Sourcing appliances and equipment from China for a project
How to source appliances and equipment from China for a villa, hotel or restaurant: built-in and kitchen appliances, climate, voltage compatibility, certificates and warranty. What to watch for.
Appliances and equipment are a frequent part of project outfitting: built-in kitchen appliances, climate control, hotel and restaurant equipment. Commercial projects can use our turnkey equipment sourcing from China, covering factory search, technical acceptance and delivery. Electrical equipment requires tighter control of compatibility, certificates and warranty than furniture or finishes.
What is sourced for a project and how much you can save
| Category | Examples | HS codes | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen appliances | Hobs, ovens, hoods, dishwashers | 8516 | 40–60% |
| Climate | Air conditioners, ventilation, water heaters | 8415, 8419 | 30–50% |
| Refrigeration | Display cases, cold rooms, ice machines | 8418 | 40–55% |
| HORECA equipment | Stainless lines, thermal cooking equipment | 8417, 8419 | 35–55% |
| Electrics and low-voltage | Sockets, switches, distribution boards | 8536 | 30–50% |
Note: HS codes are shown at chapter level. For duty calculation you need the full 6–10-digit code; duty and VAT rates depend on the destination country and should be verified locally.
The key thing in electrical equipment: compatibility and certificates
Equipment cannot be chosen by price and looks alone. A unit that is incompatible in voltage will either be held at customs or fail in the first months of use.
Pre-order checklist:
- Voltage and frequency. Confirm for the import country: 220–240V / 50 Hz for Thailand, most of Asia and Europe; UAE — 220–240V / 50 Hz, Type G; Indonesia — 220V / 50 Hz; USA and Japan — 110–120V / 60 Hz. Fix in the specification.
- Plug and connection type. Socket standards differ: Type B (USA), Type C/F (Europe/Asia), Type G (UK, Thailand in hotels). For built-in appliances — terminal or cable connection.
- Conformity certificates. CE for most European and Asian markets; TIS for Thailand; ESMA for UAE; SAA for Australia. A missing certificate is grounds for cargo detention at customs.
- Energy efficiency and power. Match to the project’s load: a professional restaurant kitchen and three domestic air conditioners have different electrical requirements.
Warranty and service: the key difference from furniture
Furniture to a good specification does not break — it either fits the brief or it does not. Appliances fail, and the question “who services it and where are spares?” arises not at the point of order but a year or two later.
What to fix in the contract:
- Warranty period from the factory and the document confirming it.
- Defect procedure: replacement of a component or the whole unit, who bears the return shipping cost.
- Availability of spares and authorised service centres in the country of use.
For HORECA equipment (stainless lines, cold rooms, thermal surfaces), the brand is secondary — what matters are specs, steel grade (304/316L for food contact) and standard spare parts. This is the most cost-effective sub-category for direct sourcing from China.
For branded household appliances, direct sourcing raises the official warranty question — discuss it before ordering, not after a breakdown.
Quality control before shipment
Appliances must be checked before shipment, not on arrival at the project site. What a PSI inspection covers:
- Conformity of model and parameters to the specification (voltage, power, connection type).
- Test power-on — operability and absence of abnormal noise or vibration.
- Completeness (cables, remotes, manuals, mounting hardware).
- Integrity of the unit and packaging.
- Per-item photo report.
For complex equipment (industrial refrigerators, thermal chambers), an inspection with a test run is especially important: a defect found at the Chinese factory is fixed far more cheaply than after delivery.
Case: 80-seat restaurant in Phuket
A restaurant owner was equipping a professional kitchen: 6 thermal cooking units, a two-door cold room, a dishwasher, an extraction system. Through a local supplier the equipment budget was $38,000–42,000. Through Dream View from a Guangdong factory — $16,000–18,000 in landed cost, including delivery and Thai customs (VAT 7%).
A PSI with a test run was carried out for each unit before shipment. Stainless lines meet Grade 304, electrical connection spec is 380V/50 Hz as per the restaurant’s requirements. The entire lot arrived undamaged on reinforced pallets, fully insured. The installation crew set everything up in three days.
When it especially pays off
Appliances and equipment are most worthwhile as part of turnkey project outfitting: unified logistics with furniture and finishing, one customs declaration, one counterparty with full accountability. Dream View’s commission is a fixed 10% of the order value; factory prices are transparent.
For a comparison of sourcing yourself versus using an agent, see sourcing agent or self-sourcing.
Need appliances or equipment for a project? We will pick factories, check compatibility, certificates and warranty, control quality and deliver. Free estimate for your specification: orders@dreamviewchina.com.
Frequently asked questions
What matters when sourcing appliances from China?
It is electrical equipment, so voltage and frequency compatibility for the import country, the plug and connection type, conformity certificates (e.g. CE) and energy efficiency for the project's load are critical.
What about warranty on appliances from China?
Warranty and service matter more than for furniture. Confirm the warranty terms from the factory, the replacement procedure for defects and the availability of parts in the country of use — this is agreed before ordering, not after a breakdown.
What voltage should you order appliances for?
Confirm parameters for the import country — e.g. 220–240V / 50 Hz for Thailand and many markets. The parameters are fixed in the specification.
What appliances and equipment are sourced for a project?
Built-in kitchen appliances, climate (air conditioners, ventilation, water heaters), HORECA equipment (professional kitchens, refrigeration) and electrics. Especially worthwhile as part of project outfitting.
What HS codes apply when importing appliances from China?
The code depends on the type: air conditioners — HS 8415, domestic appliances (hobs, ovens, microwaves) — HS 8516, refrigeration equipment — HS 8418, professional kitchens and thermal equipment — HS 8417/8419. An incorrect code triggers customs inspection and detention. Duty and VAT rates depend on the destination country — verify locally.
Is it worth sourcing well-known brands directly from China?
For branded household appliances, direct sourcing from China raises the question of official warranty and service in the country of use. For HORECA equipment (stainless lines, refrigerators), the brand premium is lower — and savings are especially strong. Discuss this with the sourcing agent before ordering.
Sources
- European Commission — CE marking(single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu)
- WCO — What is the Harmonized System (HS)?(wcoomd.org)