Mini skid steers have been enjoying a great popularity in modern society. More and more people choose to buy a compact skid steer loader for their own use, to satisfy the multi-purpose.
When it comes to micro skid steers, some famous brands will certainly come into our mind, such as, Caterpillar, Kubota, Komatsu, Bobcat etc. We have to admit that the product quality from them is good. After all, they are all belong to the long-history company, and the brand influence is there. However, the skid steer machine price is also higher. So many people are wondering whether could we buy such a compact skid loader at an affordable price while the quality is good enough to use.
Yes, we can buy such compact skid steer loader from China. Many people have turned their attention to the constructions made in China. This is a very right choice. There are many machine brands in China that manufacture mini skid steers. What’s more, after these years of development, the techniques and manufacturing process have been quite mature while the price of them maintains at a low level because of the fierce competition.
This article will provide an ultimate solution on how to import a skid steer loader from China. It will cover regulations, payments, warranties and maintenance issues, when importing mini excavators and spare parts from China.
Top 5 Reasons Why Should We Choose A Skid Steer From China
In the last decade, the skid steer loaders manufacturing has become more powerful and popular in China. The technology has been very mature, the quality is high, and the cost is affordable. So, choosing mini skid loaders from China is the right choice. Here list 5 advantages:
1. Price: Mini excavators are much cheaper in China than in other countries, making them a great option for budget-minded buyers.
2. Quality: In the previous years, the made in China products may be considered as the low quality with cheap price. However, it’s getting amazingly better in nowadays. Especially for the mini excavators, the technique in quite mature as a result of the fierce market competitions. You can use it for several years without and worries.
3. Technical support: Chinese manufacturers typically provide better service and support than their international counterparts. If something goes wrong with your mini excavator, you will usually be able to get the technical support shortly.
4. Quick delivery
The manufacturing process can be very quick for most factories. Like us we can finish the production for the compact excavators within 5 working days.
5. Reputation: After these years development, the products made in China are no longer regarded as low quality. What’s more, the reputation is getting better and better as the quality is proved to be reliable.
Construction Machine Manufacturers in China
The construction machiens manufacturing industry in China is booming as to meet the increasing demand market. The basic machine types are as: crawler excavators, wheeled excavators, skid steer loaders, telescopic loaders and backhoe loaders. These products are still some major industrial clusters in China that may be of particular interest to you. Choosing which company would satisfy your requirement could be tough since so many options there. Below follows a list of the most important cities and provinces where you can have a better choice:
- Kunshan, Jiangsu
- Changzhou, Jiangsu
- Xuzhou, Jiangsu
- Shanghai, Shanghai
- Tai’an, Shandong
- Jinan, Shandong
- Liaocheng, Shandong
- Jinhua, Zhejiang
- Rui’an, Zhejiang
- Qingdao, Shandong
- Shenyang, Liaoning
- Dongguan, Guangdong
In most industries, the eastern provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shandong makes up more than 70% of China’s machinery exports. When it comes to skid steer loaders, Shandong province would be the No.1 for its manufacturing and exporting. The reason is that they are the basement of machinery manufacturing, gathering all the related companies in one place. The powerful spare parts or components supply make it easy for assembling. If you want to import a mini skid steer from China, you can focus on these places first.
The Process of Importing A Mini Skid Steer From China
If you have never imported goods from China before, it is not an easy task. The importing process can be extremely complex, confusing, and costly. Expected gains can often be erased by long transit times, rising or fluctuating delivery costs, regulatory fees, and unexpected delays. So we have to make it clear first what is the process of importing skid steer loaders from China. You can take the followings as reference.
- Research
If you have a plan to buy a mini skid loader, the first step is to do the research. You should make it clear what type of machines you need, your construction sites specific need, your budget, the basic regulations etc.
- Find our the source
Try to search for the skid steer loader suppliers on the internet. Such as Google or some other trading websites.
- Negotiation
Find out the manufacturer from internet, and send your inquiry. Then you can compare the technical specification and price for the better choice. And confirm which to buy.
- Make the deal
Sign contract with the supplier, and confirm which trade terms is good for you. The basic terms include FOB, CIF and DDP. If you are the first time to import and don’t have the shipping forwarder who can be cooperated, then choose the CIF or DDP, which can save much trouble for you. In addition, try to make it as clear as possible on the contract of all the other terms related with the mini skid steers.
- Delivery
The delivery is the biggest issue for importing compact skid steer loaders. If only 1 set, it is recommended by the LCL shipping which could save shipping cost, since most compact skid steers are small in size. If the quantity is big, one 20GP or 40HQ is recommended. Usually the suppliers could make a good package.
- Custom declaration and clearance
Usually the mini skid steer suppliers could finish the declaration to China custom. Then the goods will be released on ship, and the journey start to your destination port. When the skid loaders arrived, you need to do the clearance work to get the goods out of the custom.
- Inspection
After receiving the micro skid loaders, and delivered to your house or farm, the first thing is to check whether there is any damage to it. If any problems found out, contact the supplier to solve it.
Documents Required for The Importation of Machinery
To import mini skid steers from China, several documents need to be provided. There are four documents that anyone looking to import machinery from China or any part of the world must possess. They are:
Bill of Lading: The bill of lading is a document sent out by the carrier to the agent, captain, or owner of the goods. This document serves as a promise of payment. It also provides information on the destination of the item, the form of transportation, and the estimated time of arrival.
