Working with China in Madrid

Working with China from Madrid: where to start

Madrid is Spain’s main distribution hub: goods fan out across the entire country from here. The capital has a unique logistical advantage — a direct rail link from Yiwu to Madrid, one of the longest freight rail routes in the world (~13,000 km). 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 (domestic, cheaper), Global Sources, Canton Fair;
• verify the business licence, request samples, and arrange a video audit of the factory;
• payment on a 30/70 basis, never 100% upfront;
• Trade Assurance and independent pre-shipment inspection.

Logistics: sea, air or rail

• rail Yiwu–Madrid — the sweet spot: ~18–21 days (faster than sea, cheaper than air);
• sea — ~35–45 days to the ports of Valencia/Barcelona, then by truck to Madrid;
• air freight — for urgent lightweight consignments;
• Madrid works well as a warehouse hub for onward distribution.

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.

Common mistakes and how to choose the right partner

• ordering without a sample and QC is a path to 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 Madrid? Describe your task — we’ll help you find and verify.