B9 · Import Process
MOQ, Lead Time, Payment and Samples: What Your First Container of Doors from China Actually Looks Like
A practical week-by-week guide for new door importers planning MOQ, samples, production, inspection and freight.
Quick answer
A first container of doors from China usually takes 9–14 weeks end to end: 1–2 weeks for specification and quotation, 2–3 weeks for samples, 30–45 days for production after deposit, about 1 week for inspection and loading, then 12–40 days at sea depending on destination.
Week-by-week timeline for a first door order
| Stage | Typical timing | What should be confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Enquiry and door schedule | Week 0 | Door type, quantity, opening size, finish, frame and destination port |
| Specification and quotation | Week 1–2 | Leaf size, wall thickness, hardware, packing and Incoterms |
| Sample production and approval | Week 2–4 | Finish board, door sample, hardware mockup and approval notes |
| Deposit and production | Week 4–10 | 30–45 days for standard container production after deposit |
| Inspection and loading | Week 10–11 | Pre-shipment inspection, packing list, container loading photos |
| Sea freight and customs | Week 11–17 | Transit time, port documents, customs clearance and local delivery |
What is the minimum order quantity for doors?
Door MOQ has three layers: model MOQ, size MOQ and container MOQ. For project buyers, the practical first order is usually one 20GP container or a mixed model container where each model reaches a stable production quantity.
For many interior, WPC or wooden door programs, 50–100 units per model is more realistic than requesting several single-piece styles. A complete 20GP container often holds roughly 180–240 door sets depending on frame, hardware and packing.
How much do samples cost and are they refundable?
A door sample can include a small finish board, a full leaf sample or a door set mock-up with frame and hardware. Buyers normally pay sample cost and air freight. Many suppliers credit sample cost against the first bulk order when the project moves forward.
What are normal payment terms?
| Term | Buyer risk | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 30/70 TT | Balanced for standard export orders | 30% deposit, 70% before shipment after inspection |
| L/C at sight | Lower payment risk but higher bank cost | Larger buyers or public projects |
| Trade assurance style payment | Platform-controlled documentation | New buyer / supplier relationship |
What sea freight time should you plan for?
| Destination port | Transit estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles / Long Beach | 18–25 days | Fast US West Coast route |
| New York / Savannah | 32–40 days | Often via Panama |
| Manila | 10–16 days | Short-haul Asia route |
| Malé, Maldives | 22–28 days | Usually transhipment via Colombo |
| Jebel Ali / Dammam | 20–28 days | Gulf hub routes |
| Genoa / Valencia | 30–40 days | Routing can change |
| Brisbane / Sydney | 18–26 days | Australia east coast |
| Tema / Lagos | 33–45 days | West Africa with clearance buffer |
| Manzanillo / Callao | 25–35 days | Pacific Latin America |
Who arranges freight — buyer or supplier?
FOB means the supplier handles export packing, inland delivery to the port and export clearance. CIF adds ocean freight and insurance to the destination port. DDP may include customs and local delivery, but it requires a reliable forwarder and clear import responsibility.
What can go wrong on a first container?
- Handing is marked incorrectly on carton labels.
- Frame depth does not match wall thickness.
- Finish approval is not documented before production.
- Hardware items are missing from the proforma invoice.
- Door bundles are not grouped by floor, room or installation sequence.
Buyer questions
Yes, LCL is possible, but freight cost per door is usually much higher and damage risk can increase.
Often yes, but it should be confirmed on the quotation before the sample is produced.
FOB normally includes export packing, inland trucking to the port and export clearance, but not ocean freight or destination charges.
The buyer usually pays the third-party inspection company directly.
Standard project door containers commonly take 30–45 days after deposit and specification freeze.
Send your target models, sizes, quantity and destination port for a first-container quotation review.
Request a Project Quote