How to Import Furniture from China: Rules, Permits & More (2025 Guide)
- Media ASKT
- Jul 8
- 4 min read
Importing furniture from China is an exciting and strategic decision for many B2B buyers in Europe, especially those managing furniture chain stores, e-commerce platforms, and bulk sourcing for restaurants or design projects. As someone who has been deeply involved in the European furniture retail supply chain for over 20 years, I’ve seen firsthand how the right supplier partnership can lead to sustainable growth. In this article, I’ll walk you through how to import furniture from China in 2025, including compliance, permits, best practices, and how our company, ASKT, helps partners like you achieve seamless imports and long-term success.
Why Import Furniture from China in 2025?
Proven Global Manufacturing Hub
China remains the world's furniture production powerhouse. With regional specialization and industrial scale, factories are able to offer pricing and flexibility unmatched elsewhere.
For example, in Bazhou and Anji—where some of our ASKT R&D centers are based—you can source highly customized dining chairs, fabricated with precision and consistent quality, within a matter of weeks.
Access to Design & Customization
Chinese manufacturers don’t just mass-produce. They innovate. Whether you're importing traditional, minimalist, or contemporary designs, you'll find suppliers capable of producing your brand's exact vision.
At ASKT, our dining chair designs are tailored to European lifestyle aesthetics, blending comfort, durability, and sustainability. Our pattern cutters and craftsmen have decades of experience, allowing us to prototype a custom chair in under 10 days.
Competitive Pricing
Chinese furniture remains cost-effective due to:
Economies of scale
Advanced automation
Local material sourcing
For buyers managing large SKUs, such pricing enables you to maintain margins while offering competitive prices to your customers.
Compliance: What Rules You Need to Know
Importing furniture requires strict adherence to local laws in your destination country. Here's a region-specific overview.
To support our partners, ASKT provides:
OEKO-TEX® certified upholstery fabrics
ISO9001 factory processes
Lab-tested quality reports (color fastness, impact, static load, etc.)
Our compliance documentation meets most EU and UK regulations.
Required Permits & Paperwork
Before you ship, ensure you have the following:
For the Buyer:
EORI Number (UK, EU)
Importer of Record (IOR) status
VAT registration
Fire Safety Declaration (EU/UK if applicable)
For the Products:
Commercial invoice & packing list
Bill of lading (B/L)
HS codes (correct classification for tariffs)
Certificate of Origin (often required for preferential tariffs)
Compliance test reports (if needed)
ASKT ensures every container is equipped with fully compliant paperwork, reducing customs clearance issues.
Freight & Shipping Explained
Depending on your needs, you can choose between FCL (Full Container Load) and LCL (Less-than-Container Load).
Sea Freight (Most Common for Furniture)
Cost-Effective: Ideal for bulk shipments.
Timeframe: 25–45 days depending on port.
Example: A 40HQ container from Tianjin to Rotterdam costs ~€2,800 in 2025.
Air Freight
Expensive and not practical for bulky items like chairs.
Suitable for samples.
Rail Freight (EU Only)
Fast alternative for East-Central Europe (e.g., Poland, Slovenia)
Slightly higher cost than sea, but faster.
Freight Forwarder vs. Self-Arrangement
Unless you have a large logistics team, I strongly recommend using a forwarder. At ASKT, we partner with reliable international forwarders who:
Handle booking
Oversee customs clearance
Provide real-time tracking
Offer insurance solutions
Choose the Right Supplier (What Really Matters)
Beyond Alibaba listings or showroom visits, vetting your supplier requires:
Factory Audits: Check labor conditions (BSCI certified is ideal)
Testing Facilities: Does the supplier invest in real durability tests?
R&D Capability: Can they respond to market trends quickly?
Packaging Innovation: Can they reduce your plastic tax risk?
Why Work with ASKT?
At ASKT, we tick every box:
Quality Assurance: We invested $20,000 in 12 testing machines for chair frame durability, impact tests, and material strength.
R&D Infrastructure: 4 dedicated centers across key furniture hubs (Bazhou, Anji, Huizhou, Zhangzhou).
Eco-Friendly Focus: We help clients reduce plastic tax by switching to honeycomb paper and other zero-plastic solutions.
Customization Speed: Prototypes delivered in as little as 10 days.
And we don’t just promise—we document everything. Our 11 quality inspectors wear video cameras during inspections to ensure transparency and traceability.
Factory Certifications & Worker Safety
Worker welfare is non-negotiable. Our BSCI-certified factories provide:
Protective gear for high-risk roles
Formaldehyde-free glue & eco-certified fabrics
Regular training on equipment use
Ethical sourcing isn't just good for people—it's good for business.
Packaging & Sustainability Requirements
In line with European Green Deal and national plastic taxes:
ASKT developed a Zero Plastic Packaging Initiative:
Replacing plastic wrap with honeycomb paper
Paper-based tape over plastic
Recyclable woven bags
This helped our clients reduce packaging-related costs by 15%+ per year and ensured customs passed environmental audits.
Our eco-friendly approach is a marketing asset for your brand, offering a green story that resonates with today’s consumer.
MOQ & Payment Terms
Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)
Varies by design (typically 50–200 pcs)
For low-MOQ needs, we offer grouped production
Payment Options
At ASKT, we’re flexible. Our financial team supports custom terms based on credit history and volume.
Step-by-Step Import Process
Identify the product & specs (e.g., modern velvet dining chair, matte black legs)
Request quotation & samples
Review compliance documents & test reports
Negotiate MOQ & lead time
Sign proforma invoice (PI)
Production (with quality inspections)
Final payment & shipping
Customs clearance & delivery
ASKT handles everything from sample production to loading inspection. You focus on selling.
Final Thoughts: Build Long-Term Success
Importing furniture from China is no longer just about cost. It’s about product excellence, compliance, and agility in a rapidly evolving market.
At ASKT, we help buyers like you build profitable, scalable sourcing strategies. Whether you’re supplying offline stores or e-commerce channels, I invite you to connect and explore how we can co-create furniture solutions tailored to your market.
If you're ready to level up your dining chair assortment and streamline your sourcing, let’s talk.
Contact: Sunbin Qi
Whatsapp: +86 18912605997
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