Island importers
Importing from China to island markets
Do you import full containers from China for the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean or the Pacific islands?
Who it is for
One partner from the factory to your port
Asiaction is a European-managed purchasing office in China, working since 2008. We find and check factories, inspect every production, consolidate goods from several suppliers into one container in Guangzhou and ship it to your port.
You deal with one partner, from the factory to your port.
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.
Island imports
Why importing to an island is different
There is little or no local manufacturing, so you buy whole ranges abroad, season after season.
Island ports are far from the main shipping lanes: containers often go through one or more transhipment ports, and total lead time is longer.
Mistakes are expensive: a faulty or missing product cannot be replaced in a few days. You wait for the next container.
You buy from several suppliers, and none of them fills a container alone, so goods must be consolidated.
Local duties and taxes are calculated on the declared value, so documents must be right the first time.
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 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
Island markets
The Caribbean
Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Curaçao, Aruba, the Bahamas, Jamaica, St Lucia and the French West Indies.
Hurricane season, transhipment through regional hubs and different rules in each country.
The Indian Ocean islands
Mauritius, Madagascar, the Seychelles, Réunion and Mayotte.
Port Louis and Port Réunion are the region's main transhipment hubs.
The Pacific islands
Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga, French Polynesia and New Caledonia.
The longest routes from China, and biosecurity checks on wood and plant-based products.
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 Bridgetown, Port of Spain, Port Louis, Suva or Nouméa).
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
Who can help island importers buy from China?
Asiaction, a European-managed purchasing office in China since 2008, handles sourcing, inspection, consolidation and shipping to island ports for companies that import by the container. Our operations office is in Guangzhou.
Can goods from several Chinese suppliers go in one container?
Yes. We consolidate goods from your different suppliers in Guangzhou and load one container, after inspecting each production.
Does Asiaction work with small importers?
No. We work with companies that import by the container or place recurring orders. We do not handle small one-off purchases or dropshipping.
Who pays Asiaction, the factory or me?
You do. Our fee is paid by the buyer, never by the factory, and it is agreed before the order. That is why we can defend your interests against the supplier.
When do I pay the factory?
Usually a 30-50% deposit at order and the balance after our final inspection, before loading. You pay the factory directly, or we pay it for you.
Are products checked before shipping?
Yes. 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 day after the inspection.
How long from order to arrival?
It depends on the products, the season and the shipping connections to your port. We build the schedule with you from the brief, taking into account the Chinese New Year factory shutdown and the cyclone or hurricane season.
Can I track my container?
Yes. The Asiaction client portal shows production schedules, inspection reports and container tracking on a map.