What a China sourcing agent actually does
A sourcing agent in China handles the whole process of buying or manufacturing your product: finding the right factory, negotiating price and terms, verifying that everything matches what was agreed, and coordinating delivery to Spain without surprises. It's not just "someone who speaks Chinese" — it's someone who understands how the market really works and knows the warning signs before you move a single euro.
Working with an agent who speaks your language — not an intermediary auto-translating your messages — is the difference between closing a good deal and finding out too late that the quality, packaging or lead time weren't what you expected.
DDP, FOB or CIF: which Incoterm suits you
Choosing the right Incoterm significantly changes the real cost of your import:
- FOB (Free On Board): the supplier delivers the goods to the Chinese port; shipping, insurance and customs from there on are on you.
- CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight): includes sea freight and insurance to the destination port; customs clearance is still yours.
- DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): everything included — shipping, insurance, duties and customs — with the goods delivered to your own company.
Picking the wrong Incoterm is one of the most common ways to end up overpaying without realizing it.
Supplier verification: where the real risk lies
Not everything you see on Alibaba, 1688 or Taobao is what it seems. Many suppliers pay the platform itself for a "verified" badge that guarantees nothing real. Before recommending a supplier, I check:
- That the company legally exists and has real production capacity — not just a trader dressed up as a factory.
- That the certificates it shows are actually theirs, still valid, and not for a different product.
- Its real history and reputation within the Chinese market, not just what its own website claims.
Licenses, regulations and CE marking
Depending on the product — toys, cosmetics, electronics, food — you'll need to meet specific European regulations before it can be sold legally. One of the costliest mistakes I see is confusing the real European CE mark with the "China Export" symbol, which looks similar but certifies absolutely nothing. I check this before manufacturing or buying, not after, when it's too late to fix.
If your product needs an import license (food, cosmetics, medical) and you don't have one, I can also help you sort out that part of the process.
Custom manufacturing: OEM and ODM
If you have your own product idea, there are two routes:
- OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer): we build a product designed by you, from scratch.
- ODM (Original Design Manufacturer): we start from an existing product and customize it (improvements, packaging, private label) so you can sell it as your own.
I help you decide which one fits your budget and volume best, and manage samples before moving to production.
Why work with me instead of going it alone
You can try buying directly on Alibaba, 1688 or Taobao yourself — plenty of people do. The problem usually isn't finding a product, but everything around the purchase: verifying the supplier is real, understanding which regulations apply, choosing the right Incoterm, and making sure what arrives is exactly what you ordered.
I'm based in China, I speak the language, and I handle every one of those points for you, with full transparency about what I do and what it costs.
