Indian Ocean importers
Importing from China to the Indian Ocean islands
Do you import from China by the container for Mauritius, Madagascar, the Seychelles, Réunion or Mayotte?
Who it is for
One partner from the factory to your port
Asiaction, a European-managed purchasing office in China since 2008, manages your purchasing from the factory to your port: sourcing, factory audits, inspection of every production, consolidation in Guangzhou and shipping.
You deal with one partner, in English or French.
We defend your interests, not the factory’s.
This service is for companies that import by the container or on recurring programmes, every season.
We work with owners, CEOs and heads of purchasing of importers, distributors and retailers, often family-run, with several stores or sites, in any category:
- furniture, home and bedding;
- DIY, building materials and hardware;
- appliances and air conditioning;
- auto parts;
- hotel and restaurant supply;
- packaging, solar and technical products.
It is not a fit for individuals, small one-off purchases or dropshipping.
Before you order
What to plan for
- Duties and taxes: each country sets its own. Check the tariff code of your products with your customs broker before you order.
- Standards: requirements differ (EU rules in Réunion and Mayotte, national standards elsewhere). We check certificates and markings before shipping.
- Wood packaging: pallets and crates should meet ISPM 15. We check this at loading.
- Cyclone season: November to April in the south-west Indian Ocean.
- Chinese New Year: factories stop for several weeks between January and February. Order early for peak seasons.
How it works
From the factory to your port
Your brief
You send us your products, specifications, yearly volumes, destination port and the date you need the goods in store.
Sourcing and supplier checks
We contact many factories and shortlist 3 to 5 suppliers per product, after legal checks and an on-site audit when needed. Many do not pass our checks.
Samples and order
We handle samples and prototypes, then the order: 30-50% deposit, balance after our final inspection.
Production follow-up and inspection
We inspect every production we follow, to AQL Level II (0 critical, 2.5 major, 4.0 minor), with a photo and video report sent the next day.
Consolidation in Guangzhou
Goods from your different suppliers are gathered in our dedicated space in a partner warehouse with 24-hour security, then loaded into one container under our supervision.
Shipping and documents to Port Louis, Port Réunion or your port
We ship to any port, choosing the routing with our forwarding partners. Freight booking, bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, documents for your customs broker, and container tracking in your client portal until arrival.
Destinations
Ports and islands
Mauritius: Port Louis
Port Louis is the main port of Mauritius and a major transhipment hub between Asia, Africa and Australia.
It is well connected to Asia, which helps keep lead times steady.
Madagascar: Toamasina
Toamasina is Madagascar's main container port. Sailings and clearance times vary, so we build buffers into the schedule.
Seychelles: Port Victoria
Containers for the Seychelles arrive at Port Victoria, usually after transhipment. Grouping your purchases into fewer, fuller containers keeps costs under control.
Réunion and Mayotte
Port Réunion is a regional transhipment hub with regular links to Asia. Mayotte is served through the port of Longoni.
Both are French territories: EU rules apply, including CE marking, plus a local tax called octroi de mer. Our French team can work with you in French
Our service
What we handle
Not our business
What we don't handle
How we are paid
We defend your interests, not the factory's
Our fee is paid by you, never by the factory: factory price plus our fee, agreed before the order, with no hidden margin.
Two modes, your choice. Quality and production follow-up agency: you pay the factory directly and pay our fee separately. Purchasing office: we pay the factory for you and invoice the factory price plus our fee.
In both cases, the deposit is 30-50% at order and the balance is paid after our final inspection.
Let’s talk about your next container
Send us your product brief, your yearly volumes and your destination port (for example Port Louis, Toamasina or Port Victoria).
We come back with a first approach: supplier types, production schedule and how we would ship.
Real sourcing operations carried out in China
How our team in China helps importers verify suppliers, secure their orders and avoid costly mistakes.
SUPPLIER MANAGEMENT
You want us to validate a potential supplier ?
We do off-site and on-site audits of Chinese companies
PURCHASING MANAGEMENT
You need quality control on your on-going orders ?
We can operate quality control & loading supervision
SUPPLIER MANAGEMENT
You need a reliable supplier in China now ?
We can find a supplier in China for you
PURCHASING MANAGEMENT
You want us to manage your procurement ?
We offer a complete management solution
FREQUENTLY ASKED questions on
importing to island markets
How do importers in Mauritius buy from China safely?
For regular volumes, the safest way is a purchasing office based in China that checks factories, inspects production, consolidates your suppliers and ships to Port Louis. Asiaction has done this since 2008.
Can I combine several Chinese suppliers in one container?
Yes. We consolidate your goods in Guangzhou and load one container, after inspecting each production.
Do you ship to Madagascar and the Seychelles?
Yes. We arrange shipping to Toamasina and Port Victoria and prepare the documents your local broker needs.
Who pays Asiaction?
The buyer, never the factory. Our fee is agreed before the order, with no hidden margin.
When do I pay the factory?
Usually a 30-50% deposit at order and the balance after our final inspection. You pay the factory directly, or we pay it for you.
Does Asiaction work with small importers?
No. We work with companies that import by the container or place recurring orders. We handle samples, but not dropshipping.
Can I track my container?
Yes. The client portal shows production schedules, inspection reports and container tracking on a map.