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Importing goods is one of the most important economic activities of any country. In fact, many countries have to import goods from other countries due to the lack of domestic production of some goods, the increase in competition and the quality of domestic production, or the need for superior technology and diversity in the market. In the continuation of this article, we will examine the steps of importing goods, the conditions and costs of importing goods, the regulations of importing goods and the most important principles; such as importing from China and importing from Dubai and important points that you should keep in mind. If you also intend to import goods temporarily or permanently; You are recommended to read this article.
Where to start importing goods?
You may be planning to enter the import business or buy and import goods for a few times (even once). In both cases, it will be useful for you to get familiar with the import process and how to start importing goods, which is summarized in the following three steps.
Preparation of commercial information in Iran.
Starting to import goods can include different steps such as consultation with commercial teams, familiarization with import laws, etc.; But the three steps of learning the steps of importing goods, researching, and preparing commercial information are the most important steps to start importing goods, which we will explain below.
Learning the steps of importing goods
, knowledge of import and knowing the necessary steps in this path (we will explain in detail below) and familiarizing with import terms, is the first and most important step to start importing goods. At this stage, it is very important to know about the prohibition of imported goods, to know about the order of import procedures, and if you neglect these points, you may suffer irreparable financial losses.
Research and investigation
The next step is research and investigation about the market and customer needs. You should check the various markets and inspect the products you want to import. Attending business boards, using internet search, attending international exhibitions and referring to chambers of commerce, all are suitable for finding a good source for importing goods.
Preparation of commercial information
to import goods to the country, you must collect the necessary commercial information. This information includes getting to know the rules of importing goods, permits and documents required for import, customs value, payment methods, etc.
Can we import goods by ourselves?
A natural or legal person can import goods directly. However, importing goods into the country requires paying attention to customs and tax regulations and laws, which are different in each country.
In many countries, a person who wants to import goods must use a shipping company or a customs broker to get the goods through the border of entry. In this case, the shipping company or customs broker is responsible for customs, tax and insurance related to the goods, and the natural or legal person is responsible for paying the fees related to the services provided by the shipping company or customs broker. In any case, it is better before starting to import the goods, with the relevant regulations and laws; Be familiar with the customs, tax, insurance and other internal regulations that apply in the country. The experts of sustainable business solutions are with you in this field.
What are the steps involved in importing goods?
There are different opinions regarding the order and priority of each step of importing goods. Knowing about the list of permitted and profitable goods for import, choosing the country of origin, inspection to ensure the authenticity of the goods, money transfer, choosing the shipping method (air-sea-land) etc. are among the steps of importing goods to the country. Panel Tejarat Company (Mako Free Zone) with a brilliant history in importing goods to the country, recognizing the prioritization of steps, suggests the following:
- Sourcing
- Bargaining and negotiation with the seller
- Receive pre-invoice (proforma)
- Quantitative and qualitative inspection of goods
- Order
- Payment and currency transfer
- Transportation
- Issuance of goods bill of lading
- Obtaining a license from the shipping company
- Declaring goods to customs
- Performing customs procedures
- Loading and delivery of goods
If we want to categorize all the mentioned steps into two general steps, the first step is choosing and buying goods, which includes the following:
Sourcing Sourcing
is the first step for importing goods, sourcing or sourcing. Sourcing includes determining the best supplier as well as inspection to ensure the authenticity and authenticity of the product. Sourcing requires a lot of knowledge and experience; If the importer does not pay attention to these things, he may face financial problems or import low-quality and fake goods! Therefore, it is better to get help from a specialized and experienced team for sourcing. Panel Tejarat Company will be with its customers in this regard.
Bargaining and negotiating with the seller
is the second step in the import of goods after sourcing, negotiating with the seller and getting information about the goods and financial and insurance obligations. Bargaining and getting discounts for purchases requires experience and expertise so that in addition to ensuring the quality of the purchased product, you can also increase your profit margin. Finally, after bargaining, you should order the product and if necessary, take a sample of the product from the seller.
Receipt of proforma invoice from the seller
after negotiation, the next step is to receive the proforma invoice from the seller. Proforma is a document in which the following items are mentioned:
the number and date of issuance of the proforma invoice and its validity date :
the full name and address of the seller, the full
name and address of the buyer, the full
description of the product, with qualitative, quantitative, quantity, quantity, dimensions, net and gross weight.
The customs tariff number of the total amount
with the mention of the type of currency according to the unit price, packaging cost and shipping cost, the description of the division of
duties and responsibilities between the buyer and the seller based on the rules of Incoterms,
the origin and final destination of the goods, the description of the ports or the place of loading and unloading of
the means of transportation of the goods
. Payment of the goods (advance payment, etc.)
