How to Import Candy from China: Step-by-Step Guide for Importers

The direct answer: importing candy from China works when the buyer locks the market, product direction, pack route, and quantity before asking for price — then moves through samples, MOQ confirmation, PI and payment terms, documentation, and shipping as one controlled sequence. Most first-time importers fail not because China factories are unreliable, but because they start with price before the commercial basis is stable.

This guide is written for importers, distributors, wholesalers, and private-label teams preparing their first candy container from China. It walks the full route in eight steps, with the exact questions to answer at each stage and the documents you will need before the goods leave the port.

Key numbers at a glance

• Sugar confectionery is classified under HS 1704 and chocolate-based candy under HS 1806.
• Typical candy MOQs from Chinese factories run 500–5,000 kg or 1,000–10,000 units depending on product complexity.
• The common first-order payment structure is a 30% deposit with the balance before shipment.
• Ocean transit from China to North America typically takes 25–40 days, and 30–45 days to Europe.

Sources reviewed: FDA — Importing Food Products, US CBP — Basic Import Guidance, Trade.gov — China Import Requirements.

Step 1: Lock your market, channel, and product direction

Before any supplier conversation, define the destination country, sales channel, and the candy formats you actually want. A supermarket jar program, a wholesale pouch line, a display-box counter line, and a private-label launch all start from the same candy type but lead to different packaging, MOQ, and compliance assumptions.

Send these five inputs first — the first-brief guide explains exactly why this prevents quote rewrites:

• destination market and target channel
• candy category and approximate size/flavor direction
• preferred pack format
• trial quantity and repeat-order target
• timing and document questions

Step 2: Choose the supplier route that matches your project

Not every China candy factory fits every buyer. Compare suppliers on product fit, ingredient route, pack capability, MOQ basis, sampling, artwork inputs, and documentation — not on unit price alone. The candy supplier comparison guide shows the decision table, and the private label checklist covers the brand-owner route.

If you are still working from a broad catalog, narrow it first: pick one buying case, then shortlist three or fewer SKUs that share one pack route and carton logic. The container-ready shortlist guide walks that narrowing step.

Step 3: Send one quote-ready RFQ

A supplier cannot quote comparable numbers if the RFQ only says "send your best price." Structure the RFQ with product scope, packaging route, quantity tiers, destination market, and timeline on the same table — the candy RFQ guide gives the five fields that change a candy quote fastest.

Remember that the first price reply is often a placeholder. If the number changes or stalls after MOQ, packaging, or destination details arrive, that is normal — why quotes change or stall explains which input was probably still loose.

Step 4: Understand FOB pricing and landed cost

FOB is the price of the goods loaded at the Chinese port. The buyer then pays ocean freight, insurance, and destination charges. The full landed cost also includes duties, customs brokerage, inland transport, and any tariffs that changed after the quote. Compare offers only after locking the same product, pack format, carton quantity, MOQ, and shipping assumptions — the FOB and freight comparison guide shows how to keep the comparison honest.

Step 5: Confirm MOQ, packaging, and samples

Factory MOQs typically run 500–5,000 kg or 1,000–10,000 units depending on complexity. MOQ is calculated by SKU, pack format, or artwork version — ask which basis applies before comparing numbers. Packaging choices (pouch, jar, display box, flow wrap) change MOQ, carton logic, and freight efficiency, so lock the pack route before sampling. Request 2–5 sample units and use them to check taste, fill weight, seal quality, label space, and shelf presentation — not only flavor. See the MOQ and lead time page for the timing logic.

Step 6: Approve the PI and payment terms

The proforma invoice should confirm the commercial agreement already reached: SKU list, pack route, quantity, unit price, Incoterm, and document scope. A 30% deposit plus balance before shipment is the common structure; confirm the balance trigger, bank details, and any sample or tooling charges before the first transfer. The payment and PI guide includes the full pre-deposit checklist.

Step 7: Prepare the document set

Before the goods ship, collect and review the document set so destination customs does not stall:

Step 8: Shipping, customs, and delivery

Book ocean freight after production confirmation — FCL (full container load) for larger volumes, LCL (less than container load) for smaller first tests. Arrange a pre-shipment inspection if your volume justifies it, track the shipment by bill of lading, then file the import entry, pay duties, and clear customs at the destination port before inland transport to your warehouse. A customs broker or freight forwarder familiar with food cargo is worth the fee on the first order.

Start your import with one clear brief

If you are planning a candy import from China, send KidStar your target market, product direction, pack route, quantity range, and timing. The team can respond with a focused product, sample, quotation, and document path — instead of a generic catalog reply.

Send your sourcing brief