Importing From China to the Philippines: What the Cheap Supplier Price Leaves Out

I came across a Philippine small-business discussion that started with a very tempting observation.

Someone saw a blanket selling on Shopee for about ₱189 plus delivery. They searched Taobao and found what appeared to be the same product for around ₱29.

That is the kind of price difference that makes your business brain sit up.

Buy for ₱29. Sell for ₱189. Lovely. We are all apparently three clicks away from becoming importers.

Except the ₱29 is not a profit calculation. It may not even be the same product once fabric weight, dimensions, stitching, packaging, defects, and supplier terms are compared. Then the item still has to move through China, cross a border, clear Philippine requirements, reach storage, find a buyer, survive selling fees and returns, and leave enough money behind to justify the work.

I should be clear about my position here. I do not run an importing business. I started looking into this because the price gap was interesting, and I wanted to understand what sits between a supplier listing and a product someone can lawfully and profitably sell in the Philippines.

Importing from China to the Philippines can make economic sense when a specific buyer need, acceptable quality, a lawful import route, and conservative margin all survive from source to customer. The supplier price is only the opening number. Buyers must also understand the quoted Incoterm, freight, customs, import VAT, defects, selling fees, cash flow, and unsold inventory.

Key Takeaways

• Source price is not profit. Calculate landed cost and the true cost to sell before judging an opportunity.
• The buyer matters before the product. A known business need or validated customer is safer than importing a random “winning product” and hoping demand appears.
• Research one product before building an importing business. Check the platform, MOQ, samples, compliance, logistics, competition, and conservative unit economics first.

Research note: This guide uses a Reddit discussion as a source of questions and firsthand anecdotes. Philippine customs, tax, certification, platform, and sourcing claims were checked against current primary sources and updated on August 16, 2026. It is general educational information, not legal, tax, customs, or product-compliance advice.

The Price Gap Is Real. The Margin Is Still Unproven.

China sourcing looks attractive because buyers can sometimes see a large gap between a supplier listing and a Philippine retail price. China has deep manufacturing clusters, enormous online marketplaces, and sellers serving everyone from individual consumers to international businesses.

A local price can include several layers that do not appear in a supplier listing:

• factory or trader margin
• domestic transport inside China
• international freight
• customs duties and import VAT
• clearance and handling
• warehouse and local delivery
• local wholesaler and retailer margins
• marketplace fees
• marketing and customer service
• returns, defects, and unsold stock

Some layers may be inefficient. Others pay for getting the correct product to a local customer in sellable condition.

A Philippine seller charging more than a China listing is not automatically overpricing. The seller may be carrying inventory, breaking bulk orders into single units, handling returns, absorbing defective stock, providing faster delivery, and taking the risk that half the shipment sits there looking disappointed.

The price gap is a research lead. It is not proof of margin.

“Looks the same” is not a product specification

Two listings can use similar photos and still represent different products.

A blanket can differ in size, fabric composition, weight, dye, stitching, packaging, wash durability, and defect rate. A storage bin can use thinner plastic. A cable can use different internal materials. A display rack can arrive with weaker joints or missing hardware.

Before comparing prices, compare specifications. If you cannot describe exactly what makes the two products equivalent, you are comparing pictures, not offers.

Alibaba, 1688, and Taobao for Philippine Buyers

Alibaba, 1688, and Taobao are all associated with Alibaba Group, but they were built for different buyers.

Alibaba Group describes Alibaba.com as a global B2B platform. It describes 1688 as a domestic China wholesale marketplace and Taobao as a China retail ecommerce platform.

That intended market explains much of the difference.

Alibaba may cost more for a reason

You may find lower displayed prices on 1688. That does not make 1688 universally cheaper for a Philippine buyer.

The fair comparison includes payment friction, agent fees, China delivery, consolidation, communication, documentation, export suitability, and problem-solving time. Alibaba suppliers may build export support into the price. The displayed unit price does not settle which route is cheaper.

MOQ depends on the exact offer

MOQ means minimum order quantity, the smallest order a supplier is willing to accept under a particular offer.

There is no platform-wide MOQ that applies to every product. A supplier may quote different minimums for stock items, custom colors, private labels, printed packaging, or a new production run. The displayed MOQ may also be negotiable, usually with a higher unit price for a smaller test order.

Do not ask only, “What is your MOQ?”

