China sourcing agent for businesses in South Africa
Cambridge China Bridge sources from Chinese factories for businesses in South Africa: our own staff in China find and check factories and inspect the goods. We quote to your port, or to your door with duties and taxes included where our partners cover the area.
We reply the same working day to confirm receipt and arrange next steps.
What you get
- Quotes to Durban, Cape Town or Port Elizabeth, or to your door with duties and taxes included where covered; we confirm which when we quote.
- For goods under a compulsory specification, a Letter of Authority must be held before importation and sale; plan this before ordering.
- Anyone importing must register with SARS Customs and obtain an importer's code; the import entry stays with a South African party.
- Quotes in USD, EUR or GBP: one delivered price, or an itemised quote showing the factory cost, freight, duty and our service fee separately.
- Factory checks and inspection before shipment by our own staff in China.
How it works
- Send the product, quantity and your South African delivery port or address.
- We find and check factories and confirm a quote to your port or, where covered, your door.
- Samples are sent to you; production starts only after you approve one.
- Our staff in China inspect the goods before shipment.
- Your customs agent clears the goods, or our local partner does when we quote to your door; the import entry stays with the South African party.
How we check factories and goods, and the proof
Every check follows our published CCB Verification Standard v2.0. Factory visits are made by our own staff in the Pearl River and Yangtze River deltas; if an inspection company is appointed for you, the report names it.
- Factory audit: From £395 a visit (one day on site), plus VAT; the final price depends on location and scope and is confirmed before we start. Written report usually within 48 hours of the visit. Sample factory audit report
- Pre-shipment inspection: From £275 per inspector-day (Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu), plus VAT; the final price depends on location, product and scope and is confirmed before we start. Photo report usually within 24 hours of the inspection. Sample pre-shipment inspection report
Default inspection sampling: zero critical defects, AQL 2.5 major and AQL 4.0 minor (ISO 2859-1, general level II), inspected once at least 80% of the goods are packed.
Real project: for a UK electric-vehicle charging operator we ran inspection and factory communication. A Jiangsu candidate did not meet the requirements; after reviewing a third-party check we chose a Zhejiang factory, which now ships about three pallets a month. Read the case
We are not an accredited inspection body and issue no certificates; laboratory tests and social audits go to accredited firms, and you receive their reports.
Cambridge China Bridge in brief
- Buying from Chinese factories since 2021 (the company was incorporated in September 2022), for our own businesses and for clients on the same terms.
- Our own staff are based in China, at two bases: the Pearl River Delta (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan) and the Yangtze River Delta (Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu). They visit factories themselves.
- Quotes to suit how you buy: one delivered price, or an itemised quote with the factory cost, freight, duty and our service fee shown separately. Open-book detail is available on request.
- Audits and inspections are usually included in the quote for an order placed with us; complex checks that need a third party are charged extra, agreed first.
- Orders run from a first trial to scheduled full containers; the factory’s own minimum is stated in the quote.
- In one project, a UK EV charging operator cut unit cost by 70% and scaled 3× faster. In another, a multi-site Cambridge café chain saved 50% on packaging.
- A UK company in Cambridge and London: Cambridge China Bridge is the trading name of Piggy Pineapple Ltd, company number 14385590.
- Send 1–3 products you buy now and what you pay. We compare the same specification, quantity, inspection and delivery scope to establish a cost benchmark.
- A reference call with a past client can be arranged, with that client’s agreement.
How we charge
Quotes to suit how you buy: one delivered price, or an itemised quote with the factory cost, freight, duty and our service fee shown separately. Open-book detail is available on request.
Our margin is included in the quoted price or shown separately as a service fee. The service fee depends on the agreed scope, including products, samples, inspections and ongoing supply.
Questions buyers ask
Can you deliver to my door in South Africa?
Yes, where our freight and customs partners cover your area. We can quote to your door with duties and taxes included, or to your port, and confirm which when we quote.
Do I need a Letter of Authority before importing?
Yes, if the goods fall under a compulsory specification. It must be held before importation and sale. NRCS states evaluation normally takes up to 120 working days from registration.
Who registers as the importer and handles customs?
The import entry stays with a South African party. SARS requires anyone importing to register with Customs and obtain an importer's code. Your own customs agent handles clearance, or our local partner does when we quote to your door.