China has remained the world’s top choice for manufacturing different products. If you’re a US company that’s planning to source ferro rod manufacturers from China, this article lists some important considerations to keep in mind. You’ll also read about the best Chinese manufacturers of ferro rods.
In most cases, importing goods from China involves the following steps:
- Choosing the product to import—in this case, a ferro rod ferro rod bulk
- Searching for the right Chinese manufacturer or supplier ferro rod manufacturers
- Placing your order ferro rod wholesale
- Arranging the shipping of your order ferro rod suppliers
- Getting customs clearance on your ferro rod shipment ferro rod bulk
- Processing it for sale (i.e., taking photos and setting the price) ferro rod manufacturer
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Why Import Ferro Rods and Other Fire Starters from China?
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Importing goods from China is popular for many reasons. Here are some of the good reasons:
- Manufacturing ferro rods in China will clearly cost you less money. Therefore, Chinese manufacturers can help you achieve high-profit margins. ferro rod wholesale
- The popular myth is that anything coming from China is of low quality. That’s not totally true. If you do thorough research, you’ll discover that there are many Chinese manufacturing companies that produce higher-quality products than manufacturers in other Asian countries, such as India and Vietnam. ferro rod suppliers
- Most companies in China can manufacture and ship products in large quantities. They even offer door-to-door delivery services to make the importation process less stressful on your part.
Read on to learn more about how to import ferro rods from China to the USA. ferro rod suppliers
Importing Ferro Rod from China to The USA: Everything You Need to Know
Like with any type of import, there are many things you need to be aware of to avoid expensive fines and shipping delays. Let’s go through each one of them in detail.
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Finding the Right Manufacturers
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Most of us are well aware that China has a lot of low-cost manufacturers. The question is, how do you find the right one? There are several sources of potential Chinese fire starter manufacturers, such as:
- B2B wholesale e-commerce marketplaces (e.g., Alibaba)
- International manufacturing trade shows
- Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
- Business contacts
- Networking groups
Once you’ve narrowed down your list of possible ferro rod wholesale manufacturers, make sure to do the following things:
- Check their website and social media accounts (if any).
- Go through their online ratings and reviews.
- Contact each manufacturer through email (a common way of communicating) or a phone call. Make sure you’ve already prepared your questions before the call.
- Ask them for ferro rod samples, certificates, documents, and references.
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Importing and Shipping Requirements
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Nowadays, importing goods is much easier. There are third-party service providers that take care of the complicated steps, so all buyers need to do is pay the related fees. Here are three common third-party service providers:
- Look for import/export cooperatives in your state. They can handle customs clearance and tax issues, among other things, when your goods arrive at the port.
- Find a trusted freight forwarder in China. A freight forwarder will take care of every stage of your shipment, including the delivery of your goods directly to your shipping address.
- But if you want the most convenient way, make sure your supplier provides a door-to-door delivery service.
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Shipping Methods
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One of the best ways to reduce your import cost from China to the US is by choosing the right transportation method. When you’re talking to a potential ferro rod supplier, ask if they can recommend a delivery method for you.
These are the three main shipping methods from China to the USA:
- Sea freight: This is the cheapest option for transporting items that weigh more than 100 kilograms (approximately 220 pounds). The sea freight rate usually depends on the port of entry in the USA and the port of exit in China. The downside of sea freight is that it takes longer for your order to arrive, around 30 to 40 days. It’s also not a practical option if the goods you ordered are light and small.
- Express shipping: Express shipping (e.g., DHL, FedEx, and UPS) is an economical way to ship your packages if they’re small and light. With this method, you’ll receive your order in around 10 days. Just be warned—it’s expensive.
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- Air freight: This is a good compromise between sea freight and express shipping. It’s cheaper than express shipping (by around 10 to 20 percent) and faster than sea freight. In general, it has a lead time of 7 to 15 days. The only catch is that you’ll most likely need to hire a customs agent.
Reminder: Don’t change your shipping address (if possible), so the initial delivery date won’t be affected.
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Import Costs
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When you import goods from China (or other countries), you need to pay customs duties, taxes, and other fees for processing and maintenance. Almost all imported products—whether it’s a ferro rod or another type of fire starter—are subject to customs duties or taxes if they cost $800 or more.
If you want to check the U.S. tariff rates, you can go to the United States International Trade Commission website. It’s also important to know the International Harmonized System (HTS) category of the ferro rods you ordered to calculate the import duty from China to the USA.
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Payment Methods
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If it’s your first time ordering from a supplier, Alipay Escrow and PayPal are the safest ways to pay. These payment methods make refunds possible, but the fees can be more expensive. Other ways to pay a Chinese manufacturer or supplier are international wire transfers (e.g., bank-to-bank money transfers and Western Union).
Whichever payment method you and your supplier end up choosing, it’s important to keep these things in mind:
- Don’t send your payment to personal accounts. When you sign in and register for your account, make sure you already have the bank account details of your supplier’s company.
- Make sure you have a clear legal agreement on payment terms before paying your supplier.