Ask:

• What is the MOQ for the exact specification I need?
• Can I order a paid sample?
• What is the unit price at three quantity levels?
• Is the item in stock, and can the first order be smaller at a higher unit price?
• What are the carton dimensions, gross weight, and units per carton?

That last question is essential. Freight can punish a cheap but bulky product.

What Does the Supplier’s Quoted Price Actually Include?

The supplier’s price means very little until the quote names the delivery term and location. A quote marked EXW Guangzhou is not comparable with one marked FOB Shenzhen or DDP Tagaytay. The Incoterm helps allocate transport tasks, costs, and risk between buyer and seller, although the sales contract and local law still control other obligations.

Incoterms 2020 are published by the International Chamber of Commerce. A beginner does not need to memorize all 11 rules, but these commonly encountered terms deserve attention:

Two cautions matter here.

First, FOB and CIF are intended for sea and inland-waterway transport. Suppliers sometimes use the labels loosely for air, courier, or multimodal shipments. Ask for the exact named place or port and the full version of the term, such as “FOB Shenzhen, Incoterms 2020.”

Second, a casual “DDP” or “all-in” quote does not prove that the destination-country importation will be lawful or transparent. ICC guidance notes that DDP can be impractical when a foreign seller cannot complete import formalities in the buyer’s country. Ask who will appear as importer or consignee, how the goods will be classified and valued, and what proof of clearance you will receive.

The Incoterm does not replace product specifications, inspection, payment terms, insurance decisions, permits, or a proper sales agreement. It tells you where to start asking who pays, who acts, and when risk moves.

The Cheap Product Is the Easy Part

Finding an attractive supplier listing takes minutes. Building a defensible cost sheet takes work, especially when two suppliers have quoted different Incoterms.

The Philippine Bureau of Customs says duties are generally assessed from the transaction value with applicable valuation adjustments, including transport-related costs. Duty rates depend on the product’s tariff classification. The Philippine Tariff Finder lets you research the relevant AHTN code and tariff schedules. Treat a supplier’s suggested HS code as a research lead, not the final Philippine classification.

Goods that qualify as China-originating may receive preferential rates under agreements such as ACFTA or RCEP, but the correct proof of origin is required. Do not assume “from China” means zero duty.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue’s VAT return instructions state that VAT on importation is 12 percent of the value used by Customs to determine tariff and customs duties, plus customs duties, excise taxes if any, and other charges before release.

The same BIR instructions define input tax as including qualifying import VAT paid by a VAT-registered person. Import VAT remains a cash requirement before Customs releases the goods, but it may not be a permanent economic cost for every business. Keep it in the cash-flow model and ask a qualified accountant about documentation and treatment.

A practical landed-cost formula

Start with the supplier quote and its named Incoterm. Then add only the costs that remain on the buyer’s side:

Landed cash requirement = supplier payment + buyer-side China costs + sourcing or agent fees + payment and foreign-exchange costs + samples and inspection + international freight + insurance + customs duty + import VAT + brokerage or clearance + port or terminal charges + Philippine delivery

For inventory pricing, separate any tax amount that your accountant confirms is recoverable or creditable:

Landed inventory cost = landed cash requirement − properly creditable or recoverable amounts + storage and other inventory-related costs

Then divide by the number of sellable units, not merely the number ordered:

Landed cost per sellable unit = total landed inventory cost ÷ units expected to pass inspection and remain sellable

Then calculate the cost of actually making the sale:

True cost per sold unit = landed cost per sellable unit + local packaging + marketplace and payment fees + fulfillment + return or refund allowance + advertising + allocated overhead

Only then compare the result with a realistic selling price.

Costs beginners commonly leave out

The missing lines usually fall into five groups:

• Buying costs: currency spread, payment fees, samples, inspection, and agent charges
• Inventory losses: rejects, defects, shortages, damage, missing accessories, and units used as samples
• Local readiness: repacking, required labels, storage, and delivery to the selling location
• Selling costs: commissions, payment charges, vouchers, ads, affiliate fees, fulfillment, returns, and refunds
• Cash and demand risk: money tied up during production and transit, slow-moving stock, markdowns, and unsold inventory

This is where an exciting price gap can quietly collapse.

How Do Customs and Import Requirements Work in the Philippines?

Philippine customs requirements depend on what you import, its value, whether it is commercial, and whether you will import repeatedly. The product may also fall under another agency’s rules. Before paying a supplier, identify the goods accurately, check the tariff classification and permits, and confirm the correct importer and entry process.

