Manufacturing in China from Adelaide follows seven clear steps. This guide covers the process, timelines, an example landed cost in AUD, and what South Australian importers should know about freight and biosecurity.
Last updated: 16 October 2026
In short: Manufacturing in China from Adelaide follows seven steps: define your spec, find and vet factories, get quotes, approve samples, run production, inspect quality and ship. Plan on roughly 3 to 6 months from first brief to goods on your shelf for a new custom product. Adelaide importers should plan freight early, because South Australian services often rely on transhipment or road and rail links from other ports.
China still makes more products at more price points than any other country. For Adelaide and South Australian businesses, that means big margin opportunities, if you run the process properly. Let's get into it.
The process is simple to describe and tricky to execute. Here is the sequence our teams follow for Australian clients.
Include materials, dimensions, colours, packaging, target price and annual volume. Vague briefs create vague quotes.
Check licences, certifications, export history and references. Confirm you are dealing with the factory, not a middleman. See our supplier verification checklist.
Ask every factory to quote on the same spec, MOQ and Incoterm. Otherwise you are comparing apples with oranges.
Never skip this. Test the sample against your spec and Australian standards before paying for production.
A 30% deposit and 70% before shipment is common. Put the agreed spec in a written purchase order.
Book a pre-shipment inspection while goods are packed and before you pay the balance.
Your forwarder and customs broker handle freight, duty, GST and delivery. Read the Adelaide customs broker guide.
Timelines depend on how custom the product is. These are typical ranges, not guarantees.
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Brief, factory search, quotes | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Sampling and revisions | 2 to 6 weeks |
| Mass production | 3 to 8 weeks |
| Inspection | 1 week |
| Sea freight to Australia | 3 to 6 weeks door to door, allowing for transhipment |
Chinese New Year shuts factories for weeks, so book production well ahead of it.
Your unit price depends on materials, complexity, MOQ and finish. Then add tooling, samples, inspection, freight, duty and GST. Our guide to manufacturing costs in China goes deeper.
Here is an illustrative landed cost example for an Adelaide business ordering 1,000 units. These are example numbers only.
| Cost line | Amount (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Factory price (1,000 units at $8.00 FOB) | $8,000 |
| Tooling and samples | $800 |
| Inspection | $400 |
| Sea freight and port charges to Adelaide | $1,600 |
| Duty (example 5% on $8,800 customs value) | $440 |
| GST (10% on $10,840, usually claimable) | $1,084 |
| Landed cost before GST credit | $12,324 |
Duty is calculated on the customs value, and GST on customs value plus freight and duty. Confirm rates for your HS code with your broker.
South Australian cargo may arrive through Adelaide directly or via another capital city port, then move by road or rail. Ask your forwarder for the full door-to-door price and transit time, not just the ocean leg.
DAFF biosecurity applies everywhere. Timber packaging needs ISPM 15 treatment, and some materials need extra declarations. Our Adelaide import guide covers the practical steps. For stock holding, see our warehousing and 3PL service.
China wins on supplier depth, speed and price for most categories. Vietnam is strong for apparel, furniture and timber products, and works well as a second source. Plenty of Adelaide brands now split production between both. If clothing is your category, read about clothing manufacturers for Adelaide brands.
Thinking about the wider picture? Our Melbourne edition and our overview of importing from China to Australia are good next reads. Need someone on the ground to run steps 2 to 6? See our China sourcing agent guide, and for branded ranges read what a white label product is.
Yes. Many factories accept low MOQs for first orders, especially through an agent. Unit prices are higher at low volumes, so plan accordingly.
It helps but is not essential. A local team or inspection company can audit the factory and check production for you.
Use bank transfer to a company account that matches the supplier's registered name, with staged deposits tied to milestones. Avoid paying personal accounts.
Agree this in writing before production. Without an agreement, the factory may keep the moulds you paid for.
It depends on the product. Electrical, children's products, and cosmetics all have specific rules, so check ACCC and relevant standards before ordering.
Epic Sourcing has sourced 20,000+ products for 300+ happy clients, with an average saving of around 77%. Our bilingual teams sit on the ground in China and Vietnam, and we run offices in 5 countries. Give us a bell and book a discovery call and we will map your product, budget and timeline.