Country of manufacture of the goods COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
Important point:
check the proforma invoice and at what price and under what conditions the proforma invoice was received and study the Incoterms (product quantity, product price and product delivery conditions) and...) is very important.
Quantitative and qualitative inspection of goods
in international trade, one of the main concerns of the buyer of goods is that the seller sends the desired product with the quality and specifications included in the contract.
In order to prevent any discrepancy, some commercial companies are required to check the quality of the product according to the documents included in the contract during a stage called product inspection. This process includes qualitative and quantitative product inspection, sampling and testing. And finally, if the results of the inspections match the product specifications in the contract, a product inspection certificate is issued as a document confirming the quality of the desired product.
In order to estimate the costs and check the quantity of the goods, you should pay attention to the price of the goods, transportation costs, clearance costs, side costs such as licensing costs.
After placing the order,
after checking the proforma, it is time to check the goods. At this stage of importing goods, you need a commercial card. Checking the goods is done by uploading the pre-invoice in Iran's Comprehensive Trade System (NTSW). Checking the goods as a whole means: checking whether your imported goods are free, which includes checking whether the goods are domestically produced, whether the goods are not prohibited, and checking the priority of the goods (to find out about the first or second hall or the allocation of imported currency, etc.). Finally, after uploading the proforma, you will be issued an order registration and import license. It should be noted that for some goods, it is necessary to obtain a product ID or permits such as health or IRC or...
Payment and currency transfer
The payment stage includes having a foreign currency account, presenting the desired bank account when placing an order, requesting currency allocation from the central bank, confirming currency allocation by the central bank, paying the fee to the agent bank and transferring the amount. All these steps require a business card. According to the new rules, 5% of the amount of the invoice must be blocked in the bank before requesting currency allocation, and 35% of the invoice amount is also blocked before providing currency.
Transportation
at this stage is how the goods are transported by the buyer and with the approval of the seller. The method of loading the goods is already specified in the contract between the buyer and the seller. The types of cargo loading are EXW (factory door delivery), FOB (shipment delivery), CFR (customs delivery).
Choosing the shipping method
At this stage, you need an international shipping company. According to the obligations mentioned between the buyer and the seller in Incoterms and Proforma, the cost and method of transportation varies. If the seller's company accepts the shipment of the goods, for example, they can deliver the goods in Bandar Abbas, Bushehr, etc. In this case, you no longer need a shipping company. Otherwise, the buyer will sign a contract with a shipping company (air, sea or land) and after inquiry, the goods will be shipped.
The selection of the shipping method is based on international shipping methods as follows:
air transportation, delivery of goods by air transportation companies, sea
transportation, delivery of goods by sea transportation companies,
land transportation, delivery of goods by transportation companies. And ground transportation,
of course, there is another method of transporting goods under the title of combined transportation; Combined transportation includes the transfer of goods from the country of origin to the country of destination with several different transportation methods. For example, in a part of the route where there is a blue border; Transportation is carried out by sea and the other part of the route, the goods are transported by land.
Issuing the bill of lading
After choosing the shipping method, it is time to issue the bill of lading. As we explained, the responsibility of transporting the goods according to the mentioned provisions (Incoterms) is with the seller or the buyer. The seller delivers the goods to the selected shipping company and receives a bill of lading (BL - Bill of lading) from the shipping company. The type of bill of lading is different according to the chosen shipping method of air, sea and land.
The second step of importing goods is clearance. This stage generally includes the following.
Obtaining a license
To obtain a license, the buyer or the buyer's legal representative (the person whose name is included in the bill of lading) must go to the shipping company with three original copies of the bill of lading or a copy of the released copy. In addition to obtaining the license, he must also receive the warehouse bill and receipt. At this stage, an electronic receipt is also given to the importer, where all the information can be viewed online.
An electronic receipt is actually a document that is issued by shipping companies when delivering cargo, which contains information about the cargo such as the type and weight of the cargo, origin and destination, method of transportation, etc.
Declaration to the customs
after buying and importing the goods, the person is obliged to declare the goods to the customs. You must declare which country you bought the goods from and at what price. Reporting to the customs includes: registration of clearance details in the EPL system, evaluation of the goods if needed, obtaining necessary permits (standards, etc.), payment of customs fees and duties, receipt of electronic license, loading of goods and departure of goods to the warehouse. The mentioned items are all a part of the customs clearance process, and by presenting these items and going through the legal steps, a person can take his goods out of customs.
