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China is one of the best places to import LED strip lights. As the world’s leading manufacturer and exporter of LED strip lights, China offers plenty of perks to any importer.
First, there are plenty of LED strip light suppliers to choose from, even for bulk and custom orders. You can get high-quality flex lights at very competitive prices. On top of this, you will benefit from an efficient international shipping network.
If you’re wondering how to import LED strip light from China, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled a guide with everything you need to know about the importation process.
From finding a reliable manufacturer, complying with regulations, to shipping LED strip lights from China to your country. Without further ado, let’s dive right into it.
How to Import LED Strip Light from China - The Steps to Follow
1. Defining What Type and Specifications of LED Strip Lights To Import
COB LED Strip Light
SMD LED Strip Light
Digital LED Strip
230V LED Strip
The very first thing to do is clarify the kind of LED strip lights you want. Although strip lights may look the same, there are many options to choose from.
Furthermore, knowing exactly what type of LED strips you’re looking for is important for the following reasons:
- It will help you as you search for manufacturers or vendors. When you know exactly what you want, it’s easy to identify the best supplier.
- The knowledge will also come in handy when determining which LED light import regulations apply to you.
- Finally, having all the specifications will help you make a precise order. This will ensure that you receive exactly what you intend to buy.
Below are some tips to help you determine what kind of LED strip lights to buy.
1. Know the intended application. Are you looking for residential, commercial, industrial, or event lighting? Is it accent, under cabinet, backlighting, or wall wash lighting? Do you need flex lights for indoor or outdoor illumination?
2. If you’re an LED strip light reseller, research the local market to determine what type of LED light strips are in popular demand.
3. If you’re an architect, interior decorator, or lighting designer, the installation, power, and other requirements for your project will dictate what kind of strip lights to get.
4. In addition, you will have to specify the following LED strip light characteristics and specifications when making your order:
- Type of LED strip light: LED strip, rope, or addressable strips? Are you looking for COB (chip on board) spotless strip lights or tunable white strip lights?
- Brightness: How many lumens output per meter/foot? Standard, medium, or high LED density per band?
- Color temperature: White, single color, or color-changing RGB strips. What Kelvin (K) rating?
- Size of strips: Total length? Breaks at what intervals?
- Number and size of the LED chips: 3528, 5050, or 2835 LED chip sizes?
- Power draw and output: DC 12V/24V/36V/48V? AC plug and play? Battery powered? Wattage rating?
- IP Rating: Should the LED strip lights be weatherproof or waterproof? What IP rating? IP65 or IP68?
- Accessories: Do you need components such as aluminum profiles, power supplies, remote controllers, connectors, and splitters?
- Other characteristics: Beam angle, CRI, heat dissipation, dimming, light efficiency, mounting requirements, etc.
2. Researching the LED Lights Importation Requirements in Your Country
When importing LED strip lights from China, you have to abide by the LED light importation rules and regulations in your country. You also have to pay import duty and any other applicable charges.
Now, the requirements for importing LED lights vary from country to country. To ensure that you abide by all the rules, find out the following information:
1. What are the import rights or legal requirements for importing LED lights in your country? Are you required to have an import license? Do you have to obtain a customs bond? Is there any ban on the importation of LED lights?
2. What regulatory body or government agency oversees the importation of LED lights in your country and what are their rules and regulations?
In the United States, for example, LED light imports are regulated by the following bodies:
- The Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP)
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
- Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
- Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA)
- State and local agencies
3. What are the taxes and import duties charged on the importation of LED lights in your country? You can contact your local customs office to find out what’s required of you. Alternatively, you can consult a customs agent or freight forwarding company.
4. What standards and certifications should the LED strip lights have? Here is an overview of some of the certifications required in some countries and regions.
| Country/Region | Certifications |
|---|---|
| North America | UL, ETDL, DLC, Energy Star |
| Europe | CE, RoHS, ERP, EMC, ENEC |
| Canada | CSA Certificate |
| Australia | SAA Certificate |
| India | BIS Certificate |
| Saudi Arabia | SASO Certificate |
3. Finding a Reliable LED Strip Light Supplier in China
Now that you know what type of LED ribbon lights you’re looking for and the regulations you have to abide by, it’s time to find the best manufacturer or vendor to order from. Follow these steps to find a capable and reliable supplier.
