Summary: Importing diapers from China runs on details most first shipments miss: the right Incoterms (FOB vs CIF), a pre-shipment QC inspection, a sealed golden sample, and a Proforma Invoice that matches the contract. Get these right and customs and quality stop being the scary part.
Nobody's first container is smooth. Mine wasn't. The tips below are the ones I wish someone had pinned to my monitor before I wired the deposit.
1. Own your Incoterms
FOB means the factory gets the goods to the Chinese port; you book and pay the ocean freight. CIF means the factory books freight too. New importers often take CIF for convenience, then overpay and lose control. Learn the rules from the ICC Incoterms and decide deliberately. Our sourcing guide covers the commercial side.
2. Book a pre-shipment inspection
Don't wait for the container to land. Hire a third-party inspector at the factory before loading — AQL 2.5, golden sample in hand. It's the single highest-ROI spend in importing. The 10 critical checks lists what to put in the inspection scope.
3. Sealed golden sample = your contract
Keep one approved diaper per spec, signed by both sides. Every shipment is judged against it. The sample comparison guide explains how to pick and lock it.
4. Paperwork that actually matters
| Doc | Why it bites if wrong |
|---|---|
| Proforma Invoice | Must match contract $ and specs |
| HS code | Wrong code = duty shock or hold |
| Pack list | Drives customs count vs actual |
| Bill of Lading | Ownership until endorsed |
5. Budget the landed cost, not the FOB
FOB is the tip. Add ocean freight, insurance, duty, VAT, last-mile trucking and the inspection fee. Our startup budget guide shows what a realistic first order really costs, and the OEM manufacturer page lists the trade terms they work in.
FAQ
FOB or CIF for a first-time importer?
FOB gives you control and usually a better freight rate once you have a forwarder. CIF is simpler but pricier and slower to fix when something goes wrong.
What HS code do diapers use?
Usually 9619.00 (diapers and similar articles). Confirm with your customs broker — getting it wrong delays clearance and can trigger a duty reassessment.
Can I skip the pre-shipment inspection on a trusted factory?
You can, but the inspection protects you from a line drift you didn't cause. On a long partnership it can move to spot-checks, not zero.
