Export basics
Importing commercial kitchenware from China: a buyer overview
What overseas restaurant owners should know about kits, packing lists, freight, and working with a China-based wholesaler before the first container.
Think in kits, then packing lists
A successful first order is usually a defined kit plus a short add-on list — not hundreds of unrelated items. Fewer, related categories keep packing and customs documentation cleaner.
Documents you will see
- Commercial invoice — what was sold and at what value
- Packing list — cartons, weights, and volumes (CBM)
- Bill of lading / airway bill — transport title document
In China, freight forwarders and customs brokers commonly prepare the export declaration from these documents. Buyers still need accurate descriptions and honest values.
Payment and trust
Typical B2B patterns include deposit before production/packing and balance before or against shipping documents. Clear process beats the lowest quote from an unknown seller.
Start simple
For a first collaboration, commercial cookware and smallwares are often easier than mixed electrical goods with destination voltage and certification requirements. Expand after one clean shipment.
Lucky Kitchenware is preparing kit-based offers for overseas openings, with export handled through professional agents.