The Bureau of Customs says imported goods are generally subject to duty and tax unless a specific exemption applies. Its guidelines on importation state that goods with an FOB or FCA value of ₱10,000 or less fall under the de minimis threshold and are not charged duties and taxes.

That threshold is easy to misunderstand.

De minimis does not turn a prohibited or regulated product into a free import. It does not erase product permits, safety requirements, truthful declaration, or platform rules. It also should not be treated as a business model built around splitting commercial shipments.

BOC also says commercial goods below ₱50,000 FOB or FCA may be processed as informal entries. “Informal entry” describes a customs process. It does not mean informal, undocumented, or exempt from applicable regulation.

Regular and Non-Regular Importer routes

BOC recognizes Regular Importers and Non-Regular Importers.

According to the Bureau’s June 2025 importer guidance, regular importers can process shipments year-round. Non-Regular Importers receive one-time, non-renewable approval. The current AMO requirements for a Non-Regular Importer include an undertaking that the shipment is the applicant’s only importation and that no prior importation was made in the previous 365 days.

For a real, recurring importing business, talk to BOC, a licensed customs broker, and a qualified accountant about the correct structure before ordering. A sole proprietor’s application requirements can include DTI registration and BIR Form 2303, while corporations or partnerships submit the applicable SEC and BIR records.

Under CAO 01-2026, BOC extended regular importer accreditation validity to three years. Accredited importers still have annual reportorial compliance and continuing obligations. A longer validity period reduces renewal frequency; it does not turn accreditation into a one-time registration that can be forgotten.

Common import documents

The exact list depends on the entry and product, but common documents include:

• commercial invoice
• packing list
• bill of lading or air waybill
• goods declaration
• proof of payment or transaction value
• permits or clearances for regulated products
• proof of origin when claiming a preferential tariff

Confirm the list before the goods leave China. Fixing a missing document after arrival is a much less charming project.

Who Is Actually Responsible for Shipping and Customs?

Several businesses may touch one shipment, but they do not have the same job. A sourcing agent may help buy the goods, a forwarder may arrange transport, a consolidator may combine cartons, and a licensed customs broker may handle customs work. The importer still needs to know whose name, declaration, and documents sit behind the shipment.

The Professional Regulation Commission describes customs-broker practice as including customs documents, duty and tax declarations, entry filing, and representation on valuation and classification. “The forwarder handles Customs” is not a complete answer. Ask which broker is involved, who appears in the declaration, and which documents you will receive.

Freight forwarders, consolidation, and LCL in plain English

A freight forwarder coordinates cargo movement. Depending on the service, that may include supplier pickup, China warehousing, consolidation, export handling, international transport, customs coordination, deconsolidation, and Philippine delivery.

The words depending on the service are doing serious work there. Do not assume every forwarder provides the same scope.

Consolidation combines smaller shipments

Consolidation combines multiple smaller shipments into one larger shipment. A buyer sourcing from several suppliers might send all cartons to one China warehouse, where they are grouped for transport.

This can improve freight efficiency, but ask:

• Does the warehouse confirm carton counts and document visible damage?
• How much storage is included, and what happens when one supplier ships late?
• Which fragile, oversized, liquid, battery, or restricted goods need special handling?

LCL lets smaller buyers share container space

LCL means less than container load. Your goods share a container with cargo from other shippers. Maersk’s plain-English explanation notes that the logistics provider handles consolidation and deconsolidation.

LCL lets a smaller buyer use sea freight without filling an entire container. Quotes may use cubic metres, chargeable weight, a weight-or-measure rule, and minimum or destination charges. Compact but heavy cargo and bulky but light cargo can therefore behave differently in a quote.

LCL can also involve more handling than a full-container shipment, so packaging and cargo suitability matter.

Air cargo and express courier are not identical even when both travel by plane. Courier can offer a more integrated parcel process, while general air cargo may involve separate terminal and clearance arrangements. Sea freight can suit larger, less urgent cargo. Weight, volume, product type, speed, Incoterm, and service scope change the answer.

Questions to put in the freight quote

Ask for a written quote that answers:

• What calculation, minimum charge, and surcharge determine the rate?
• Are supplier pickup, China storage, destination charges, and Philippine delivery included?
• Are duties and import VAT included or separate?
• Who is the importer or consignee, and which licensed customs broker handles the entry?
• Which products are excluded or need permits or special handling?
• What insurance and claims process apply?
• What happens after a Customs examination, permit request, or reassessment?
• Will you receive transport documents and proof of lawful clearance?

