Working with China in Alicante

Working with China from Alicante: where to start

Alicante and the Costa Blanca are driven by retail, HoReCa, and home goods serving a large flow of residents and tourists. Most sea freight arrives via the nearby Port of Valencia and is then trucked in. Businesses need a supplier, quality control, and customs clearance.

What matters specifically for Russian speakers from the CIS

The main pain point for importers from the CIS is how to pay a Chinese supplier when Russian cards and SWIFT no longer work:

• practical options — USDT, payment via a payment agent in China or Hong Kong, or a transfer from a third-country account (UAE, Kazakhstan);
• many factories on 1688 only accept domestic RMB payments — you need an agent to pay and oversee the shipment;
• for regular orders, it is more practical to route payments through an international transfer service or a trusted contact in China;
• factor commission and exchange rate costs (1–3%) into your cost price — these are the items most often overlooked.

Supplier search and vetting

• platforms: Alibaba, 1688 (cheaper, domestic), Global Sources, Canton Fair;
• verify the business licence, request samples, and arrange a video audit of the factory;
• payment 30/70, never 100% upfront;
• Trade Assurance and independent pre-shipment inspection (QC).

Logistics in Alicante

• sea — the main route, ~35–45 days: the container arrives at the port of Valencia, from there ~1.5 hours by truck;
• LCL (less-than-container load) — for small shipments; FCL — for larger volumes;
• air freight via Alicante/Madrid — for urgent and lightweight cargo.

Customs clearance and taxes in Spain

• EORI number and customs clearance (despacho de aduanas) through a broker;
• on import: customs duty (arancel) + import VAT 21%;
• VAT is recoverable if you are registered for IVA (autónomo/SL).

Common mistakes and how to choose the right partner

• ordering without a sample and QC is the primary source of defects;
• a middleman posing as a factory inflates the price;
• calculate the full landed cost (goods + logistics + duty + VAT);
• it is safer to work through a partner in China who will source and vet the factory and arrange shipping on a turnkey basis.

Need suppliers and logistics from China to Alicante? Describe your task — we’ll help you find and verify.