materials from China? Once you fully understand the process, you’ll realize it’s a very smart decision. Sourcing products from China can bring you many benefits. Of course, you need to choose the right building material supplier, or you might end up with bad-quality products or insufficient quantities.

Sourcing products isn’t just about giving money to these suppliers to solve all problems.

No worries, you can contact us. Owlsourcing can help you reduce the cost of importing building materials from China. You can email us at [email protected] with your project details, and we’ll get back to you promptly.