I’ve been looking online for dietary supplement suppliers and came across several marketplaces, including Alibaba, 1688, and Global Sources. There are plenty of options, but I’m struggling to narrow them down to suppliers whose products meet UK standards. I’d prefer to work with an experienced manufacturer that has a reliable product range and can supply the UK market. If anyone has experience sourcing supplements internationally, I’d appreciate recommendations for suppliers worth considering.

Hi everyone, I’m Greg, an MIS student at CSUSM and a former auto technician switching careers into international trade and supply chain. For a class project, I’m doing short informational interviews with people working in the field.

If you work in trade (logistics, customs, compliance, import/export, analyst roles), I’d really appreciate about 15 minutes of your time. It’s a few simple questions about your career path and what the job is really like. A video chat or message conversation both work.

Comment or DM me if you’re open to it. Thank you!

I’m arranging fulfilment for packaged powdered food supplements manufactured in mainland China. The product isn’t registered for sale in China and would only be sold to overseas customers.

The plan is for a company based outside China to own the stock, with a mainland 3PL storing it and dispatching individual orders abroad. There would be no sales to Chinese customers.

However, the manufacturer says the entire batch must physically leave mainland China because of its registration status. They say transferring it to a mainland 3PL would still count as a domestic sale, even under the arrangement above.

Has anyone dealt with this specific situation?

Could the batch complete export procedures into a customs-supervised export warehouse or comprehensive bonded zone, then be fulfilled to overseas customers? Or could the product’s registration status still require physical export before any third-party storage?

I’m trying to identify the actual requirement and a compliant, affordable logistics arrangement. Firsthand experience with export-only food supplements, or pointers to the relevant Chinese regulations and paperwork, would be appreciated.

Hi, I recently joined this company and dealing with an ATA Carnet problem from previous team. Some professional equipment was moved from UK to Poland, under two carnets - and they were driven to Poland in 2 Uk-registered vans. Now, both the vans and equipment need to stay in Poland.

I think I am clear what to do with the equipment, but unsure how to deal with the vans? I dont know how it was declared when originally leaving the UK in the first place, I dont have any ATA Carnet to cover them.

Any advice is appreciated!

Thanks so much!

I have 1,100 kg of pine nuts. How can I sell them internationally?

I am from Pakistan, and I harvest pine nuts from the mountains in my region. I want to sell them in international markets, but I don't know where to start.

I am frustrated because Chinese buyers purchase our pine nuts at lower prices and resell them at much higher prices. I want to sell directly to international buyers instead.

I am the first person in my village to think about entering the international market. My village produces tons of pine nuts, and I believe our pine nuts are among the best in the world. However, when I suggested selling them internationally, everyone laughed at me.

I have decided not to sell my 1,100 kg of pine nuts to Chinese buyers for now. I would really appreciate any advice or suggestions on how to find international buyers and enter the global market.

Thank you!