The amount of capital required for importing goods depends on the type of goods, the amount and volume of imports, transportation costs, insurance, taxes and other costs related to imports; Therefore, this amount cannot be determined in general and must be determined based on the conditions of each importer and the product in question. In any case, importing goods requires significant capital due to costs such as customs fees, taxes, and transportation; Therefore, it is better to first design a comprehensive business plan and calculate the costs and capital required to import goods. Also, you can consult with consultants and business experts to find the best possible solutions for importing goods.
What are the popular sources of imports to Iran?
Choosing the source of import to Iran depends on various factors such as the type of goods, market demand, trade relations, international sanctions, price, quality of goods, etc.
The low price of some goods in some countries has made some sources popular for import, and the difficult conditions of some countries have made them not chosen by merchants.
Some of the popular sources of imports to Iran are:
Imports from China
due to its large economy and high production capacity, China is considered one of the most important sources of imports to Iran. Many companies and production groups prefer to meet their needs by importing due to the high cost of basic items. The most important goods imported from China include consumer goods, industrial devices and parts. In recent years, due to the restriction of Iran's relations with other countries, business activities between Iran and China have increased.
It is possible to buy and import any of the mentioned goods in small or bulk quantities. If you find a good source, it is suggested to import in a large number so that the profit will increase.
Popular goods to import from China:
1. Consumer goods
2. Industrial equipment and parts
3. Telecommunication equipment
4. Air pumps
5. Textiles and fabrics
6. Automobile and motorcycle spare parts
Imports from Turkey
Iran and Turkey have good trade relations, and Turkey is one of the main obstacles for imports to Iran. In recent years, imports from Turkey to Iran have increased due to the presence of sanctions and the reduction of Iran's trade relations with other European countries, as well as the price of the dollar. Because due to the small distance, both the transportation costs should be reduced and sometimes the customs exemptions applied between the two countries make the import more economical. There is no legal procedure. Currently, auto parts and agricultural machinery are imported goods from Turkey.
Importing from Dubai
Dubai is Iran's neighbor, and for reasons such as having one of the largest ports in the world, being close to Iran, and the low cost of transportation and clearance services, it is one of the most popular imports to Iran. Currently, it is not possible to buy from many countries due to sanctions by Iranians; Meanwhile, Dubai plays an intermediary role and facilitates the process of buying and importing goods.
It should be noted that the list of imported sources to Iran is very extensive and the choice of source for importing goods depends on the type of goods and other conditions.
Examining different types of import of goods
Import of goods can be done in two ways: definite import of goods and temporary import of goods. In definite import of goods, for example, the import of electronic parts for the production of electronic products such as televisions, mobile phones and laptops, etc., is done by paying the entry fee, the costs of performing customs services, and performing all customs duties. But in the temporary entry of goods, the goods are used for a certain period of time for specific purposes such as use in a specific project, exhibition, construction, etc. Temporary import of goods is usually for a limited period of time, and at the end of this period, the goods must be exported from the country.
Introduction of 4 profitable imported goods.
Profitable imported goods to Iran are different depending on the market conditions and different needs of the country. However, some of the profitable goods imported to Iran include the following:
Import of electronic parts to Iran
due to the need of many industries for electronic parts, the import of these goods to Iran is considered as one of the profitable goods. The electronic parts import market is very hot and there is a lot of competition in it. There are also rules for importing these products that are very important to know. Electronic and robotic devices and equipment, including electronic components, smart boards, types of simple motors and gearboxes, capacitors and electronic kits are permitted goods.
Importing auto spare parts
due to the high price of cars and high demand, importing auto spare parts to Iran has always been one of the most profitable goods. Currently, more than 20 Chinese automobile companies are cooperating with Iran in the field of auto spare parts trade, manufacturing and investment cooperation, and factory establishment.
Import of mobile phone accessories
The wide variety of mobile phone accessories has made it one of the most profitable imported goods, and Iranian businessmen procure a large amount of glass, various frames and cases, chargers, handsfree, etc. in different models and brands from China. Also, products such as brand smartphones and tablets are among the profitable goods imported to Iran.
The import of basic goods
to reduce the cost of buying basic goods is one of the necessary arrangements for the import of basic goods, which has expanded a lot in recent years, and the government helps importers by allocating currency to these types of goods. These types of goods include oilseeds, rice, seeds and agricultural fertilizers and other imported foods, which are considered to be profitable goods imported to Iran.
In general, according to the market conditions and different needs of the country, the profitable goods imported to Iran are different and may change over time.