News.
Most sourcing news is written by people who've never set foot in a Chinese factory. Ours isn't. Updates on tariffs, export regulations, quality standards, and supply-chain shifts — filtered through what our agents actually see on factory floors in Shenzhen, Yiwu, and Guangzhou.
China's Factory Prices Hit a Near 4-Year High in May. Your Next Quote Is the Catch.
On 10 June China's statistics bureau reported producer prices up 3.9% year on year in May, the fastest factory-gate inflation since July 2022. After almost two years of falling prices, the deflation discount that quietly held import costs down is over.
China's Exports Jumped 19.4% in May. Your Lead Time Is the Catch.
On 9 June China's customs administration reported exports up 19.4% in May, imports up 27.4%, and shipments to the US up 35.4%. A surge this size tightens factory capacity, and the production slot you could book in winter is harder to get now.
NNN vs NDA: the Contract a Chinese Court Will Actually Enforce
An NDA only stops your factory from sharing your design. It won't stop the factory making and selling your product. The bilingual NNN agreement closes that gap, if it is aimed at a Chinese court and chopped by the right entity.
China-to-US Shipping Rates Have Doubled Since February
On 5 June 2026 Far East to US West Coast spot rates hit $3,933 a container, up 109% since the Strait of Hormuz closed. Carriers publish their next bunker surcharge on 1 July, and the importers moving cargo before then are doing it for a reason.
Panama Cut Its Canal Draft. The El Niño Behind It Is the Signal.
On 5 June 2026 the Panama Canal Authority trimmed its Neopanamax draft to 49.5 feet from 3 July, bracing for an 82%-likely El Niño. The six-inch cut is small. It is also an early warning for US-bound China cargo.
The US Just Made the Importer of Record the Tariff-Fraud Target
On 3 June 2026 the US signed an executive order rebuilding importer-of-record rules and raising duty-evasion penalties, weeks after a record $549.5M customs-fraud settlement. When you import from China, the liability sits with you, not the factory.
China Customs Now Random-Tests Baby Goods and Electricals on the Way Out
From 1 June 2026, GACC Announcement No. 57 lets China Customs pull and lab-test two big export categories, baby products and low-voltage electricals, before they ship. How to keep your order from getting held at origin.
EU Duty-Free Parcels End on 1 July. The €150 Loophole Closes.
From 1 July 2026 the EU scraps its €150 duty-free threshold and adds a flat €3 customs duty, the first step of its biggest customs overhaul since 1968. What changes if you import from China.
Aluminium Just Hit a Four-Year High. Your China Metal Cost Moved.
LME aluminium touched $3,707.50 a tonne on 1 June 2026, the highest since March 2022. China sits at its capacity cap and scrapped its 13% export rebate. What that does to your quote, and what to lock first.
A Recalled Product Is the Importer's Bill, Not the Factory's
On 28 May 2026 an importer recalled about 10,400 China-made power sofas over a fire-prone switch. The factory in Zhejiang did not run the recall. The importer did. Why recall liability lands on you in the US, EU and UK, and the QC that prevents it.
US Tariff Refunds on China Imports: Who Actually Gets Paid
The US Supreme Court voided the IEEPA tariffs and CBP has refunded $20.6bn so far, with $166bn estimated owed. As of 29 May a government appeal could limit who collects the rest. What US importers should check this week.
China's May PMI Hit 50.0. The Factories You Use Are Below It.
China's official manufacturing PMI fell to 50.0 in May 2026. Big plants are still expanding; the small and mid-size factories most importers actually use slipped into contraction, and new orders fell below 50.
EU Steel: Half the Quota, Double the Duty on 1 July
From 1 July 2026 the EU cuts its tariff-free steel quota 47% and doubles the over-quota duty to 50%, plus a new melt-and-pour origin rule. Whether you pay zero or 50% now turns on the quota calendar.
Vietnam Drew a Section 301 Probe. Your China-Plus-One Plan Is the Target.
On 29 May 2026 the US opened a Section 301 investigation into Vietnam, the statute that produced the China tariffs. If you moved sourcing there to dodge duties, the country swap just relocated the risk.
Your Order Carries a Hidden Rare-Earth Magnet Licence
China put seven rare earth elements and the NdFeB magnets that contain them under export licensing in April 2025. The controls still bite in 2026, and the delay lands on whoever imports the e-bike, motor or beauty device.
Dragon Boat Festival 2026: the Risk Is the Week Before
Chinese factories close 19-21 June 2026. The three days off are easy to plan around; the rushed production in the week before is where orders get damaged. What to lock in now.
EU Anti-Dumping Duties on Chinese Imports: Why You Pay
The EU added a duty up to 42.3% on Chinese adipic acid on 5 May 2026, and e-bikes already carry up to 70%. The importer of record pays, not the factory. How to check first.
China to Europe Shipping Rates Are Climbing Early in 2026
Asia-to-Europe rates rose for a third straight week and CMA CGM lifts freight to $4,700 a box on 1 June. What to book before the next increase.
DDP Shipping from China: A Practical Guide
How Delivered Duty Paid works, the hidden risks of cheap DDP quotes, and when it's the right Incoterm for European importers.
Supplier Sourcing in China: A Practical Guide
How supplier sourcing in China works — the channels compared, writing a spec that gets accurate quotes, and reading what a quote hides.
Supplier Verification: How to Vet Chinese Manufacturers
License and certification checks, what a real factory audit covers, NNN contracts, and the red flags to watch before money moves.
How to Find Reliable Suppliers in China
Separating real factories from traders, matching capacity to your order, and protecting yourself before you wire a deposit.