DTI handles accreditation of sea freight forwarders and maintains a logistics service provider directory. Those are useful starting checks. They do not replace references, written terms, cargo insurance review, and a clear understanding of who is legally responsible for what.

How Do You Reduce Supplier and Quality Risk?

Supplier risk cannot be removed with one badge, one video call, or one cheerful WhatsApp conversation. It can be reduced by defining the product before requesting quotes, comparing suppliers on the same specification, verifying the company and its capability, approving a physical sample, documenting the order, and inspecting production when the order value justifies it.

1. Write the product specification first

Do not begin with “Send the same as the photo.”

Specify dimensions, materials, weight, finish, components, packaging, labels, acceptable defects, carton quantity, and required testing. If it affects customer acceptance, put it in writing.

2. Compare several suppliers

Ask each supplier the same questions. Compare price, lead time, sample terms, documentation, packaging, and willingness to clarify specifications. The cheapest quote can become the most expensive argument.

3. Verify the business, then verify the capability

On Alibaba.com, a Verified Supplier has undergone assessment by an independent third party. That is useful evidence, not a promise that every future order will be perfect.

Read the assessment report. Confirm the legal business name and whether the company manufactures or trades the item. Verify relevant certificates with the issuing organization where practical.

4. Keep eligible transactions on the platform

Alibaba Trade Assurance protects eligible orders placed and paid through Alibaba.com when shipment timing or agreed product quality is not met, subject to the program’s terms and claim process.

Protection depends on a clear platform order. Record specifications, quantity, packaging, shipment date, and quality requirements. Be cautious when a supplier pushes a new buyer to pay an unrelated personal account.

5. Buy a sample

A sample lets you test the physical product, but it is not the entire quality-control plan. Mark the approved version clearly and document it as the reference sample or “golden sample” for production where appropriate.

Confirm that production will use the approved material and process. For a meaningful order, consider an inspection appropriate to the value and risk. Photos and video can support that work, but they do not replace an independent inspection.

6. Plan for defects and damage

Agree on packaging before shipment. Define what counts as a defect. Ask how shortages, damaged units, or specification failures will be handled.

Your margin model should include a defect and loss allowance. “Hopefully none” is not a cost assumption.

Which Products Need Extra Philippine Compliance Checks?

Products involving health, food, skin, children, electricity, communications, structural safety, dangerous substances, or protected brands deserve an early compliance check. The correct answer comes from the product’s exact specifications and the responsible Philippine agency, not from the supplier saying, “We ship this everywhere.” Check the product before you check out.

The Bureau of Customs distinguishes freely importable goods from regulated, restricted, and prohibited goods. Regulated goods require the permits, clearances, or licenses of the relevant Philippine agency. Its current importation guide directs buyers to the Philippine National Trade Repository to research product-specific trade requirements.

The DTI Bureau of Philippine Standards runs mandatory certification schemes for covered products. Its product-certification guidance says covered imported products cannot be distributed in the Philippine market without the required Import Commodity Clearance or applicable certification marking.

The list includes many electrical, electronic, mechanical, construction, chemical, and consumer-safety products. The list changes, so check the current mandatory-certification list rather than relying on an old blog post.

The Philippine FDA regulates categories including food, supplements, cosmetics, drugs, and medical devices. Depending on the category and activity, an importer may need a License to Operate and the product may need registration, notification, or another authorization. Start with the FDA eServices guidance, then confirm the exact product path.

Other agencies regulate plants, animals, telecommunications equipment, tobacco, chemicals, vehicles, and additional categories.

The practical lesson is simple: if a product touches health, food, skin, children, electricity, communications, structural safety, or a regulated substance, assume there is homework until the proper agency confirms otherwise.

Why Doesn’t Cheap Sourcing Automatically Create a Good Shopee Business?

Cheap sourcing does not automatically create a profitable Shopee business because the platform makes comparable products, prices, delivery promises, reviews, vouchers, and sales counts easy to compare. An undifferentiated seller can face direct overseas competition, multiple fee layers, advertising costs, returns, copycat listings, and inventory that loses value while the market price falls.

The Reddit discussion included former and current importers describing thinner margins, tougher competition, and direct overseas sellers. The exact claims were anecdotal, but the underlying competitive pressure is credible.

