Frequently Asked Questions

Our registered office and international marketing operations are based in Hong Kong. All sales, correspondence, and documentation are handled from Hong Kong.

Monday to Friday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Hong Kong Time (UTC +08:00).
We are closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and all Hong Kong public holidays. Please email us and we will respond on the next business day.

We prefer communication by email, as this ensures your message reaches the right team. You may also contact us by telephone, fax, or by using our online enquiry form. Contact details appear at the bottom of every page on this site.

Email: [email protected]
Tel: +852 2517 2316  ·  Fax: +852 2517 8741

We are focused specialists in dry food ingredients sourced from China — principally Agar Agar, Dehydrated Garlic, and Cassia/Cinnamon. We do not handle fresh produce, liquors, or animal products. Selective enquiries outside these three categories are considered for established clients only. If your requirements fall within our areas of expertise, please submit an enquiry.

We operate two distinct service models. Under our Agency model, you engage us as your representative in China for a specified task — such as a factory audit, pre-shipment inspection, or market research report — charged at a pre-agreed fixed fee. Under our Brokerage model, we introduce you to a vetted supplier, coordinate the transaction, and earn a pre-disclosed commission only on completion. In both cases, all correspondence and coordination passes through CBL; shipping documents and payments are exchanged directly between you and the supplier. See our Services page for full details.

A sourcing agent in China acts as your representative on the ground — conducting supplier searches, factory visits, product verification, price negotiation, and logistics coordination on your behalf.

At China Business Limited, our approach goes beyond a simple introduction service. We maintain year-round on-ground presence and conduct both scheduled pre-shipment inspections and unannounced factory audits. Scheduled visits let a factory prepare; unannounced visits reveal actual working conditions, storage practices, and quality discipline.

After each audit, we issue a clear practical verdict — Continue, Watch, or Avoid — based on what we find. These are honest assessments, not sanitised reports designed to keep a deal moving. Our conflict-of-interest protections are structural and documented in writing. See our Our Approach page for full details.

Our factory audits are practical, commercial audits — not certification audits. They assess hygiene and housekeeping standards, raw material storage and traceability, processing equipment condition, pest control practices, staff training, and documentary compliance with the contracted specification.

We conduct both announced pre-shipment inspections (scheduled to coincide with production) and unannounced audits (conducted without prior notice). Unannounced audits are the more revealing and form a core part of how we manage supplier relationships over time.

Findings are reported with one of three verdicts: Continue (supplier meets requirements), Watch (concerns identified requiring monitoring), or Avoid (material issues warranting suspension of the relationship). We do not soften findings.

Our conflict-of-interest protections are structural:

• We hold no equity in, and have no ongoing financial arrangements with, any supplier we evaluate or introduce.
• We hold no commercial trading positions in any category we source for clients — we do not buy or sell on our own account in those categories.
• Agency fees are pre-agreed and fixed before engagement begins; brokerage commissions are pre-disclosed in writing before any introduction is made.
• We receive no undisclosed rebates, kickbacks, or volume bonuses from suppliers.

These protections are documented in our standard engagement terms and reviewed regularly.

Commodity prices fluctuate and depend on factors including quantity, payment terms, and shipping terms. All prices are therefore provided upon request and are subject to our final written confirmation at the time of order, unless otherwise specified in the quotation document.

All orders are placed through CBL — by phone, WhatsApp, email, or fax. We coordinate all correspondence with the supplier on your behalf throughout the transaction. Please expect written confirmation from us within the next Hong Kong business day; if you do not receive it, contact us promptly to verify receipt.

We do not accept orders by ordinary postal mail, as prices may change between sending and receipt. All orders are subject to our written confirmation before they become binding. Shipping documents and payment instructions are exchanged directly between you and the supplier as part of the completed transaction.

All customers receive regular market updates for at least 3 months from the date of their most recent transaction. Relevant product and usability information is available on request at any time. Status updates on orders, shipments, and shipping documents are available on request — contact us and we will follow up with the supplier promptly.

We coordinate shipping arrangements on your behalf. Goods are typically shipped FOB from named sea ports in China or Hong Kong for quantities of one pallet and above. For smaller quantities, Courier or Air Freight is recommended. For volumes above 5 pallets, Full Container Load (FCL) is the standard recommendation.

Shipments can also be arranged on a CFR/CIF basis — freight prepaid at source and added to the supplier's invoice. Please indicate your preference when placing your order and we will coordinate accordingly. You remain responsible for import clearance, applicable taxes, and inland transportation at your end.

Small orders (up to 500 kg) with no special documentary requirements are typically dispatched within approximately one week. Larger orders, or those requiring special shipping documents or laboratory test reports, typically require 30 days. Customised orders — including custom quality specifications or private label packing — may take longer. Please contact us for a specific estimate for your requirements.

Standard with all deliveries: Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Shipping Photos, Transport Document (Bill of Lading / Airway Bill).

Available on request: Certificate of Origin, Certificate of Analysis (moisture, microbiology, etc.), Phytosanitary Certificate, Fumigation Certificate (FCL shipments), Health Certificate, Pesticide Residue Certificate, Heavy Metal / ETO certificates, and other destination-specific documents as applicable. Please advise your documentary requirements at the time of ordering so they can be arranged without delay.

Payment for goods is made directly to the supplier as part of the transaction — CBL coordinates the payment terms and instructions but does not handle the transfer of funds for goods. Standard methods accepted by suppliers include: International Wire Transfer (T/T), RTGS, CHATS, Irrevocable Letter of Credit at Sight (L/C), and Documents against Payment (D/P) at Sight. Typical arrangements involve a deposit with the balance payable against shipping documents — specific terms are confirmed in writing for each transaction.

CBL's commission (Brokerage) or fee (Agency) is invoiced separately and directly by CBL. Details are pre-agreed in writing before any engagement begins.

All claims must be raised through CBL in writing within 15 days of vessel arrival (sea shipments) or 15 days of delivery date (courier or air shipments). We coordinate the claims process between you and the supplier — do not contact the supplier directly on claims matters without first notifying us.

Claims should include supporting documentation: photos, lab reports, delivery records, or other evidence as applicable. We will acknowledge receipt promptly and advise on next steps. Note that transit damage from accidents beyond our or the supplier's control is the buyer's risk — we recommend buyers arrange cargo insurance for all shipments.

From time to time we have openings for individuals with relevant expertise in food ingredient supply chains, quality verification, or trade facilitation — in Hong Kong or across China. If you have a relevant background and are interested in working with us, please email us directly at [email protected] with the subject line "Application to Work with CBL" and include your background, location, languages, and the type of working relationship you are proposing.