How to Import Clothes from China to South Africa
To import clothes from China to South Africa, register with SARS as an importer, find and vet a clothing supplier, order samples, make sure every garment carries South African fibre, care and country-of-origin labels, then ship through a freight forwarder and clearing agent. Budget carefully: most finished clothing attracts customs duty of up to 45% plus 15% import VAT, so your margin must survive the tax bill, not just the factory price.
Clothing is a popular first import because unit prices look attractive, but it is also where beginners often lose money. This guide covers the clothing-specific rules and costs. For the full importing process across all product types, read our complete guide to importing products to South Africa.
Is importing clothes from China worth it?
Importing clothing from China can be worth it if you sell a differentiated product, such as your own brand, a niche style or sizes local retailers ignore. It rarely works for cheap, generic fashion, because you are competing with Shein, Temu and local chains on price while paying some of the highest duty rates in the tariff book.
Ask three questions first:
- Why would a customer buy this from you? A brand story, better fit, a niche community or exclusive designs give you pricing power. "Cheaper" is not a defensible reason.
- Can you hold stock for months? Sizes and colours turn a modest order into many stock lines.
- Does the margin work after duty? A T-shirt that costs R60 at the factory can cost over R100 once duty, VAT, freight and clearing are added.
If you are still deciding what to sell, start with our complete guide to finding products to sell online in South Africa. If you want to test clothing demand without holding stock, print on demand in South Africa is a lower-risk first step.
Do you need a licence to import clothes into South Africa?
You need a SARS customs client code to import clothing for resale. New clothing does not usually need a separate ITAC import permit, but second-hand clothing does.
Register with SARS as an importer
Registration is free and done through SARS eFiling. Many small sellers once used the general 70707070 code meant for private, once-off imports. According to the SARS communiqué on the 70707070 customs code, declarations under that code are rejected from 20 November 2025 once a person's imports pass a cumulative R150,000 in a calendar year. If you are buying stock for a business, register properly from your first order.
Second-hand clothing needs a permit
The International Trade Administration Commission states on its import control page that an import permit is required for all used or second-hand goods. That includes used clothing bales. Most beginners should avoid second-hand imports entirely. Ask your clearing agent to confirm the position for your specific garments before you pay a deposit.
Never import branded copies
Fake Nike, Adidas or designer items are counterfeit goods. Customs can detain and seize them, and you can face legal action from the brand owner. Our post on what products you can't sell online in South Africa covers the wider rules.
Clothing labelling rules you must meet
Imported clothing cannot legally be sold in South Africa without the correct labels. Arrange these with your supplier before production, because relabelling stock after it lands is slow and expensive.
Regulation 6 of the Consumer Protection Act regulations on product labelling requires textiles and clothing to show:
- Country of origin: clearly stating where the garment was made, for example "Made in China".
- Fibre content: for example "95% cotton, 5% elastane", in line with the South African national standard.
- Care instructions: washing, drying and ironing symbols that follow the national care labelling standard.
Send your supplier the exact label wording and ask for a photo of the sewn-in label on your pre-production sample. Add your own brand labels and swing tags at the same time. Marketplaces such as Takealot can ask for proof that products meet local requirements, so keep supplier specifications on file.
Where to find clothing suppliers in China
Most South African sellers find Chinese clothing suppliers through B2B platforms, sourcing agents or wholesale markets in Guangzhou. The right route depends on how much you want to order and whether you want your own branding.
| Source | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Alibaba.com | Private label and custom orders | Trading companies posing as factories |
| 1688.com | Lower prices on ready-made styles | Chinese-language site, usually needs an agent |
| Sourcing agent | Mixing several suppliers, quality checks | Unclear commission terms |
| Guangzhou wholesale markets | Small mixed orders of current styles | Travel cost, no branding |
Our complete guide to buying from Alibaba in South Africa explains how to check suppliers and use Trade Assurance on your first order.
Clothing-specific checks before you order
- Order samples in every size you plan to sell. Chinese sizing often runs smaller than South African sizing, so ask for a size chart in centimetres and compare it with garments your customers already buy.
- Wash the samples. Check shrinkage, colour bleeding and stitching after two or three washes.
- Agree the fabric weight and composition in writing. A "cotton" T-shirt can be anything from thin polyester blends to heavy combed cotton.
- Confirm the minimum order per colour and size, not just per style. Many factories set a minimum for each colour.
- Book a pre-shipment inspection for larger orders, so you pay the balance only once the goods match your sample.
How much is import duty on clothes from China?