Shopee Philippines explicitly accepts overseas sellers and directs China-based applicants through its China cross-border channel. A Philippine seller is not only competing with the shop down the street.

Seller costs also have layers. Shopee’s seller-fee guidance includes transaction and platform-related charges, while commission rates and other deductions vary by seller type, category, date, and program. Optional campaigns, ads, affiliate commissions, discounts, returns, and operating costs can add more.

Do not copy a percentage from an old article into the business model. Check the current Seller Centre fee schedule, then inspect an actual settlement statement once orders begin. The same discipline applies if the intended channel is Lazada, TikTok Shop, Amazon, a physical store, or direct B2B sales.

Do not use the listed selling price as your revenue assumption. Use the amount that actually reaches your seller balance after the expected deductions.

Commodity products create a weak position

If ten shops sell the same item using the same supplier photos, the customer has little reason to choose you except price, delivery, reviews, or vouchers.

That is a rough place to build margin.

A local seller needs an advantage such as:

• a better-defined customer
• a useful bundle
• reliable local stock
• clearer sizing or specifications
• original photos and demonstrations
• quality checks
• replacement parts
• faster support
• a niche assortment
• a business customer that values consistency more than the lowest visible price

Importing does not create that advantage by itself.

Could B2B Sourcing Be More Interesting Than Random Retail Products?

B2B sourcing may be easier to validate when it begins with a documented operational need, specification, reorder pattern, and buyer conversation. That is different from the weakest version of consumer ecommerce, where someone imports a trending product first and hopes demand appears later. B2B does not remove risk, but it can make demand more visible.

An events supplier may need display hardware. A hobby store may need organizers. A retailer may need fixtures or merchandising accessories. A workshop may need a repeat non-safety-critical consumable.

These are illustrations, not product recommendations. Every category still needs a compliance and economics check.

The B2B difference is that you can often ask better questions before buying:

• What are you using now?
• What specification, price, and reorder schedule do you need?
• What is frustrating about the current supplier?
• What trial quantity would you commit to, and do availability or consistency matter more than the lowest price?

That conversation can reveal a real sourcing problem. It can also kill the idea before you buy anything, which is a perfectly good result.

Why B2B is not automatically safer

Business buyers can demand consistent specs, official invoices, dependable lead times, credit terms, and replacements. One delayed shipment can affect their own operations. A large buyer can also become a dangerous single point of failure.

The appeal is not that B2B is easy. The appeal is that demand may be more visible and testable.

If a buyer will approve a sample, sign off on specifications, place a preorder, or commit to a trial quantity, you have stronger evidence than a pile of social-media likes.

What Would I Not Import as a Beginner?

I would not start with products where one mistake creates a serious health, safety, legal, intellectual-property, spoilage, dangerous-goods, or warranty problem. A first import already contains supplier, payment, freight, customs, quality, and demand risk. There is no prize for adding the most complicated permit path and the highest liability at the same time.

That includes categories such as:

• food and perishable products
• supplements, cosmetics, drugs, and medical devices
• electrical products covered by mandatory certification
• safety-critical products and protective equipment
• products with batteries or dangerous-goods shipping issues unless the route is fully understood
• branded or lookalike merchandise that may infringe intellectual property
• products requiring technical installation, calibration, or local warranty support
• fragile products with poor value-to-volume economics
• products whose legal classification you cannot confidently establish

This is not a claim that beginners are legally forbidden from every item in those categories. It is a risk filter.

How Can You Investigate China Sourcing Without Buying Inventory Yet?

Investigate one product on paper before buying inventory. Build a one-page sourcing file that compares specifications, supplier terms, shipment data, Incoterms, compliance, full cash requirements, true cost per sale, competition, and evidence of demand. The goal is not to persuade yourself to import. The goal is to reject weak opportunities before they become boxes.

Step 1: Record the Philippine market price

Capture comparable listings from several sellers. Note the specifications, seller location, delivery promise, reviews, discounts, and whether the item ships from overseas. Do not use one unusually expensive listing as the market price.

Step 2: Find genuinely comparable China listings

Search Alibaba, 1688, and Taobao where appropriate. Match specifications, not photographs. Record price tiers, MOQ, lead time, and customization terms.

Step 3: Request the shipment data

Get carton dimensions, gross weight, units per carton, and production location. Ask whether the quote is ex-factory, FOB, or another Incoterm, and make sure you understand what that term places on the buyer.

