White import from China: what it is and how much it costs
White import is official importation of goods: a foreign trade contract, invoice, packing list, and customs declaration are issued for the shipment, and duty and VAT are paid based on the product code. Unlike cargo, the goods legally belong to you, input VAT can be claimed, and the shipment's origin can be verified to a retail chain, a marketplace, or in a tender.
How white import differs from cargo
The difference has long stopped being just about price. Below is what changes for the business, not for the carrier.
| What we're comparing | Cargo | White import |
|---|---|---|
| Documents for the goods | no: the cargo moves as one consolidated shipment without individual clearance | contract, invoice, packing list, declaration |
| Who the goods are registered to | formally not on you | on your legal entity |
| Input VAT | nothing to offset | can be claimed |
| Sales to retail chains and tenders | no way to confirm origin | full chain of documents |
| Risk at the border | the whole shipment can be seized together with other people's cargo | your declaration, your cargo |
| What you pay for | one rate per kilogram | logistics + duty + VAT + broker |
| Tracking | limited | by documents at every stage |
The large majority of our shipments to Ukraine and Astana go through white import. This isn't a case of "we're good, cargo is bad" — it's a response to where the market is heading: controls are tightening, the price gap is shrinking, and businesses that want to grow run into the inability to verify their goods.
What makes up the cost
White import has four components, and mixing them up isn't an option — otherwise the comparison with cargo becomes unfair in both directions.
| Component | What it depends on | Who calculates it |
|---|---|---|
| Logistics | weight, volume, density, route, delivery method | we |
| Duty | product classification code, customs value | your broker |
| VAT | calculated from the sum of "goods + delivery + duty" | your broker |
| Broker services | shipment complexity, number of line items | your broker |
We quote the logistics rate for your shipment rather than publish a price list: it depends on the category, the density and the departure point, and it changed more than ten times during 2026. Truck to Kazakhstan — 10–15 days in transit, to Uzbekistan — 15–20 days on the fast route. Air to Europe — 350 yuan per kilogram for the first weight bracket and 120 for each subsequent one, door delivery.
We deliberately don't quote a figure for duty and VAT. The duty rate depends on the product's classification code, and determining it is the broker's job and responsibility. For most consumer categories, duty falls in a range of zero to ten percent of the customs value; VAT for Ukraine is 20% of the sum of "goods value + delivery + duty". Any "exact" figure before the code is determined is guesswork that the client ends up paying for.
Who does what
There are three parties in a white-import shipment, and it's worth understanding the boundaries between them before the first shipment.
A different model is common on the market: the contractor imports the goods under its own legal entity, and the client "doesn't become a party to foreign trade" and simply receives boxes. It's simpler, but the goods aren't legally yours, there's no VAT to claim, and if the contractor runs into trouble, your cargo ends up inside someone else's system. We work so that the shipment stays yours.
Which documents are issued
- Foreign trade contract with the supplier — the basis of the deal;
- Invoice — value and contents of the shipment;
- Packing list — what's in which package, weight, and dimensions;
- Export declaration from the Chinese side;
- Transport documents — waybills along the route;
- Customs declaration — filed by your broker on arrival;
- Certificates and permits — for the specific product.
A detailed breakdown of each document — who prepares it, what to check, where mistakes happen most often — is on the page documents for import.
When white import is a must
- you work with VAT and want to claim input tax;
- you sell through retail chains, official retail, or take part in tenders;
- you trade on marketplaces where the platform checks the legality of the import;
- you import goods that require certification;
- you put the goods into production and carry them in your cost accounting;
- you import under your own trademark.
When cargo is honestly enough
We don't sell white import to those who don't need it — that quickly ends in disappointment and complaints. Cargo stays in our lineup and is called what it is: if the numbers show it's more cost-effective for you to ship that way, that's how we ship it.
Cargo remains a reasonable choice if the goods go into circulation without a paper trail, the shipment is small and one-off, certification isn't required, and you don't need a VAT deduction. The price difference is real: official import adds duty, VAT, and the broker's fee to the cost.
The problem starts the moment you grow: the first retail chain, the first tender, or the first inspection demands documents you don't have. So the decision should be based not on the current shipment, but on where you plan to be in a year.
How to start
- Send us the shipment parameters: what the product is, weight, dimensions, city of departure and destination.
- We calculate the logistics and tell you which parameter the rate is based on — weight or volume.
- Your broker determines the product code and quotes the duty, VAT, and their fee.
- You add up both parts and compare it with what you're paying now.
- It makes sense to run the first shipment small — to go through the whole process and see real numbers instead of estimates.
We accept shipments from 50 kilograms, though it's more cost-effective to consolidate from 150. If you're currently shipping cargo and considering a switch, we've covered it separately: how to switch from cargo to white import.
Frequently asked questions
What is white import from China in simple terms?
It's importing goods with full documentation: a supplier contract, invoice, packing list, and customs declaration under your legal entity, plus paid duty and VAT. The goods legally become yours — you can put them on your balance sheet, sell them to a legal entity, and confirm their origin.
How much more expensive is white import than cargo?
The exact difference is calculated for a specific shipment, because it's made up of four parts: logistics, duty, VAT, and the broker's fee. Duty depends on the product code, VAT is calculated from the sum of "goods + delivery + duty".
Part of the difference comes back through the VAT deduction if you work with VAT — so it's worth comparing not the rate per kilogram, but the final landed cost of the goods.
Who files the customs declaration?
By default, your customs broker. We handle the logistics and prepare the full document package for import. You remain the importer and legal owner of the goods. No broker? We'll recommend vetted ones or arrange clearance as a separate service.
Can I import goods officially if I don't have my own broker?
Yes. We'll recommend vetted ones — you need your own broker specifically because they file the declaration on your behalf and are responsible for classifying the goods. If you'd rather not set up your own broker, we can arrange clearance as a separate service; the declaration still goes under your legal entity.
What's the minimum shipment for white import?
With us, it's 50 kilograms. It's more cost-effective to consolidate from 150 kg: on shipments of around 50 kg, the per-kilogram rate is higher. There's no technical minimum for official clearance, but on a small shipment, the broker's fixed costs eat into the savings.
Do I need customs clearance for goods from China as a sole trader?
Yes, if the goods are for commercial use. The legal form doesn't exempt you from customs clearance: the declaration is filed, and duty and VAT are paid based on the product code.
Duty-free import thresholds apply to parcels sent by individuals and don't apply to commercial shipments. We work with shipments from 50 kilograms — that's already a commercial import.
Send us the shipment parameters — we'll calculate the logistics and tell you exactly what to check with your broker so you see the full cost before shipping.