Packing List: It is the Shipper or freight forwarder that sends out a packing list. A packing list contains all the information on the invoice of an imported product and more. A CBP offer reviews a packing list and the invoice before a good is cleared for shipping.
Commercial Invoice: An invoice is an essential part of any purchase. For the importation of mini excavators from China, ensure that your invoice contains the following information:
These are the basic documents required by most countries. Additionally, some other documents may be required. You should make it all clear through contact with the customs directly or ask for one shipping agent or a broker who is familiar with the process.
How to calculate the total cost for importing a mini excavator
The main purpose to import compact skid steers from China is to save cost. Only when the total cost is much lower than local machines, then we choose that way. After all, no one is willing to waste long time waiting for a mini skid steer loader coming from a distanced place. So it is important to calculate the total cost accurately. Here is the component as below:
✔Product cost
✔Package cost
✔Land transportation to the port of supplier
✔Charges on port
✔Sea freight cost
✔Insurance
✔Charges on port of arrival
✔Tariff and some other taxes
✔Land transport cost to your home
The above cover almost all the costs that needed for importing micro skid steers from China. If you have such a plan, please follow these main items. Meanwhile, you have to make clear exactly the cost for each item.
Features to Focus On When Buying Mini Skid Steers?
1. Weight of the mini skid steer
It is important that you know the weight of the mini skid steer so that you are able to handle it safely. So, how much a mini skid steer loader weighs is the first thing you need to know when planning to buy your own.
2.Dimension of the compact skid steer
Don’t forget to ask for dimensions when buying a mini skid loader. First of all, you have to pack it and book the ship according to the dimension. Secondly, it is important that you know the mini skid dimensions so as to be able to decide whether it will fit in your workplace or not.
3. Engine power of the compact loader
The power of the machine is another important factor to consider when buying a compact skid loader. If the machine is not powerful enough, then it will not be able to do the job that you want it to do. The most powerful mini skid steers are considered more efficient.
4. Engine emission standard
The people from the North America and European countries have a very strict requirement for engine emission. The engines exported to the US and Canada have to satisfy the EPA Tier4 emission standard so as to meet the CRAB regulations. Meantime, European countries have their own EURO5 emission requirement for goods entered into European market.
When it comes to this question, we can select the branded engine such as Yanmar, Kubota, Perkins etc. which could meet all these standard.
5. Attachments for mini skid steer loaders
There are many tools could be attached to the mini skid steers to fulfill different tasks. The typical ones include: breaking hammer, auger, ripper, hydraulic or mechanical thumb, quick hitch, tilting bucket, clamp bucket, narrow trenching bucket, wide cleaning bucket without teeth etc. So, you have to confirm what kind of work you need to finish, then bring the tools together with the mini skid steer loader accordingly.
6.The warranty of the mini skid steer loader?
Asking about the warranty of the mini skid steer should not be underrated. Some companies may offer a longer warranty, or additional warranty coverage, which can help to protect your investment. Confirm a longer warranty so that you can be sure that you are getting the best possible deal.
Other Factors To Consider When Importing From China
Importing a skid steer loader or any other machinery from China may seem a very simple task. However, everything can turn out to be a mess if you don’t know some basic knowledge points. This part of the blog is going to highlight some other things that you should consider while importing from China.
✔You should make sure that the products are allowed to be legally imported from China. It is due to the fact that some products in China contain special rules. If you don’t know whether your product can be legally imported or not, you can also contact your customs broker. A professional custom broker will always help you in this situation.
✔Make sure that you take the responsibility for shipping costs or do some management regarding it. It totally depends on the intercoms that you are following. You may or may not be responsible for the shipping costs as well as other assumed risks. Sometimes the responsibility goes to the seller for taking care of shipping costs. In this situation, you should keep in touch with your seller. Please get noted the intercoms FOB, CIF, CFR, DDU or what others.
✔Make sure that the information about the skid steer loader is clear and valid. Not having enough details about your imported products may create a mess for you. Moreover, it is illegal to provide inaccurate value and information about your products.
✔Follow the correct customs procedures. At this point, a professional customs broker or a shipping agent will help you follow the procedures. When you are buying an excavator to dig, landscape, or clean the snow. It is as important to choose the right customs broker as choosing the right skid steer supplier.
✔To save your product from any kind of loss, make sure that you got the insurance for your digging excavator. Product liability insurance is a great way to get your product safely. When you are importing your mini excavator from China, an insurance professional can help you get product liability insurance. Especially, when you are importing heavy hydraulic equipment, there are more chances of destruction. Therefore, you should have product liability insurance.
✔Make sure that you have the right custom bonds. Basically, there are two main types of customs bonds available in the market. It is your duty to ensure that you got the right one. Each of them has its own characteristics when you compare them. If you want to make the import process simpler, you should get a continuous bond. If you have any confusion, you can consult your licensed customs broker to get you the right custom bonds for your machine.
Conclusion
To import a mini skid steer loader is not as much as complex, if we know the basic issues, it can be easy and cost-saving to buy such machines from China. If you have any other questions, kindly please contact us directly or search for other related blogs on this website.