Most finished clothing imported in bulk attracts customs duty of up to 45%, plus 15% import VAT. The exact rate depends on the garment's tariff code, so have your clearing agent confirm the classification before you order.
MyBroadband reports that bulk clothing imports face 45% duty plus 15% VAT. Import VAT is not charged on the invoice value alone. According to the SARS FAQ on VAT on imported goods, it is 15% of the customs value plus duty plus a 10% uplift on the customs value.
Worked example: 400 T-shirts
Here is an illustrative calculation for 400 T-shirts with a customs value of R100 each, assuming a 45% duty rate:
| Item | Total | Per T-shirt |
|---|---|---|
| Customs value | R40,000 | R100.00 |
| Customs duty (45%) | R18,000 | R45.00 |
| 10% uplift (for VAT only) | R4,000 | R10.00 |
| Import VAT (15% of R62,000) | R9,300 | R23.25 |
| Total paid to SARS | R27,300 | R68.25 |
If you are VAT registered, you can usually claim the import VAT back. The R45 duty per shirt is a permanent cost that must go into your selling price. Freight and clearing come on top. Our post on customs fees in South Africa explains each charge in more detail.
What about small parcels from China?
Small courier orders are no longer a cheap shortcut. MyBroadband reports that from February 2025 SARS replaced the flat 20% rate on parcels under R500 with four categories carrying duty of up to 20%, 30% or 45% depending on the consignment, with 15% VAT applying in every category. Use small parcels for samples, and import regular stock formally under your own customs code.
Shipping clothes from China to South Africa
Clothing is light but bulky, so you often pay for space rather than weight. Choose air or express courier for samples and urgent restocks, and sea freight for larger orders.
Understand volumetric weight
Couriers and air freight companies charge on actual weight or volumetric weight, whichever is higher. DHL explains that volumetric weight is length times width times height in centimetres, divided by a divisor that is typically 5,000 for DHL Express.
A carton of hoodies measuring 60 x 40 x 40 cm has a volumetric weight of 19.2 kg, even if it only weighs 12 kg on a scale. Ask suppliers to fold or vacuum-pack garments tightly.
Air, sea or consolidated shipping?
- Express courier: fastest, but costly for bulk stock.
- Air freight: a good middle ground for a first order of light, fast-selling styles.
- Sea freight (LCL): your cartons share a container with other cargo. Slower, but usually far cheaper per unit for bulky clothing.
- Consolidated shipping: combines goods from several suppliers into one shipment, which helps if you buy from more than one factory. See our post on how sourcing from China just got cheaper.
Time your orders around the South African seasons. Order winter ranges early enough to allow for production, shipping and customs clearance before the cold weather arrives, because stock that lands late may sit until the next year.
Step-by-step: your first clothing import
- Validate demand with local stock, pre-orders or print on demand. Our guide on how to find wholesale suppliers in South Africa covers the local route.
- Register with SARS Customs and, if your turnover requires it, for VAT.
- Shortlist suppliers and order samples in every size.
- Agree specifications, labels, packaging and minimum quantities in writing.
- Get a freight and clearing quote using real carton sizes and weights.
- Calculate your landed cost per garment, including duty, and set your price.
- Pay a deposit through a protected method and book an inspection.
- Pay the balance, send documents to your clearing agent and track the shipment.
- Count and check stock on arrival, then photograph and list it.
Our guide to eCommerce pricing strategies for South Africa shows how to build these costs into a price that still sells.
Frequently asked questions
Can I import clothes from China without a business?
You can import as a sole proprietor, but you still need a SARS customs client code if you are importing clothing to resell. The general 70707070 code is meant for private imports and stops working once your imports pass R150,000 in a calendar year.
How much does it cost to import clothes from China to South Africa?
Your total cost is the supplier price plus freight, insurance, customs duty of up to 45%, 15% import VAT on the uplifted value, clearing fees and local delivery. On cheap garments, duty and shipping can add more than the factory price itself, so always calculate landed cost before ordering.
Build a clothing brand that survives the numbers
Importing clothes from China works best for sellers who treat it as a brand-building exercise, not a race to the lowest price. Get the labels right, test the fit, cost every rand of duty and freight, and start with a quantity you can sell within a season.
Insaka eCommerce Academy teaches South African sellers how to choose products, work with overseas suppliers, calculate landed costs and sell profitably on their own store, Takealot and Amazon.co.za. If you are planning your first clothing import, explore Insaka's eCommerce courses and resources at insaka.co.za.
Written or reviewed by Warrick Kernes, founder of Insaka eCommerce Academy and Shopify's 2021 Top Education Partner worldwide, based on 15+ years of selling online in South Africa.
