Importing building materials and home equipment from China

1. Which categories are imported and why

Construction and home equipment are common import categories from China, provided the product meets European regulations and quality stays consistent between batches.

• Claddings, ceramics, flooring and sanitaryware: high volume, significant logistics cost due to weight.
• Furniture and joinery: high quality variability and a need for approved physical samples.
• Lighting and electrical goods: a category with particularly demanding safety and marking requirements.
• Houseware and home textiles: fast rotation, sensitive to finishes, colours and retail packaging.

2. European regulations: CE marking and performance

Many construction products fall under the EU Construction Products Regulation. The framework is in transition: Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 progressively replaces Regulation (EU) No 305/2011, with transitional periods and application dates that depend on each product family and on the publication of its harmonised technical specifications. It is not a formality: where the product is covered by an applicable harmonised technical specification or a European Technical Assessment (ETA), missing the correct documentation prevents it from being marketed and jeopardises acceptance on site.

• CE marking and the declaration of performance (DoP) are required depending on the product, its intended use and whether an applicable harmonised technical specification or an ETA issued for that product exists, not automatically for any material; the new regulation progressively adds requirements such as the declaration of performance and conformity and new sustainability obligations.
• The new Regulation also establishes the framework for a digital product passport, which will be introduced progressively through the acts and requirements adopted for the relevant product families.
• The importer placing the product on the EU market takes on its own responsibilities, not only the manufacturer.
• Electrical goods must comply with the harmonised legislation applicable to their characteristics (low voltage, electromagnetic compatibility or radio equipment, among others), with technical documentation available.
• Products in contact with drinking water or food carry additional health requirements in Spain.
• Keep the technical file: market surveillance authorities may request it years later.
• Check, for each product, which version of the regulation and which harmonised technical specification applies on the date it is placed on the market; the transition timetable is updated with each publication.
• For certain goods, the definitive CBAM regime applies from 2026. Check the CN code, origin, threshold, exemptions and importer obligations; not every material is covered, and the scope of direct and indirect emissions depends on the goods. Manufacturer data and documentary coordination should be defined with specialists for the specific case.

• Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 on construction products (EUR-Lex)
• Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 (EUR-Lex)
• Construction Products Regulation (European Commission)
• CBAM definitive regime (European Commission)

Related on this site:Practical CBAM imports guide

3. Quality control for construction products

In construction, a defect does not stay in the product: it halts a site. Quality control must happen at the factory and against measurable criteria, not a visual impression.

• Define dimensional tolerances, strengths and finishes in the specification, with numeric values and measurement methods.
• Approve a physical reference sample and keep it to check each batch received.
• Schedule inspections during production and before shipment, with statistical sampling.
• Control batch-to-batch consistency: in ceramics, textiles or paint, shade variation is a common cause of rejection.
• Require the laboratory tests that support the product's declared performance.

4. Volume, packaging and project logistics

Construction material is heavy and bulky: logistics can represent a very high share of total cost and it drives the site schedule.

• Optimise palletising and container fill: shipping air is money lost.
• Packaging must survive several weeks at sea (transit varies by route, port and season), port handling and storage.
• Coordinate deliveries with the site schedule: receiving too early creates warehousing cost and damage risk.
• In phased projects, plan staggered shipments instead of a single massive delivery.

5. Sector-specific risks

The most expensive problems in this sector repeat themselves. Knowing them in advance lets you protect yourself contractually and procedurally.

• Material substitution with cheaper versions between the sample and mass production.
• Incomplete or generic CE marking documentation, which blocks goods at customs or on site acceptance.
• Delays that hit the construction schedule and contractual penalties directly.
• Breakage and transit damage from insufficient packaging on fragile goods.
• Shade or finish differences between batches on large-surface installations.

6. How to plan a sourcing project

A construction project sourced from China is managed backwards: you start from the site date and work out the milestones needed.

• Allow a realistic lead time between order confirmation and delivery at destination — as an indicative order of magnitude, several weeks to a few months depending on production, route and clearance — plus a contingency margin; confirm it with the factory and forwarder for each project.
• Close the regulatory documentation before producing, not when the goods are already in transit.
• Consolidate suppliers by product family to simplify logistics and gain negotiating power.
• Appoint a single owner for the operation to coordinate factory, inspection, transport and site.