Sourcing Lighting in China – A Detailed Guide
Why China Remains Lighting’s Powerhouse
Market Facts
- About 60 % of the world’s LED products are made and shipped from China.
- More than 15 000 factories operate inside three tight clusters: Guangdong (consumer & smart lighting), Zhejiang & Jiangsu (decorative fixtures & drivers), and Sichuan & Chongqing (industrial & outdoor).
- New LED packages reach Chinese mass‑production 6–12 months before they do in Europe or North America.
Watch‑outs
- The huge supplier base hides many brokers posing as factories.
- Average LED SKU life cycle is just 18 months; buy late and you receive outdated technology.
- We run on‑site audits so you shortlist only genuine manufacturers, never brokers.
- We track product launches weekly and warn you when a SKU nears end‑of‑life.
1. Compliance & Customs – Pass the First Time
Market Facts
- Key rules: EU – CE‑LVD/EMC, RoHS, ERP 2019/2020; US/CA – ETL, DLC, EnergyStar; India – BIS; Mexico – NOM.
- IEC 60598‑1:2023 tightens creepage/clearance and glow‑wire limits.
Watch‑outs
- Certificates cover only one sample, not the full run.
- A top‑5 brand lost 20 containers when customs found a different LED package than the certified one.
- We vet drawings before tooling and align them with the latest directive.
- We pull random in‑line samples and send them to an independent lab; goods ship only when results match the certificate.
2. Synchronised Production with Major Brands – Tier‑1 Prices at Mid‑Size MOQs
Market Facts
- Large retailers and global brands place anchor orders of ≈ 100 000 pieces.
- Those volumes push factories to buy LEDs, drivers and aluminium at the lowest possible cost.
- Factories often run extra batches for other customers on the same line and BOM after the anchor quantity is secured.
Watch‑outs
- Order too early or too late and you miss the cost window or receive outdated components.
- If schedules slip, the factory always serves the anchor customer first.
- We follow factory planning in real time and slot your job inside the anchor window so you share bulk‑purchase savings.
- We aggregate demand from several clients; the factory treats our combined volume like a second big‑brand order, giving you equal price breaks and priority.
3. Match the Source to Your Market Segment
3.1 Developed‑Market Consumer Lines
Market Facts- Retailers demand fresh specs, strong packaging, ERP A‑class efficiency.
- Label or barcode mistakes block customs.
- Over‑engineer and cost explodes; under‑engineer and returns explode.
- We inspect every label, symbol and barcode to match regional rules.
- We tune the BOM so you hit lumen‑per‑watt targets without overspending.
3.2 Professional & Architectural Lighting
Market Facts- Spec must show LM‑80/TM‑21 ≥ 50 000 h; SDCM ≤ 3 (hospitality) or ≤ 5 (industrial); PF ≥ 0.9; THD ≤ 15 %.
- Projects often require IES/LDT files and ENEC+ reports.
- Five‑year warranty demands a design life of seven or more.
- Some SMEs drop housings each year—no spare parts later.
- We work only with factories that freeze tooling for five years and offer brand‑name drivers.
- We run SDCM, CRI and flux checks during the pilot run, guaranteeing data matches the spec before mass production.
3.3 Budget Lines for Emerging Markets
Market Facts- A small saving on a 9 W bulb can double sales volume.
- LED or driver swaps between pilot and mass run are common.
- Missing surge parts halves life and raises fire risk.
- We rely on a vetted pool of Tier‑2 makers with return rates under 1.5 %.
- We match every LED reel and driver code to the BOM; any mismatch stops the line within 30 minutes.
4. Quality Control Beyond the Certificate
Market Facts
- 100 % aging test, two hours at 55 °C.
- AQL 1.5 (visual), 0.65 (safety).
- Rolling 4 000 h life test on 2 % of every lot.
Watch‑outs
- “Golden sample” labs polish only the first 200 pcs.
- Colour shift appears after 1 000 h—long after shipping.
- We station inspectors full‑time for first orders and run unannounced visits later.
- We operate life‑test racks that flag failures months before customers could.
5. Logistics & Consolidation
Market Facts
- Lights are bulky; freight charges by cubic metre.
- Chongqing–Duisburg rail rivals sea cost and halves transit time (15–18 days).
Watch‑outs
- Miss vessel cut‑off = two‑week delay.
- Mixed pallets crush retail boxes if not six‑side strapped.
- We consolidate pallets across clients to secure full‑container rates.
- We apply ISTA 3A drop tests and six‑side strapping, cutting damage claims by ≈ 40 %.
6. Intellectual Property & Sustainability
Market Facts
- China enforces design patents when registered with local evidence.
- EU tenders ask for carbon‑footprint data and ISO 14001 certification.
Watch‑outs
- If the factory owns your mold, it can run parts for competitors.
- Fail an ESG audit and lose green‑procurement bids.
- We co‑register molds in your name and keep them under tag control on‑site.
- We arrange SMETA, Amfori and ISO 14001 pre‑audits so you pass CSR checks without flying a team.
7. Ten‑Step Checklist
- Define target market: Pro / Developed Consumer / Budget.
- List compliance marks required.
- Confirm the latest standard dates.
- Select factory tier and audit status.
- Synchronise your order with a big‑brand run.
- Freeze BOM & photometry before tooling.
- Build in‑line QC & 100 % aging.
- Plan life‑test sampling for warranty length.
- Secure mold ownership and NDA.
- Book freight early; add buffer days.
