Sourcing glossary
Lead time
Also known as: Production lead time, Delivery time, 交货期, 交期, 리드타임, 납기
The time from order confirmation (usually deposit receipt) until goods are ready to ship, which in China sourcing normally excludes transit time to the destination.
Clarify what the supplier's quoted lead time starts from and ends with. "30 days" usually means 30 days after the deposit and approval of the pre-production sample until goods are packed at the factory — not until they reach you. Add sample rounds, tooling, inspection, booking and the sea or air transit to get your real timeline.
Lead times stretch before and after Chinese New Year, when factories close for several weeks and workers may not return. Put the ship date in the PO and plan a buffer. See OEM vs ODM for why custom products take longer.
Related terms
Guides that use this term
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Is My Chinese Supplier a Scam? 12 Patterns and the Checks That Catch Them
The twelve supplier scams importers meet in China, from the bank-account switch to the vanishing deposit, the check that exposes each, and what to do if you already paid.
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China Sourcing Agent: What They Do, What They Cost and When You Need One
What a China sourcing agent actually does, the four types you will meet, typical fees, when an agent beats buying direct, and a checklist to vet one before you pay.
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How to Source Women's Clothing from China: Markets, MOQ, Samples and Labels
Where women's clothing is made and sold in China, stock-pack vs made-to-order MOQs, how to sample and check quality, sizing, and the labels your market requires.
Updated 2026-10-10 · 8 min read
Yiwu
How to Buy from the Yiwu Market Without Visiting
How overseas buyers source from Yiwu remotely: agents, video-call booth tours, the Chinagoods platform, consolidation warehouses, payment, QC and the main risks.
Updated 2026-09-29 · 7 min read
Platforms
How to Verify an Alibaba Supplier Before You Pay
Check an Alibaba.com supplier step by step: what Verified and Gold Supplier badges mean, business license lookups, factory vs trader signals and red flags.
Updated 2026-09-29 · 7 min read
Part of OEM & Private Label.