Frequently Asked Questions

Company & Entity Structure

What is Qinico and how is the company structured?

Qinico Global Limited is a Hong Kong-headquartered international trading company with on-ground sourcing operations in Ningbo, China and agricultural supply offices in Manly NSW, Australia. We source food, furniture, and OEM electronics directly from vetted factories for global B2B buyers under Hong Kong contract protection. The tripartite structure pairs a trusted legal jurisdiction (Hong Kong) with factory-floor presence (Ningbo) and farm-gate supply (Manly) — so contracts, production oversight, and primary sourcing each sit where they perform best.

Why is a Hong Kong entity relevant to international buyers?

Hong Kong provides common-law contracting, internationally recognized banking infrastructure, and dispute protection that mainland-only trading companies cannot match. Every Qinico commercial agreement is executed under Hong Kong law, which gives overseas buyers a familiar, enforceable legal framework and cleaner cross-border payment routing than dealing directly with a mainland factory.

What does the Ningbo, China office actually do?

Our Ningbo team conducts factory audits, on-site negotiation in native Mandarin, milestone production inspections, and pre-shipment quality control. Being physically inside China's industrial belt means we verify capacity and certification claims in person rather than relying on directory listings or broker representations.

What is the role of the Manly, Australia office?

The Manly NSW office manages direct supply programs for premium Australian beef, lamb, butter, and dairy at the farm and processor level. It handles cold-chain coordination and Australian export documentation for buyers sourcing agricultural protein and dairy into the Middle East, Asia, and beyond.

Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs) & Volume Flexibility

What are indicative baseline MOQs by category?

Because each factory line operates on a different economic threshold, baseline indicative MOQs are as follows:

• Furniture: 1×20ft or 1×40ft FCL container loads — consolidation across furniture items within the same container is available, so a mixed FF&E order for a hotel project can ship in one FCL.
• OEM/ODM Electronics: Typically 100 to 500 units, scaling with tooling complexity and customization level.
• Frozen Seafood: 1 to 5 metric tons.
• Beef, Lamb & Butter (Australia): 1 to 3 metric tons.

Note: These figures serve as starting points. Exact thresholds depend on raw material batches and tooling.

Why do MOQs fluctuate and how does Qinico negotiate flexible minimums?

MOQs fluctuate based on specific partner factory schedules, custom packaging or tooling requirements, raw material market conditions, and peak production seasons (such as pre-Chinese New Year). Because our team negotiates directly on the factory floor in Mandarin, we can often negotiate lower initial trial minimums or align your production with existing material runs.

Can we do consolidated multi-product containers or sample runs?

Yes. For furniture and FF&E projects, multiple SKUs can be consolidated into a single container load to meet the 1 FCL threshold. For food shipments, consolidation is possible within the same cold-chain program. If your target volume sits below a category baseline MOQ, tell us — we will verify feasibility with our factory network rather than declining the inquiry outright.

What is the minimum order for OEM/ODM electronics?

OEM and private-label electronics typically run from 100 to 500 units minimum, depending on whether existing tooling can be used or new molds and tooling must be developed. Custom packaging, certification, and brand labeling are quoted against your specification before any deposit is taken.

Factory Quality Control & Inspection

How does Qinico verify factory quality before shipment?

Quality is controlled through a 3-tier protocol: (1) Pre-audited direct factory matching that eliminates trading brokers; (2) legally binding technical specifications signed prior to manufacturing; (3) mandatory on-site pre-shipment physical inspection with detailed photo/video reporting and continuous cold-chain temperature logging for food shipments. We do not rely on factory-supplied assurances at any stage.

What does the pre-shipment inspection include?

Before any container is sealed, an on-site inspector verifies production against the signed specification — material grades, dimensions, finish, packaging, and labeling. The inspection produces a dated dossier with high-resolution photographs and video. Material verifications and packaging drop tests are conducted where the spec demands them. You receive this dossier before the balance payment is released.

How is cold-chain temperature monitored for food shipments?