1). Identify Potential LED Ribbon Light Suppliers
There are five ways to identify top Chinese LED strip lighting manufacturers or vendors you can work with:
a. Search on Google
Simply search “LED strip light manufacturer in China” or “LED strip light supplier China” on Google or any other search engine of your choice. The search result page will have some of the top LED strip light factories and providers in China. You can then click on their websites to learn more about each manufacturer.
b. Search on B2B Portals
You can also search for LED strip light manufacturers and vendors on business-to-business (B2B) websites such as Alibaba and Global Sourcing. You will find plenty of suppliers here. All you have to do is identify the top-rated Chinese LED lighting companies that can fulfill your requirements.
c. Attend Lighting Exhibitions and Trade Shows
Lighting exhibitions and trade shows are also excellent ways to source LED strip lights. You get to meet multiple suppliers under one roof. You can inspect products and compare quality and prices. Additionally, you can speak to the suppliers in person. Here is a schedule of the lighting events you can attend in China.
| Event | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai International Lighting Fair | Shanghai | March 1st - 4th, 2023 |
| Expo Lighting | Shanghai | March 28th - 31st, 2023 |
| Hong Kong International Lighting Fair | Hong Kong | April 12th - 15th, 2023 |
| Prolight + Sound | Guangzhou | 22th - 25th, 2023 |
| Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition | Guangzhou | June 9th - 12th, 2023 |
| HKTDC Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo | Hong Kong | October 26th - 29th, 2023 |
d. Hire a Sourcing Agent
You can also hire a China sourcing agent to source and verify LED strip lighting suppliers for you. They have years of experience in sourcing and an extensive network of suppliers. Beyond this, a sourcing agent can help with negotiating prices and inspecting the manufacturing process and finished goods. Be sure to verify the credibility of the sourcing agent.
e. Ask for Referrals
Do you know somebody who imports LED lights from China? You can simply ask them to refer you to their manufacturers or vendors in China. This is a great way to find reliable suppliers and source high-quality LED strip lights from China quickly.
2). Evaluate Potential Suppliers
Next, evaluate the list of suppliers you’ve identified as follows:
Visit Websites and Social Media Pages
Visit the website and social media pages for each of the potential suppliers you’ve identified. You will learn more about who they are, what they do, and whether they are credible. Is their website professional? How many followers do they have on social media and how does the company interact with them?
Read Reviews
Are there reviews on third-party websites such as Google, Facebook, Trust Pilot, and SiteJabber. Check for ratings on B2B websites such as Alibaba as well.
You can also contact some of their past or existing clients directly and ask them about their experience with the LED strip light vendor.
3). Narrow Down the List of Potential Suppliers
Having checked the websites and online reviews for multiple suppliers, you can now narrow down the list to about three companies you feel are the best fit for your needs. Follow these steps to compare the suppliers:
- Initiate contact with the shortlisted manufacturers and vendors. For example, you can ask questions about their facilities, processes, and products. This will help you gauge their professionalism and the kind of customer support to expect.
- Request quotes from the suppliers and compare the prices versus quality levels.
- Order samples from each company and evaluate the quality and delivery speeds.
Questions to Ask When Choosing an LED Flex Light Supplier
Here is the information to find out as you audit potential suppliers and identify the best LED strip light manufacturer/vendor.
- Do they manufacture LED flex lights or are they a reseller? Do they have a research and development department?
- What is their production capacity? What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ)? Do they accept bulk orders?
- Do they make bespoke LED tape lights to exact specifications? Do they accept OEM and ODM orders?
- Do they offer supplementary products such as aluminum profiles?
- What markets do they serve? Do they serve the low-end, mid-range, or high-end markets?
- What are their quality standards? What kind of materials and components do they use? What tests do their LED strip lights go through?
- How many years of experience do they have? Is the company licensed and certified? What certifications do their LED strip lights have?
- What is the lifespan of their strip lights? What warranty and guarantees do they offer?
- What payment methods do they accept and what are the payment terms?
- Do they ship worldwide? What are the shipping methods, terms, and costs?
- What is the lead time? How long will it take to receive your consignment?
4). Select the Best LED Strip Light Supplier and Visit their Facilities
Out of the list of shortlisted companies, choose the very best supplier by comparing product offerings, production capabilities, quality, lead times, price, warranty, policies, professionalism, and customer service.
If you have the time and money, it’s highly recommended to fly to China and visit the supplier’s premises. This way, you can see their facilities and manufacturing processes, inspect the LED strip lights they produce, see how the fixtures look, feel, and perform, and interact with the management in person.
If you don’t have the time or money to travel to China, you can send someone living in China to inspect the facility and products on your behalf. Thanks to technological advancement, you can also have a virtual tour of the manufacturing facilities.