Step 4: Build the complete cost sheet

Add product, domestic China shipping, agent and payment costs, inspection, freight, insurance, duties, import VAT, clearance, local delivery, storage, defects, selling fees, returns, and marketing. Record when each payment is due so the model also shows how long cash may be tied up.

Use conservative assumptions. A cost model should survive mild bad news.

Step 5: Check compliance before ordering

Identify the AHTN classification. Check BOC, the Tariff Finder, BPS, FDA, and any other relevant agency. Ask a licensed customs broker or the responsible agency when the classification or permit path is unclear.

Step 6: Identify the actual buyer

“People on Shopee” is not an actual buyer.

Name the customer, the use case, the current alternative, the reason to switch, and the evidence that the need repeats.

Step 7: Examine the competitive position

Ask what stops another seller from finding the same listing. Compare overseas sellers, local wholesalers, established brands, reviews, delivery expectations, and price compression. Identify what you add beyond import access.

Step 8: Make one of three decisions

Most products should probably land in IGNORE.

That is not failed research. That is money you did not trap in boxes.

The Opportunity May Sit Elsewhere in the Value Chain

The thread raised another possibility. People were asking for help understanding suppliers, forwarders, landed cost, customs, and whether an opportunity was real.

That suggests several adjacent possibilities worth investigating:

These are possibilities, not validated business models. Some activities may trigger licensing, customs-brokerage, tax, or contractual responsibilities. Get qualified advice before handling client funds, acting as importer, clearing cargo, or representing yourself as a regulated professional.

The useful strategic idea is this: you can learn the sourcing system before deciding which part of the value chain you want to own.

So, Is Importing From China Worth Exploring?

Importing from China is worth exploring when a real buyer problem, lawful import route, acceptable sample, manageable order quantity, and conservative margin can all be demonstrated. A dramatic price gap is enough to begin research. It is not enough to place an order, much less build a business around the product.

Businesses do pay for reliable supply, local availability, consistent specifications, smaller local quantities, and someone willing to absorb the operational mess between a supplier and a Philippine buyer. But “I found the same listing” is not a durable advantage.

The more interesting skill may be learning how to spot a genuine price or supply inefficiency, test it, and understand every cost and responsibility between source and customer.

Start with one product. Request the carton data. Confirm the Incoterm. Check the tariff, permits, and importer route. Price the cash requirement and true cost per sale. Talk to the buyer.

Then decide whether the idea deserves another hour before you order a single box.

Frequently Asked Questions About Importing From China to the Philippines

Can an individual import from China to the Philippines?

Yes, but personal purchases and commercial importation should not be treated as the same thing. BOC has a Non-Regular Importer process for a qualifying one-time import, including an individual route. A recurring commercial business should confirm regular importer accreditation, business registration, tax, entry, and product requirements before ordering.

What is the difference between Alibaba, 1688, and Taobao?

Alibaba.com is available to Philippine buyers and operates as an international B2B sourcing marketplace. 1688 is primarily a domestic China wholesale marketplace. Taobao is primarily a China retail marketplace. The platform with the lowest displayed price may require more language, payment, agent, and logistics work.

Can Alibaba ship to the Philippines?

Alibaba.com is a marketplace, not one universal shipping service. Shipping options depend on the supplier, product, quantity, Incoterm, and destination. A buyer may compare supplier-arranged shipping with a separate forwarder or courier. Confirm the complete charge, importer and clearance roles, delivery point, insurance, and on-platform order terms before paying.

How much money do I need to start importing?

There is no reliable universal amount. The minimum useful budget includes samples, the negotiated MOQ, China delivery, payment costs, freight, duties and taxes, clearance, local delivery, defects, storage, selling costs, and a buffer. If losing the entire test order would damage your household finances, the order is too large.

Do I need a freight forwarder?

Not always, but a forwarder can coordinate transport, consolidation, and other logistics services. A small test may instead use a supplier-arranged shipment or express courier. A forwarder is not automatically the importer or licensed customs broker. Confirm the scope, parties, declaration, insurance, charges, accreditation where applicable, and documents you will receive.

How do I calculate landed cost?

Start with the quoted Incoterm, then add the buyer-side product, China transport, agent, payment, inspection, freight, insurance, duty, import VAT, clearance, local delivery, and storage costs. Divide by expected sellable units. Add selling fees, fulfillment, returns, advertising, and overhead to find the true cost per sale.