For frozen seafood, beef, lamb, and dairy, temperature is recorded at every handover point — plant, consolidation, port loading, and destination cold store — using continuous data loggers. The cold chain is held, not hoped for. Temperature records accompany the shipment and are available to the buyer alongside the export documentation set.

Are factory audits performed before an order is placed?

Yes. Candidate facilities are visited and audited before they ever quote an order. We verify true production capacity, quality systems, export track record, and certification status on the ground. A factory that cannot pass audit does not enter your shortlist.

Pricing, Currency & Payment Terms

What commercial payment terms does Qinico accept?

Standard international trade terms are 30% production deposit with the remaining 70% balance payable upon pre-shipment inspection approval. For qualified repeat buyers and high-volume procurement contracts, Letters of Credit (L/C) and tailored terms are available through our Hong Kong banking structure. The 70% balance is never requested before you have reviewed the inspection dossier.

In what currency are orders quoted and settled?

Quotes are issued in USD by default, with EUR, AUD, and HKD available on request. Settlement currency is agreed in the signed commercial terms before production begins, so FX exposure is fixed at the time of contracting rather than left to move with the market.

Is Qinico's pricing transparent, or is there a hidden broker margin?

Pricing is transparent. Because we negotiate directly with the factory that will produce your order — not a chain of trading brokers — the price you receive reflects real production cost plus Qinico's service, not stacked intermediary markups. The signed specification agreement records the commercial terms so there is a single, auditable source of truth.

When is a Letter of Credit appropriate?

L/C terms are typically used for high-volume procurement contracts and qualified repeat buyers where the order value and cadence justify the documentary structure. We coordinate L/C issuance through our Hong Kong banking partners and confirm requirements before production begins.

Shipping, Logistics & Incoterms

How long does the sourcing and delivery process take?

The standard procurement cycle spans 4 to 10 weeks: factory matching takes 3–5 days; technical negotiation and specification locking takes 5–10 days; production takes 15–45 days depending on tooling and volume; sea freight and destination customs clearance vary by trade lane. Air freight is available for urgent samples and low-volume premium shipments.

Which Incoterms does Qinico work with?

FOB (Free On Board) and CIF (Cost, Insurance & Freight) are the standard terms we quote. FOB gives you control of freight and routing from the port of loading; CIF has Qinico arrange freight and insurance to the destination port. The right Incoterm is agreed against your logistics setup and destination before contracting.

Which countries and trade lanes does Qinico support?

Qinico actively operates established trade lanes connecting China and Australia to the United Arab Emirates (Dubai), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Maldives (Malé), Sri Lanka (Colombo), the United States, and Australia, with logistics handling for any worldwide commercial port. Where a lane is new to your order, we still handle freight booking, export clearance, and the destination document set end to end.

Does Qinico handle export documentation and customs clearance?

Yes. We handle freight booking, export clearance, certificates of origin, Halal and health certificates, and the full document set your destination customs requires. For food shipments, unbroken cold-chain protocols and verified temperature logging are arranged door to door. The paperwork that clears your goods at the destination port is prepared before the container leaves China.

Certifications & Compliance

What food export certifications and cold chain guarantees are provided?

All food shipments comply with mandatory destination standards including Halal certification for Middle Eastern markets, HACCP and ISO food safety audits, unbroken temperature monitoring data loggers, and full health/veterinary export documentation. Certificates are verified against the issuing authority before they accompany the goods.

What certifications are available for electronics?

OEM/ODM electronics are supplied with the safety and compliance certifications your destination market requires — typically CE for Europe, CB scheme, UL for North America, and RoHS. Certification scope is confirmed against your specification before tooling, so the certified product is the one that ships.

Is Halal certification available for Middle East shipments?

Yes. Halal certification is arranged and verified for shipments destined to the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and other markets that require it. The certificate is checked against the issuing authority, not merely accepted as a factory-supplied document.

What quality and food safety standards does Qinico audit against?

For food, HACCP and ISO food safety audits are standard, with health and veterinary export documentation arranged per destination. For furniture and electronics, factory quality systems and certification status are verified during the pre-order audit. Compliance is treated as a condition of the order, not an afterthought.