Sourcing Lighting in China – A Detailed Guide
Why China Remains Lighting’s Powerhouse
Market Facts
- About 60 % of the world’s LED products are made and shipped from China.
- More than 15 000 factories operate inside three tight clusters: Guangdong (consumer & smart lighting), Zhejiang & Jiangsu (decorative fixtures & drivers), and Sichuan & Chongqing (industrial & outdoor).
- New LED packages reach Chinese mass‑production 6–12 months before they do in Europe or North America.
Watch‑outs
- The huge supplier base hides many brokers posing as factories.
- Average LED SKU life cycle is just 18 months; buy late and you receive outdated technology.
- We run on‑site audits so you shortlist only genuine manufacturers, never brokers.
- We track product launches weekly and warn you when a SKU nears end‑of‑life.
1. Compliance & Customs – Pass the First Time
Market Facts
- Key rules: EU – CE‑LVD/EMC, RoHS, ERP 2019/2020; US/CA – ETL, DLC, EnergyStar; India – BIS; Mexico – NOM.
- IEC 60598‑1:2023 tightens creepage/clearance and glow‑wire limits.
Watch‑outs
- Certificates cover only one sample, not the full run.
- A top‑5 brand lost 20 containers when customs found a different LED package than the certified one.
- We vet drawings before tooling and align them with the latest directive.
- We pull random in‑line samples and send them to an independent lab; goods ship only when results match the certificate.
2. Synchronised Production with Major Brands – Tier‑1 Prices at Mid‑Size MOQs
Market Facts
- Large retailers and global brands place anchor orders of ≈ 100 000 pieces.
- Those volumes push factories to buy LEDs, drivers and aluminium at the lowest possible cost.
- Factories often run extra batches for other customers on the same line and BOM after the anchor quantity is secured.
Watch‑outs
- Order too early or too late and you miss the cost window or receive outdated components.
- If schedules slip, the factory always serves the anchor customer first.
- We follow factory planning in real time and slot your job inside the anchor window so you share bulk‑purchase savings.
- We aggregate demand from several clients; the factory treats our combined volume like a second big‑brand order, giving you equal price breaks and priority.
3. Match the Source to Your Market Segment
3.1 Developed‑Market Consumer Lines
Market Facts- Retailers demand fresh specs, strong packaging, ERP A‑class efficiency.
- Label or barcode mistakes block customs.
- Over‑engineer and cost explodes; under‑engineer and returns explode.
- We inspect every label, symbol and barcode to match regional rules.
- We tune the BOM so you hit lumen‑per‑watt targets without overspending.
3.2 Professional & Architectural Lighting
Market Facts- Spec must show LM‑80/TM‑21 ≥ 50 000 h; SDCM ≤ 3 (hospitality) or ≤ 5 (industrial); PF ≥ 0.9; THD ≤ 15 %.
- Projects often require IES/LDT files and ENEC+ reports.
- Five‑year warranty demands a design life of seven or more.
- Some SMEs drop housings each year—no spare parts later.
- We work only with factories that freeze tooling for five years and offer brand‑name drivers.
- We run SDCM, CRI and flux checks during the pilot run, guaranteeing data matches the spec before mass production.
3.3 Budget Lines for Emerging Markets
Market Facts- A small saving on a 9 W bulb can double sales volume.
- LED or driver swaps between pilot and mass run are common.
- Missing surge parts halves life and raises fire risk.
- We rely on a vetted pool of Tier‑2 makers with return rates under 1.5 %.
- We match every LED reel and driver code to the BOM; any mismatch stops the line within 30 minutes.
4. Quality Control Beyond the Certificate
Market Facts
- 100 % aging test, two hours at 55 °C.
- AQL 1.5 (visual), 0.65 (safety).
- Rolling 4 000 h life test on 2 % of every lot.
Watch‑outs
- “Golden sample” labs polish only the first 200 pcs.
- Colour shift appears after 1 000 h—long after shipping.
- We station inspectors full‑time for first orders and run unannounced visits later.
- We operate life‑test racks that flag failures months before customers could.
5. Logistics & Consolidation
Market Facts
- Lights are bulky; freight charges by cubic metre.
- Chongqing–Duisburg rail rivals sea cost and halves transit time (15–18 days).
Watch‑outs
- Miss vessel cut‑off = two‑week delay.
- Mixed pallets crush retail boxes if not six‑side strapped.
- We consolidate pallets across clients to secure full‑container rates.
- We apply ISTA 3A drop tests and six‑side strapping, cutting damage claims by ≈ 40 %.
6. Intellectual Property & Sustainability
Market Facts
- China enforces design patents when registered with local evidence.
- EU tenders ask for carbon‑footprint data and ISO 14001 certification.
Watch‑outs
- If the factory owns your mold, it can run parts for competitors.
- Fail an ESG audit and lose green‑procurement bids.
- We co‑register molds in your name and keep them under tag control on‑site.
- We arrange SMETA, Amfori and ISO 14001 pre‑audits so you pass CSR checks without flying a team.
7. Ten‑Step Checklist
- Define target market: Pro / Developed Consumer / Budget.
- List compliance marks required.
- Confirm the latest standard dates.
- Select factory tier and audit status.
- Synchronise your order with a big‑brand run.
- Freeze BOM & photometry before tooling.
- Build in‑line QC & 100 % aging.
- Plan life‑test sampling for warranty length.
- Secure mold ownership and NDA.
- Book freight early; add buffer days.