Buying racking direct from a factory in China means you order from the manufacturer itself: you send a brief, approve a layout drawing and itemised quote, the factory makes and checks the order, and it ships by container to a UK port. To do it well you need a clear specification, an agreed delivery term, an EORI number and a customs broker, and a competent UK installer at the other end.

We are a racking factory that sells this way to UK and Irish businesses, so this guide is written from the supplier's side of the table. It covers what to specify, how delivery terms divide the work, what happens at UK customs, and how to keep quality and safety under control.

How does a factory-direct racking order work?

It runs in five stages, and most of the elapsed time is production and sea freight. Our how we work page sets out each step; in summary:

1. Brief. You send a floor plan, clear height, pallet sizes and weights, truck type and the number of positions you need.
2. Layout and quote. Our engineers return a plan and elevation with an itemised quote listing every frame, beam and accessory.
3. Production and checks. Uprights and beams are roll formed, punched, welded and coated, then checked against the drawing before packing.
4. Shipping. Parts are bundled and labelled by bay, loaded into 20 ft or 40 ft containers and shipped to a UK port.
5. Clearance, delivery and installation. Your broker clears the goods, a haulier delivers, and a UK installer builds the racking.

Typical factory-direct racking reaches a UK site 8 to 12 weeks after order: 3 to 5 weeks of production, 5 to 7 weeks at sea, and a few days for customs and delivery. Our lead times and delivery page has the full table. Build that into your project plan before you commit to a go-live date.

What should you specify so the factory quotes correctly?

Specify the loads, the space and the handling equipment, and ask for the design basis in writing. BS EN 15629 sets out the site, load and handling information a user should give a specifier, and it is a useful checklist for your brief (BSI, BS EN 15629). SEMA advises buyers to make sure their supplier works to the SEMA design code or EN 15512 (SEMA, how to find a pallet racking supplier).

• Pallet size, how it is presented to the beam, and the maximum weight per pallet.
• Clear height to the lowest obstruction, column positions, doors and docks.
• Truck type, maximum lift height and the aisle width it needs.
• Finish: powder coat colour, or galvanised for cold or damp areas.
• Accessories: decks, pallet support bars, row spacers, upright protectors and run-end barriers.

Ask for the documents that will come with the order. With every order we supply a layout drawing and our load tables, and frame and connector test reports are available on request. The load tables are what your installer needs to produce correct load notices. If you want to see the steel before committing, sample sections can be sent; cost and courier are quoted by our sales team.

Which delivery term should you choose: FOB, CIF or DDP?

Choose the term that matches how much of the shipping and customs work you want to handle. Incoterms rules are the standard three-letter trade terms that define the tasks, costs and risks between seller and buyer, and the current edition is Incoterms 2020 (ICC, Incoterms rules).

Term	Seller arranges	Buyer arranges	Suits
FOB (China port)	Export clearance and loading on board	Sea freight, insurance, UK customs, duty, VAT, delivery	Buyers with their own forwarder
CIF (UK port)	Export clearance, sea freight and minimum insurance to the UK port	UK customs, duty, VAT, delivery from port	Buyers with a UK customs broker
DDP (your site)	Everything to your site, including import clearance and duty	Unloading on site	Buyers who want one delivered price

Under CIF the seller pays freight and insurance to the UK port, but the goods are at your risk once loaded in China, so check the insurance cover. Delivered terms are simpler for you but depend on availability for your postcode, so ask when you request a quote.

What do you need for UK customs, duty and VAT?

You need an EORI number, a commodity code, a customs value and a way to pay or account for import VAT. GOV.UK's step-by-step guide covers the whole process (GOV.UK, import goods into the UK).

EORI number and customs broker

Businesses importing into Great Britain need an EORI number starting with GB, used for customs declarations (GOV.UK, get an EORI number). Most racking buyers appoint a customs broker or freight forwarder to make the import declaration. We supply the commercial invoice and packing list they need.

Commodity code and customs duty

The commodity code decides the duty rate and whether any trade measures apply; you can look codes up in the UK Trade Tariff (GOV.UK, Trade Tariff). Steel goods can be subject to trade remedies that change over time, so ask your broker to confirm the code and current rates before the goods ship, not after they land. Our article on import duty and VAT on steel racking covers this in more detail.

Import VAT

Import VAT is charged at the same rate as on UK sales, and the value for VAT is the customs value plus transport and other costs to the first UK destination and any customs duty (GOV.UK, VAT on imports). VAT-registered businesses can use postponed VAT accounting to declare and reclaim import VAT on the same VAT return; if an agent imports for you, you must instruct them in writing before the declaration (GOV.UK, postponed VAT accounting).

How do you control quality when the factory is overseas?

Agree what will be checked, by whom, and against which drawing, before production starts. In our factory we check incoming steel grade and thickness, profile dimensions and punching, welds and connector alignment, coating, and quantities per bay against the bill of materials; our quality and standards page lists these stages.

If you want independent assurance, you can appoint a third-party inspection company to check the goods in the factory before loading. Ask them to check against the approved drawing and bill of materials, not just a visual walk-round. On arrival, check bundle counts against the packing list and photograph any damage before signing the delivery note.

Who installs factory-direct racking in the UK?

A competent UK installer, ideally SEIRS-carded. SEMA's guidance is that only competent people should install racking and that the customer is responsible for checking competence; SEIRS is SEMA's training and registration scheme for installers (SEMA, storage equipment installations). The installer anchors the frames, checks plumb and level, fits load notices using the load tables we supply, and hands over.

After handover, the racking joins your inspection regime like any other: regular in-house checks and an expert inspection at least yearly, more often if your risk assessment requires it. You can use your own installer or we can introduce one. Browse our pallet racking range to see the standard frame and beam options.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a minimum order when buying racking from China?

We have no fixed minimum. Racking ships most economically in full containers, and smaller orders can share a container at a higher cost per bay.

Do I need an EORI number to import racking?

Yes, a business importing into Great Britain needs an EORI number starting with GB. If you buy on delivered duty paid terms, check with the supplier how the import declaration will be made.

Can I reclaim import VAT on racking?

VAT-registered businesses importing goods for business use can normally use postponed VAT accounting and reclaim the VAT on the same return. Your accountant or broker can confirm this for your business.

How do I know the racking matches the drawing?

Approve the drawing before production, ask for the bill of materials by bay, and consider a third-party pre-shipment inspection. Check bundle counts against the packing list on delivery.

Can you work to my installer's drawing?

Yes. Send the drawing and bill of materials and we quote the parts to match, or our engineers check the configuration for you.

Sources

• ICC: Incoterms rules
• GOV.UK: Import goods into the UK, step by step
• GOV.UK: Get an EORI number
• GOV.UK: Trade Tariff, look up commodity codes, duty and VAT rates
• GOV.UK: Paying VAT on imports from outside the UK
• GOV.UK: Check when you can account for import VAT on your VAT return
• SEMA: How to find a pallet racking supplier
• SEMA: Storage equipment installations
• BSI: BS EN 15629 Specification of storage equipment