Africa
South AfricaChina sourcing guide
Plan your purchase from China, with supplier checks, import paperwork and delivery considered before shipment.
Discuss your sourcing needsPlan your first order
- Register with SARS as an importer before the first shipment.
- If the importer is foreign, nominate a South African registered agent.
- Confirm the tariff heading, valuation basis, and origin treatment.
- Check whether the goods are prohibited, restricted, used, or second-hand.
- Verify whether ITAC import control or NRCS approval applies to the product.
- Prepare invoice, bill of lading, certificate of origin, and any permit support.
- Plan customs release against the applicable SARS due-entry timeframes.
Import requirements
Start with SARS importer registration and tariff treatment, then check whether the goods need ITAC or NRCS involvement before shipping.
- SARS registration
- ITAC permits
- NRCS checks
- Duty and VAT
Registration rules were updated for 2026
SARS shows the current customs registration, licensing, and accreditation policy as effective from February 2, 2026, so importer onboarding should follow the latest version.
SARS importer registrationRestricted-goods controls keep changing
SARS updated the prohibited, restricted, and counterfeit-goods page again on March 4, 2026, which is a reminder to re-check the control list each time the category changes.
SARS prohibited and restricted goodsUsed and controlled goods need extra attention
ITAC states that controlled tariff lines, including all used and second-hand goods, need import permits before they can move cleanly through the customs process.
ITAC import controlRelease timing is explicit
SARS states that goods generally need to be cleared within seven days after landing, or within longer published windows for loose cargo and container-depot situations.
SARS imports guidanceFrom order to delivery
Check the declaration file
Customs reviews the declaration against the invoice, transport documents, origin support, permits, and any regulator evidence.
Handle inspections
SARS may assign documentary or physical inspection, and another regulator may hold the goods if its approval is missing.
Pay duties and VAT
Duty and VAT must be settled and any customs queries resolved before the goods can be released.
Release quickly
Move the cargo out within the applicable time window so the first shipment does not get eaten by storage or handling charges.
Market context
South Africa still works for buyers sourcing from China in 2026, but only if importer registration, regulator checks, and release timing are handled before the cargo lands. China remains the country's top import source, yet customs friction is very real for weak files.
China is still the main supply source
SARS trade statistics continue to show China as South Africa's largest import source, which supports steady buyer demand for structured China sourcing.
The rules are strict but visible
SARS publishes importer registration, import controls, and release timing clearly enough that disciplined buyers can build a repeatable first-shipment process.
Clearance quality creates the margin
In South Africa, the savings often come from avoiding permit surprises, release delays, and storage pressure rather than from squeezing one more point out of the factory price.
Choosing your sourcing partners
- Choose a partner who can register or verify the importer setup before freight booking.
- Ask whether they screen ITAC and NRCS exposure before confirming the supplier.
- Prefer teams that speak clearly about restricted or second-hand goods rather than discovering the problem at the port.
- Look for strong release planning and warehouse coordination, not just freight quotes.