Practical ways to reduce your import costs
The levers that genuinely lower your landed cost from China — without cutting corners on quality.
Buy closer to the source
The biggest structural saving is cutting out layers — buying factory-direct rather than through a UK wholesaler or a chain of trading companies, each adding a margin.
This is where most of the hidden markup lives, and where a sourcing agent that charges no sourcing fee pays for itself.
Use volume and consolidation
Higher volume and credible repeat orders lower your unit price. Consolidating several products with one supplier, or several suppliers into one shipment, also spreads freight and handling costs.
Planning ahead so you can ship by sea rather than air is often the single biggest logistics saving.
Get the customs details right
Confirm the correct commodity code so you are not overpaying duty on a misclassification, and — if you are VAT-registered — make sure import VAT is reclaimed rather than lost.
Choosing the right Incoterm and a transparent landed quote stops avoidable fees creeping in.
Avoid false economies
The one lever to use carefully is price pressure on the factory: squeeze too hard and the saving can quietly return as thinner materials or cut corners.
Real, durable savings come from structure — fewer middlemen, better logistics and clean customs — not from a cheaper, worse product.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest cost-saving lever?
Usually cutting out middlemen by buying factory-direct, followed by shipping volume by sea with good planning. Together they move the landed price the most.
Can I legally reduce the duty I pay?
You can make sure you are on the correct commodity code (a wrong one can overcharge you) and reclaim import VAT if registered. Deliberately undervaluing goods, however, is not legal.