Logistics & documents
Telex release
Understand surrendered bills, payment control and cargo release.
China sourcing / Knowledge
Understand first. Source with clarity.
Build your understanding, from the first supplier quote to the final shipment.
01 / Learn step by step
Choose a learning path.
Start with a goal. Learn the concepts in order, then try a practical tool.
01Read a supplier quoteWhat does the price actually include?Guides: 4
Compare quotations on the same basis and identify costs that still need confirmation.
Start learningStart at the beginning or go straight to a concept.
- 01Order quantityUnderstand how MOQ changes the quotation.
- 02Delivery termsFind where the supplier’s delivery responsibility ends.
- 03The complete costAccount for transport and import charges beyond the unit price.
- 04A fair comparisonBring specifications, quantities and terms onto one sheet.
Put it into practice
Use the quote comparison template02Evaluate a supplierWhat evidence should I ask for?Guides: 4
Separate supplier identity checks from product quality checks, and prepare an inspection brief.
Start learningStart at the beginning or go straight to a concept.
- 01Supplier identityCheck who you are buying from before discussing payment.
- 02Quality requirementsTurn expectations into requirements that can be checked.
- 03Sampling & AQLUnderstand what an inspection sample can and cannot tell you.
- 04Before shipmentOrganize the checks and evidence needed before release.
Put it into practice
Open the supplier risk & QC planner03Prepare your first orderHow do I turn an idea into a clear brief?Guides: 4
Prepare product requirements, plan a sample or trial order, and identify destination checks.
Start learningStart at the beginning or go straight to a concept.
- 01The buying routeUnderstand the role of a sourcing agent.
- 02Your product briefGive suppliers enough detail for a useful quotation.
- 03Samples & trial ordersConnect a small first order with production constraints.
- 04Destination requirementsIdentify the product and market checks to confirm before ordering.
Put it into practice
Prepare an RFQ with the brief builder04Understand a shipmentWhat happens between packing and cargo release?Guides: 4
Recognize the key shipment documents and understand which release details need confirmation.
Start learningStart at the beginning or go straight to a concept.
- 01The freight arrangementUnderstand how a shared container shipment works.
- 02The packing recordConnect product quantities with cartons and shipment measurements.
- 03The transport documentUnderstand the role of a bill of lading.
- 04Cargo releaseDistinguish document surrender from the carrier’s release confirmation.
Put it into practice
Use the packing list templates02 / Build your understanding
The knowledge map.
Explore one subject at a time. Start with the fundamentals, then follow a question into the detail.
Sourcing basics
Understand the brief, order quantities and the route from a product idea to a first order.
Explore Sourcing basicsSuppliers & quality
Check who you are buying from and agree what acceptable quality looks like.
Explore Suppliers & qualityProduct development
Understand OEM, ODM and private label before choosing a development route.
Explore Product developmentPayments & costs
Compare the complete buying cost and understand the terms before releasing payment.
Explore Payments & costsLogistics & documents
Make sense of freight, Incoterms and the paperwork behind a shipment.
Explore Logistics & documentsImport markets & compliance
Find the practical steps and destination requirements for your import market.
Explore Import markets & compliance03 / Keep the essentials close
Terms worth knowing.
MOQMinimum order quantity
The minimum quantity a supplier will accept for a specified product or order.
RFQRequest for quotation
A request that sets out what you want to buy, allowing suppliers to quote against the same requirements.
Landed costThe cost beyond the unit price
The combined cost of goods, transport and applicable import charges through delivery to the chosen destination.
AQLAcceptance quality limit
A parameter used in acceptance sampling to assess a production lot. It does not guarantee that every item is free of defects.
FOBFree on board
A sea or inland waterway trade rule in which delivery and risk transfer occur when goods are on board the vessel at the named port of shipment.
B/LBill of lading
A transport document acknowledging receipt of cargo and recording carriage terms. Certain forms also function as negotiable documents of title.
Looking for a specific guide? Search the complete library below, or narrow it to a subject.
All guidesReference library
All sourcing guides.
Guides: 66 · Latest first
TopicAll topics
Logistics & documents
Verified gross mass (VGM)
Check container weight, weighing methods and submission cutoffs.
Logistics & documents
Cubic metres (CBM)
Calculate shipment volume and understand how it affects freight.
Payments & costs
D/P and D/A payments
Compare document release, bank roles and buyer credit risk.
Payments & costs
T/T payments
Plan deposit and balance payments with bank-transfer checks.
Suppliers & quality
Acceptance quality limit (AQL)
Read sample sizes and acceptance thresholds before an inspection.
Payments & costs
Letters of credit
Understand document checks, bank obligations and payment risk.
Logistics & documents
Demurrage and detention
Know which container clock is running and what you may be charged.
Showing 1–8 of 66
Knowledge you can return to.
Use the link beside a topic or definition to save or share that section. Follow the full explanation for context and sources; requirements can vary by product, supplier and destination.