4. Negotiating with Your LED Ribbon Light Supplier of Choice
Before you make the order, it’s important to negotiate with the supplier you’ve chosen. This will allow you to clarify some important matters such as your quality requirements and the payment and shipping terms. Here are the issues to discuss and clarify during the negotiation stage:
- Your quality expectations
- The pricing and discount based on the order quantity
- The manufacturing, packaging, and shipping lead time
- The payment method and terms
- The shipping method, terms, and cost
5. Calculating the Cost of Importing LED Strip Lights from China
You’re now only one step away from making your order! But first, you need to prepare your budget.
This requires that you determine the total cost of importing LED tape lights from China to your country.
Sum up the following costs and expenses to determine how much money to set aside for the importation:
- Costs of purchasing the LED strip lights
- Costs of shipping the lights from China to your country via your preferred shipping method
- Custom clearance costs such as taxes and import duty
- Cost of inspecting the goods
- Cost of hiring a sourcing or customs agent
- Allowance for miscellaneous costs such as currency conversion and port charges
6. Placing Your Order for LED Ribbon Lights
Having conducted the necessary due diligence, you can now place your order with confidence.
Simply follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to order. Most companies require a 25% and 30% payment while making the order. You can then clear the balance after manufacturing and inspection.
Here are the essential steps to take when making your order:
- Make a precise order by defining exactly what type of LED strip light you want and the specifications. Making changes after the manufacturing process has started will cost you extra money.
- Prepare a sales contract that records the terms and conditions you’ve agreed upon. The contract should detail the product parameters, the payment terms, the time frame, and any guarantees.
7. Inspecting the Flex Lights
Before you clear the rest of the payment, it’s important to inspect your order to make sure it’s up to your specifications and meets the required quality standards.
You can inspect the manufacturing process as well as the finished LED strip lights. There are different ways to accomplish this:
- Ask your manufacturer to take photos and videos of the manufacturing process and of the strip lights
- Visit China to inspect the manufacturing process and the LED strip lights in person
- Hire a sourcing agent or quality inspection company to conduct the inspection on your behalf and give you a detailed report.
8. Shipping the LED Tape Lights to Your Destination
After you’ve inspected and paid for your order, your consignment is ready for shipping. The shipping cost is determined by the weight or volumetric size of your shipment, the shipping method, and the destination.
Once the goods are shipped, your supplier, courier company, or freight forwarder will give you a tracking number you can use to track your shipment.
Shipping Options
When it comes to shipping LED flex lights from China, you have three options:
Express Shipping/Air Freight
This is the fastest way to ship LED strip lights from China. You can get your items in 3 to 7 days. However, it can get expensive especially when shipping a bulk order.
Air freight is ideal for samples, small orders, or urgent orders. Popular express shipping providers include DHL, FedEx, UPS, TNT, and DB Schenker.
Rail Freight
If you’re importing to Europe or any other country with a rail connection to China, you can choose rail transportation for your goods. It’s an affordable way to transport a large order but it’s relatively slow. Expect your shipment to arrive in 15 to 35 days.
Sea Freight
Sea transportation is the most cost effective shipping method for bulk orders. The only downside is that it has the longest lead time of 30 to 45 days.
Shipping Terms
You’ll also have to agree on the shipping terms with your supplier. These terms are referred to as International Commerce Terms or Incoterms. They define the obligations of the supplier and the importer during the importation process. The standard Incoterms when importing from China are as follows:
FOB (Freight on Board/ Free on Board)
The importer chooses the means of shipping and the supplier handles the inland transportation, loading of goods, and export fees and customs clearance in China. The importer is responsible for the import expenses and customs clearance in their own country.
CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight)
With CIF, the supplier takes the bulk of the shipping responsibilities, from handling the documentation to unloading the goods at the shore. As an importer, your only obligation is to sort the import charges and customs clearance in your country.
EXW (ExWorks)
Under these terms and conditions, the importer handles most of the responsibilities. The supplier packages the goods and prepares the export certificates and documents. The importer arranges the carrier, and handles the inland transportation, loading of goods, import expenses and customs clearance in both countries.
9. Preparing to Receive Your Consignment of LED Strip Lights
Your LED strip lights are now on their way to you. As you wait for the shipping lead time to pass, take the following steps to prepare for the arrival of your shipment:
- Liaise with the supplier to avail the required documents for customs clearance. These include the commercial invoice, the bill of lading, the certificate of origin, and the proof of import.
- Track the progress of your shipment as it makes its way from China to your country
- Arrange for transportation from the port or shipping company premises to your storage facility
- Prepare a suitable storage space to keep the strip lights in good condition
- Clarify things with your local customs office
10. Handling Import Custom Clearance for LED Strip Lights
Once your shipment lands in your country, you’re now in the customs clearance stage. You must pay import duties, excise duties, value added tax, and any other charges.
