China Sourcing Timeline: From Idea to Delivery
TL;DR: First order from China typically takes 3–6 months end-to-end (2–4 weeks supplier search, 2–4 weeks sampling, 3–6 weeks production, 2–6 weeks shipping). Reorders are faster: 4–8 weeks. Custom OEM products take longer due to tooling and prototyping.
Complete Timeline Breakdown
| Stage | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Research & Planning | 1–2 weeks | Product specs, HS codes, budget calculation |
| 2. Supplier Search | 2–4 weeks | Send RFQs, compare quotes, shortlist suppliers |
| 3. Sampling | 2–6 weeks | 1–3 rounds of samples (2 weeks each) |
| 4. Contract & Payment | 1–2 weeks | Finalize terms, sign contract, pay deposit |
| 5. Production | 3–6 weeks | Depends on quantity, complexity, and factory capacity |
| 6. QC Inspection | 2–5 days | Pre-shipment inspection at factory |
| 7. Sea Freight | 3–6 weeks | Port to port + customs clearance |
| 7b. Air Freight (alt) | 5–10 days | 3–5x more expensive than sea freight |
Timeline by Product Type
| Product Type | First Order | Reorder |
|---|---|---|
| Off-the-shelf (logo only) | 6–10 weeks | 4–6 weeks |
| Modified existing product | 8–14 weeks | 4–8 weeks |
| Custom OEM (existing tooling) | 10–16 weeks | 6–10 weeks |
| Custom OEM (new tooling) | 16–24 weeks | 6–10 weeks |
How to Speed Things Up
- Use a sourcing agent: An agent can compress supplier search from 4 weeks to 1 week using their existing factory network.
- Pay for express sampling: Offer to pay rush fees for faster sample production.
- Air freight small orders: For orders under 100kg, air freight adds only 5–10 days vs 4–6 weeks for sea freight.
- Avoid Chinese New Year: Factories close for 2–4 weeks in January/February. Plan orders around this shutdown.
- Pre-approve production details: Have packaging specs, labeling, and certification requirements ready before production starts.
Chinese New Year Impact
Chinese New Year (CNY) is the single biggest disruption to China sourcing timelines. Factories close for 2–4 weeks, and it takes another 2–3 weeks for full production capacity to resume as workers return from their hometowns. Plan to place orders at least 6–8 weeks before CNY, or accept that orders placed in December–January will be delayed by 4–6 weeks.
Need Help Sourcing from China?
Our Shenzhen team can help you navigate the sourcing process — from factory selection to quality control and shipping.
Send Inquiry