How to Import Camphor Balls from China — Complete Buyer Checklist for 2026

Published October 2026 · By Jiutang Team · 8 min read

Importing chemical household products from China doesn't have to be complicated, but it does require a systematic approach. Every year we speak to dozens of first-time buyers — distributors, private-label owners, and retail procurement teams — who arrive knowing their product category well but lacking hands-on experience importing from a Chinese factory. This checklist is designed to fill that gap. Follow it in order, and you'll avoid the most common mistakes: picking the wrong ingredient, signing a quote with a trading company instead of a factory, or missing a document that stops your shipment at customs.

1. Define Your Product Specifications — Before You Contact Any Supplier

Before writing to a single factory, lock down your product brief. The more specific you are, the faster and more accurate your quotes will be. Answer these five questions in writing:

1. Ingredient. Synthetic camphor balls (p-DCB), naphthalene mothballs, or mildew prevention tablets? (If you're unsure, read our comparison article first.)
2. Size. Standard 30g, 150g, 235g, 500g per bag, or a custom size? We can produce any bag weight within reason, but custom tooling has a setup fee.
3. Packaging. Printed plastic bags with your brand, plain white bags, or paper/sachet packaging? Carton dimensions and master carton quantities?
4. Scent and color. Pure white, colored, scented (e.g., lavender, lemon), or unscented?
5. MOQ expectation. Are you testing a market with a small order (possible if flexible), or placing a standard 20ft / 40ft container?

Tip: If you're a first-time buyer, start with standard stock specifications. Once you've confirmed market demand, move into custom packaging. This reduces tooling fees and lead-time risk.

2. Verify Supplier Credentials — Not All "Factories" Are Factories

The most common pitfall for new China importers is contacting a trading company that pretends to be a factory. Trading companies add 20–40% markup, have limited control over production, and cannot accommodate OEM customization. Here's how to verify:

• Ask for a factory video. A real manufacturing facility will be happy to send a walkthrough of the production line, warehouse, and quality control area via WeChat or WhatsApp.
• Request a business license. Chinese factories must display their business license as an image or PDF. Check the registered capital, registered address (should be an industrial zone), and scope of business (should include "daily chemical manufacturing").
• Ask about certifications. ISO 9001 is a standard quality management certification — useful but not everything. Also ask for hazardous goods transport certifications (DG packing certificate) if you're importing chemical balls.
• Check export experience. A factory exporting since 2012 like Jiutang should have import/export registration and real shipping records. New export brands (like Jiutang's 2024 launch) are fine — but ask how long the underlying factory has been manufacturing.

3. Get Samples Before Large Orders — Always

Every serious supplier will send samples. Here's how to do it productively:

• Domestic samples (within China). Usually free — you pay a small courier fee within mainland China.
• International samples. Expect to pay USD 30–50 for DHL or FedEx. Arrives in 5–7 days.
• What to test. Scent strength, vapor persistence (leave a bag in a closed jar for 7 days and smell it), color uniformity, bag seal quality, and whether the bags arrive intact (this tests packaging quality too).
• Get MSDS with samples. Any reputable chemical supplier will include a current Material Safety Data Sheet with their sample shipment.

4. Understand Pricing Terms — FOB, CIF, and What Actually Moves the Price

Quotes from Chinese suppliers usually come in FOB terms — "Free On Board" — meaning the price covers production, Chinese inland transport to the export port, customs clearance in China, and loading onto the vessel at the port. From there, sea freight to your destination port is on you.

CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) includes sea freight and basic marine insurance to your destination port. For first-time importers, CIF is often simpler — one invoice from the factory covers everything to your country's port. Just note that you are still responsible for customs clearance and delivery from the port to your warehouse.

What affects the quoted price?

• Raw material cost fluctuations (p-DCB and naphthalene are petrochemical derivatives tied to oil prices)
• Order quantity (larger orders = lower unit price)
• Custom packaging (printed bags, custom sizes add cost)
• Incoterm chosen (CIF > FOB)

5. Shipping & Logistics — Container Sizes and Dangerous Goods Notes

Camphor balls, naphthalene mothballs, and p-DCB products are classified as hazardous goods for sea transport (Class 4.1: Flammable Solid). This affects how you ship:

• Container sizes. A standard 20ft container holds approximately 12–15 tonnes of camphor balls depending on bag size and carton packing. A 40ft HQ holds roughly double that. New buyers typically start with one 20ft container.
• LCL vs FCL. Less-than-container-load (LCL) is possible for trial shipments under 10 CBM, but hazardous goods LCL is complex and more expensive per unit. For most chemical buyers, a full 20ft FCL is the most cost-effective threshold.
• Dangerous Goods packing. The factory must pack using UN-approved hazardous goods cartons (called "DG cartons") and issue a Dangerous Goods Packing Certificate — this is non-negotiable. A customs broker at your destination port will need it.
• Port options. Jiutang ships primarily from Shanghai, Ningbo, or Guangzhou — whichever has the most competitive rates to your destination. For buyers in Southeast Asia, direct sailings to Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, or Jakarta are usually 7–14 days.

6. Required Documents — Have These Before Your Container Sails

Never place a purchase order without confirming that your supplier can provide all of these documents. Most are standard, but they must match exactly:

• Commercial Invoice. Product name, quantity, unit price, total value, terms (FOB/CIF), shipping port and destination, HS code.
• Packing List. Breakdown of cartons, weights (gross and net), volumes, and marks.
• Certificate of Origin (CO). Issued by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT). Required for customs clearance in most countries.
• Bill of Lading (B/L). The shipping document issued by the ocean carrier.
• Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS / SDS). Must include your destination language if required by your country.
• Dangerous Goods Packing Certificate. Required for Class 4.1 goods.
• Test Report / Certificate of Analysis. If you require purity or ingredient confirmation, request this.

7. Quality Control — Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI)

For your first order from any new Chinese supplier, we strongly recommend a third-party pre-shipment inspection. Companies like SGS, TÜV, or Intertek can send an inspector to the factory on the day before loading. They will:

• Count and weigh cartons against your packing list
• Open random bags to check product quality, color, scent, and packaging seal
• Verify that DG labeling is correct
• Take photos and issue a pass/fail report

The cost is typically USD 300–500 per inspection — negligible compared to the cost of receiving a bad container.

8. Building a Long-term Supplier Relationship

Importing from China becomes dramatically easier on your second and third orders, but only if you invest in the relationship. Top importers in Southeast Asia do three things well:

• Visit the factory once. A one-time visit during or after your first order builds immense trust. Most Jiangxi factories will arrange airport pickup, transport, and hotel assistance.
• Share your market feedback. Your factory wants to know which scents sell best in Vietnam, which bag sizes move fastest in Nigeria, and what complaints retailers receive. This feedback makes both of you better.
• Plan your orders. The worst thing you can do is place urgent, last-minute orders. Factories reserve production capacity for stable partners. Plan 6–8 weeks ahead and you'll get priority.

Why Southeast Asia Buyers Trust Jiutang

Since we launched the Jiutang export brand in 2024, we've shipped to Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, and more. Our customers repeatedly tell us two things they appreciate most: a stable factory relationship and the ability to handle OEM requests without friction. Our 3,000 m² facility in Yongfeng County, Ji'an City, Jiangxi Province has been manufacturing moth repellent products since 2012 — no middlemen, no trading company markup, and one export team dedicated to helping importers navigate sourcing smoothly.