The total amount due at customs comes down to the tariff classification LED lights fall under and the CIF value of your order. The CIF value is calculated by adding the cost of goods, packaging costs, freight and insurance costs.
You can hire a licensed and reputable import agent, custom broker, or freight forwarder to handle the customs clearance on your behalf.
These customs professionals can help you with compliance and ensure your shipment is cleared and released in a timely manner.
11. Receiving, Inspecting, and Confirming Your Order
As soon as you receive your LED strip lights, conduct a final inspection to confirm that
- You’ve received all the items you ordered
- The specifications are correct
- The strip lights are working as they should
- The warranty documents are included
If you notice missing, wrong, defective, or damaged items, inform your supplier right away. What flaws and damages are covered comes down to the terms and conditions in your contract.
If everything checks out, your LED strip light importation is a success and you can contact your supplier to confirm receipt of your order.
How To Import LED Strip Light from China - FAQs
1. Where are LED strip lights manufactured?
LED strip lights are manufactured in different countries all over the world. The leading manufacturers of LED flex lights are China, Germany, Mexico, and Italy.
2. Can I import LED flex lights from China?
Yes, you can import LED strip lights from China. All you have to do is check the import rights in your country and comply with the legal requirements for importing LED lights.
3. What are the Benefits of Importing LED Strip Lights from China?
Here are some of the benefits you stand to reap by importing LED strip lights from China, the largest manufacturer and supplier of LED lighting products:
- Wide variety of vendors and products to choose from: China has plenty of top-notch LED strip light manufacturers you can engage with. These factories produce all kinds of flexible ribbon lights and related accessories.
- Cost-effective prices: Thanks to the competition between suppliers and due to economies of scale, you can get high-quality LED tape lights at competitive prices. Furthermore, the Chinese government has reduced tariffs to encourage manufacturing and exports.
- Limitless production capacity: China has large LED strip light manufacturers that can process bulk orders of any scale. The country has the manufacturing facilities and equipment, the raw materials, and the labor force to handle large-scale production.
- Advanced manufacturing technology: LED tape light manufacturers in China have invested in the best manufacturing technologies and equipment. You can get high-quality LED strips including state-of-the-art options such as high-efficiency LED light strips.
- Customization ability: If you’re looking for custom LED strip lighting solutions, China is your best bet. They can handle both Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) and Original Design Manufacturing (ODM) orders.
- Reliable, efficient, and affordable shipping network: As the top exporter in the world, China boasts a well-established international shipping network. Chinese suppliers can ship goods to any part of the world. Most shipping companies also know how to handle and ship lighting fixtures properly.
4. What are the requirements to import LED ribbon lights from China?
Different countries have varying requirements for importing LED lights from China. For example, you must obtain an EORI number when importing to a country in Europe.
The United States does not require an import license to import LED lights from China. You only have to abide by the LED importation regulations and obtain a customs bond.
5. What’s the import duty on LED lights from China?
LED strip lights are subject to import duties. However, the import duty charged varies from country to country. It’s essential to find out the tariff classification for LED lights in your country and what fees are due.
6. What are the possible risks while importing LED strips from China?
Importation is a long process that involves many steps and players. Some things can go wrong during the process. It’s good to be aware of the potential risks so you can take measures to mitigate them. Here are the typical risks:
- If you fail to verify your supplier or opt for the lowest prices, you can get substandard LED strips. Some suppliers can also over-promise and under-deliver.
- Manufacturing and processing delays can happen, especially if you make your order just before a large holiday such as the Chinese Spring Festival.
- Things can also go wrong during transportation. The vessel might not leave on time or the LED strip lights can get lost or damaged in transit. It’s always important to insure your consignment.
- Customs clearance delays are another risk when importing LED strip lights from China. Sometimes customs authorities take too long to process and release imports.
7. How can I safely import LED strip lights from China?
As long as you choose a credible supplier that’s licensed and offers certified LED strip lights, it’s safe to buy strip lighting fixtures from China.
It’s also important to choose a reputable and reliable shipping provider or freight forwarding company to deliver your consignment to your destination.
8. What is the cheapest way to ship LED lights from China?
Sea freight is the cheapest way to transport LED strip lights from China to your country. It’s the most cost-effective way to ship a bulk order. On the downside, it’s also the slowest means of transportation.
Conclusion
Importing LED strip light from China does entail many requirements and processes. However, it doesn’t have to be difficult or stressful.
All you have to do is understand the kind of LED strip lights you’re buying and the requirements to import from China.
You can then find a credible supplier, negotiate the terms, estimate the total costs, and place your order. The supplier will ship your order using your preferred means of shipping.
Once the goods arrive in your country, handle the clearance at customs and inspect your consignment to ensure it’s per your specifications.