When you’re ready, it’s time to start looking for suppliers. I have also listed a few excellent suppliers for you to consider.
5 Best Ferro Rod Bulk Manufacturers in China
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Guangzhou Beize Instrument Technology Co.
Source: Alibaba
Business Introduction: Established in 2017, Beize is a factory in Guangzhou City. The majority of their customers were impressed with their superb customer service and quality products. They manufacture a variety of outdoor survival products, including:
- Magnesium flint stone fire starter outdoor survival kit ferro rod suppliers
- Ferro rod with a striker ferro rod bulk
- Paracord watch bracelet ferro rod manufacturers
- Survival kit ferro rod wholesale
- Hammock for camping ferro rod suppliers
- And much more. ferro rod bulk
Best Product: Beize’s “Ferro Rod and Striker with Built-in Compass Fire Starter Kit” can last up to 15,000 strikes. With a total size of around 3.82 inches (97 millimeters), it’s small enough to bring with you almost anywhere, whether you’re camping or hiking. It comes with a stainless-steel striker that has six functions:
- Bottle opener
- Hex wrench
- Map scale
- Ruler
- Saw blade
- Straight-edge striker
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Baiyuheng Outdoor
Source: Baiyuheng Outdoor
Business Introduction: Baiyuheng Outdoor started out fifteen years ago selling only paracord. Since then, this Guangdong-based company has extended their product line to include fire starter kits, ferro rods, paracord accessories (e.g., paracord bracelets, paracord keychains, paracord lanyards, and paracord holders), and other camping and hiking gear. They currently serve as a supplier to over 300 brands.
Baiyuheng makes every step of importation stress-free for their customers. The company provides door-to-door delivery service from China to any state in the USA. Free samples are available before you place your bulk order. They also provide free photos of the product after you place your order, so you can sell it as soon as it arrives.
Best Product: Baiyuheng Outdoor’s ferro rod survival kit includes a fire starter rod with a lanyard and a multi-function striker. You can use it for up to 15,000 strikes. If you ever consider this company, they can send you samples for testing before you place your order.
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Nantong Cheer Industry Co., Ltd.
Source: Alibaba
Business Introduction: Nantong Cheer Industry is located in Nantong, southeast of Jiangsu Province. The company boasts over two decades of experience in the manufacturing industry. Their long list of products includes fitness equipment and camping products (e.g., camping beds, camping furniture, and outdoor lighting).
Best Product: The company’s fire starter can be an essential component of any survival kit. Each pack includes a fire starter rod with a multi-function tool, a sheath for the fire starter rod, and a five-section, retractable fire starter tube (which supplies concentrated oxygen to the fire to make it burn more intensely).
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Sichuan Yansen Furnace Industry Co., Ltd.
Source: Alibaba
Business Introduction: The start of Sichuan Yansen Furnace Industry Co., Ltd. dates back to 2011. The company has a factory that’s over 10,000 square meters, complete with advanced production equipment. Their main product is stoved, but they also manufacture all kinds of outdoor products (e.g., flint fire starter items, tents, and sleeping bags).
Best Product: Sichuan’s “Survival Outdoor Equipment Fire Starter” is available in two sizes: long ferro rod (4.53 inches total length, 0.32 inches thick) and short ferro rod (3.35 inches total length, 1.57 inches thick). Each pack consists of a matte black fire starter rod and striker that are strung together by a thick, black cord.
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Yiwu Trieagle Optical Electronic Co., Ltd.
Source: Alibaba
Business Introduction: Based in Zhejiang, China, Yiwu Trieagle Optical Electronic Co., Ltd. has been in the industry since 1995. The company’s main products include binoculars, lenses, optical glasses, and camping survival gear (e.g., camping tools, sleeping bags, survival kits, and tents).
Best Product: Yiwu’s “Emergency Weatherproof Flint Rod Steel Fire Starter with Whistle Steel Multitool Striker” consists of a 5.12-inch fire starter rod, a multi-function striker, and an emergency whistle. It generates sparks up to 5,500 degrees Fahrenheit (3,000 degrees Celsius) and can be used up to 20,000 times to start a fire.
Need more tips on how to find and choose manufacturers that sell high-quality ferro rods with strikers? Read more about here.
Important Things to Keep in Mind When Importing Ferro Rods from China
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Here are a few questions you might want to ask yourself:
- Do I need to hire a customs broker who could handle my shipment volumes and customs procedures? ferro rod bulk
- Should I test the samples before bulk production? ferro rod manufacturers
- What should I do to make my ferro rod survival kit stand out from my competitors? ferro rod wholesale
- Do I need to add extra items, such as a user manual, to my product? ferro rod suppliers
- Should I get my own packaging?
Conclusion
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Importing flint fire starter kits from China to the USA isn’t as simple as it sounds. If you want to avoid delays and costly fines, get a licensed customs broker to help you. Choosing the right Chinese manufacturer (just like Baiyuheng Outdoor and other manufacturers I mentioned in this article) can also make a difference.
