Frequently Asked Questions

Buying direct can mean unverified factories, fake or missing certificates, quality surprises and no realistic way to put things right. We've had our own sourcing office in Ningbo since 2006. We vet factories, check certificates and take ownership of your order from start to finish.

If something goes wrong on our side, we take ownership of it and work with you to put it right, quickly and fairly. And because orders go through our own company in China, we have legal standing there. If a factory makes a mistake, we can pursue the factory through local legal channels in China. A business in Cyprus or elsewhere in the EU trying to do that alone would face foreign courts and thousands in legal fees, usually with little to show for it.

Our Ningbo sourcing office has operated since 2006, giving us 20 years on the ground in China. Our Cyprus office opened in 2021.

Our office and warehouse are in Alambra, Nicosia district, Cyprus, and our sourcing office is in Ningbo, China.

Yes. We supply businesses across the EU, usually by full container shipped direct from China, and we can send stocked items from Cyprus by courier.

We source for almost any industry. Our core sectors are medical and lab consumables, PPE, machinery and hotel fit-outs, and we also source construction materials, catering equipment, hospitality supplies, retail products, packaging and much more. If it's manufactured in China, we can usually source it.

Yes. We've won Cyprus government tenders for medical supplies, and we're ISO 9001 certified, check every supplier's CE certificates, and track lot numbers and expiry dates, which is exactly what public buyers look for. We're happy to support tenders for hospitals, health services and other public bodies.

Almost certainly, yes. The products and industries on our site are just examples. China manufactures almost everything, and we've been sourcing there since 2006. Send us a description, photo or link of what you need, and we'll find suitable factories and come back to you with a quote.

China is vast, and our office is in Ningbo, so visiting every factory in person isn't realistic, and we won't promise what we can't deliver. Instead, our team checks each supplier's business licence, production capacity, track record and certificates, inspects samples at our Ningbo office and reviews video evidence from the factory. When an order calls for it, we also visit the factory in person. Only suppliers that pass work with us.

We check every supplier's product certificates, including CE marking, to confirm they're genuine, current and cover the exact product you're ordering.

Our quality management is independently certified to ISO 9001. That means consistent processes, checks and records on every order, so you get the same standard each time.

We record the lot number and expiry date of every medical product we supply, so any batch can be traced if needed.

Yes, and we match the inspection to the product. For smaller items, the factory sends a sample batch from the production line to our Ningbo office, where we check it against the approved golden sample. For large or bulky goods, we review video evidence from the factory. And for high-value orders, we can send our team to the factory in person, as an optional paid service.

Our inspections catch most problems before goods leave China. If something does slip through on our side, we take ownership and work with you to put it right, and we can pursue the factory for compensation through our company in China.

It depends on the product. Factories set their own minimum order quantities, often 500 to 1,000 units, and some accept a smaller trial order of around 300 units. For shipping, a full container keeps the cost per unit lowest. If your order won't fill one, clients in Cyprus can share a container with our other clients' goods, and elsewhere in the EU we're happy to discuss it if we have clients nearby.

Yes. Products we keep in stock in Cyprus, mainly medical and PPE items, can be ordered in smaller quantities and sent by courier at the buyer's cost. For goods made to order, ask us about a trial order.

Our Cyprus warehouse mainly stocks medical and PPE products, including large volumes of powder-free nitrile gloves, which we supply to healthcare, hospitality and supermarkets. Stock levels change, so get in touch for current availability.

Book a free call to talk through what you need, or send us the exact product and quantity through the contact form, and we'll come back to you with a quote.

For items from our Cyprus stock, our payment terms are 30 days. For orders shipped from China, we ask for 30% to begin production and the 70% balance ex factory, so the factory can release the goods.

In most cases, our margin is built into the product price we quote, so there's no separate fee. For low-value orders, we may charge a sourcing fee instead, and we'll always tell you up front. We keep our margins fair and transparent, because we want you to be happy with the price and come back.

Production usually takes 25–45 days. Sea freight from Ningbo to Cyprus currently takes around 55–65 days, because ships are avoiding the Suez Canal and sailing around the Cape of Good Hope; once they can use the Suez Canal again, it should be about 20% quicker. Allow roughly 12–16 weeks in total by sea. Air freight to Cyprus takes 12–14 days after production. For the UK and other EU countries, contact us for transit times. We'll give you a clear timeline before you commit and update you at each stage. Stocked items from Cyprus usually arrive within days by courier.

We handle it for you. We prepare all the documents your shipment needs and arrange customs clearance through a broker at the destination port, as well as onward delivery if you'd like it. We'll tell you the expected duty and VAT in advance.

Yes. You can collect from the port, or we can arrange onward transport for you remotely.

For stocked items, import duty has already been paid by us. For goods imported to order, the client covers import duties and VAT. We'll tell you the expected amount in advance so you can have the funds ready for the customs declaration, and we'll help you with the declaration itself.

Yes. When we ship on your behalf, your goods are insured in transit, and the cost is included in our price, so there's nothing extra to arrange or pay separately.

We'll tell you straight away and keep you updated until it arrives. There are no direct sailings from China to Cyprus, so containers are transferred at other ports along the way, and occasionally they get held up there. The delivery times we quote already allow for this, so they're a safe guide, but some delays are outside anyone's control.

Chinese New Year, which falls between late January and mid-February (6 February in 2027), disrupts production and shipping for around eight weeks. Factories often close for several weeks, and many don't return to full production until around March. To ship before the holiday, goods need to leave the port in China by mid-January at the latest. Working backwards from that, orders should be finalised and in production by early November. That leaves a safe buffer for any factory delays, transport to the port and export customs clearance. Factory production lines are often fully booked before Christmas, so new orders placed later may have to wait until after the holiday. Plan ahead, and talk to us early.

Yes, and we strongly recommend approving a sample before bulk production, because it becomes the golden sample we check your order against. Whoever you buy from, always ask the factory for a sample before ordering. Small items can be couriered to you. Samples typically cost three to five times the unit price, and if the item isn't in stock, production can take 20 to 30 days to your specification. Custom moulds or tooling may cost extra, but these costs can often be recovered on the bulk order. For large items, we arrange material samples so you can decide with confidence: fabric swatches and wood finishes for furniture, or sample cuttings of construction materials such as panels and tiles.

Yes, in most cases. Many factories can add your logo or custom packaging, depending on the product and the factory's capabilities. Private label orders usually need to meet a minimum order quantity, which we'll confirm with the factory before you commit.

Yes, for many products, once the goods have been paid for. It depends on size: smaller items are no problem, but we can't hold very bulky goods like large furniture orders. Transport from our warehouse to you also needs to be planned and costed, so storage charges, delivery schedules and minimum delivery quantities are agreed case by case, in advance. That way, both sides know exactly what to expect and what it will cost.

Yes, and you're very welcome to. We'll arrange the visit, and if you'd like support on the ground, we can provide a translator or a member of our team to go with you to the factory. This support is charged separately, and we'll agree the cost with you in advance.

To import from China to Cyprus, you need a vetted supplier, an EORI number, sea freight and customs clearance, or a Cyprus-based sourcing partner who handles it all for you. Doing it yourself means finding and vetting a supplier, agreeing shipping terms, arranging freight, and paying import duty and VAT on arrival. We take care of the sourcing, checks, shipping, paperwork and customs clearance for you.

As of October 2026, shipping a 40-foot high cube container from Ningbo to Limassol costs around $5,000 for the whole container, for freight only, and a 20-foot container around $3,500. A 20-foot holds about 33 CBM (roughly 25–28 CBM usable); a standard 40-foot about 67 CBM (roughly 55–58 usable); and a 40-foot high cube about 76 CBM (roughly 65–68 usable). Port charges, import duty and VAT are extra. Prices change often, driven by conflicts affecting key shipping routes, piracy, fuel prices and seasonal demand, especially the rush to export before Chinese New Year. For an up-to-date quote, get in touch.

A full container (FCL) carries only your goods, while a shared container (LCL) carries goods from several buyers, so you pay only for the space you use. For clients in Cyprus, we consolidate orders with our other clients' goods, which is often cheaper than standard groupage. Across the wider EU we usually ship full containers, but if we have other clients in your region, we're happy to discuss consolidating.

Importing from China is often cheaper, but not always, because it depends on the product. China is strongest where raw materials are readily available and factories are set up for large-scale production. For other products, especially bulky or low-value goods where shipping eats into the savings, buying closer to home can work out better. We'll give you an honest view of whether sourcing from China makes sense for your product. We've often told customers it isn't worth it, and pointed them to better options.

CE marking shows that a product meets EU health, safety and environmental requirements, and it's required for many product types sold in the EU, including PPE, medical devices, machinery and electrical goods. Not every product needs it, but if yours does, the importer is responsible for making sure it's genuine. We check every supplier's CE certificates to confirm they're valid and cover the exact product you're ordering. This matters, because doctored certificates are common. Some factories ship the goods, take full payment and disappear, and a buyer in the EU who has paid a factory directly has very little legal protection. Because we have our own company in China, we verify that certificates are genuine, and we have legal standing if something goes wrong.

To avoid scams when buying from China, verify the supplier's business licence, check certificates are genuine, inspect samples before mass production, and never pay the full amount up front to an unknown factory. Common scams include fake factories run by middlemen, doctored certificates, and goods that don't match the approved sample. Watch out, too, for emails that appear to come from a supplier announcing new bank details: fraudsters often pose as suppliers to redirect payments. If you ever receive payment instructions, always check with us directly before paying. Our team in Ningbo has spent 20 years learning to spot these warning signs, so you don't have to.

Use a bank transfer (T/T) split into a deposit before production, typically 30%, and the 70% balance after inspection, or a letter of credit for larger or first-time orders. Never pay a new supplier in full upfront, never pay into a personal bank account, and confirm any change of bank details by phone before paying. If you're ordering through Penanto, always check with us directly.

Incoterms are standard trade terms that set out who pays for what, and who carries the risk, at each stage of shipping. Under FOB (Free On Board), the supplier covers costs until the goods are loaded onto the ship in China, and the buyer pays freight and insurance from there. Under CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight), the supplier also pays freight and insurance to the destination port, although the risk passes to the buyer once the goods are loaded. We can quote whichever suits you: a CIF price landed in Cyprus, a price delivered to your door so you pay one simple price, or an FOB price if you'd rather arrange shipping yourself.

Yes. Send us the listing and we'll check the supplier and get a real quote. Prices on platforms like Alibaba are often optimistic ranges designed to attract buyers, and a full quote is usually higher. Many sellers also claim to be manufacturers when they're actually trading companies or middlemen. We verify who you're really dealing with, and what the true price is, before you commit. And even a genuine factory price is only the starting point. It usually leaves out transport to the port, samples and courier fees, sea freight, export documentation, customs duty and VAT on arrival, and freight forwarder charges. We give you the full landed cost up front, so there are no surprises.