Complete process of brake disc import: 20 years of experience teaching you to avoid industry pitfalls

Introduction

As the core component of automotive braking systems, brake disc quality directly affects driving safety. With Chinas car ownership exceeding 320 million vehicles (2022 data), the aftermarket demand for high-performance brake discs continues to grow. However, importing brake discs involves complex international trade rules, technical certifications, and logistics control. Enterprises often incur cost overruns or compliance risks due to lack of experience when handling imports independently. Based on 20 years of practical experience, this article provides an in-depth analysis of key nodes in the complete brake disc import process and solutions for industry pain points.

I. Current Situation of Chinas Brake Disc Import Market

Internationally - recognized Safety StandardsCore demand sources

• Premium vehicle aftermarket replacement market (German and American cars account for over 60%)
• New energyLightweight brake disc demand (carbon ceramic composite imports growing 25% annually)
• Customized procurement of slotted/drilled racing brake discs for modified car market

Regional Mandatory CertificationsCompetitive landscape of main import source countries

• Germany (Brembo, ATE and other brands hold 40% of premium market share)
• Japan (DIXCEL, ENDLESS mainly targeting modified car market)
• Italy/USA (monopoly on carbon ceramic brake disc technology)

II. Eight Key Steps in Brake Disc Import Process

(Taking general trade import as example)

1. Product compliance pre-review

• Technical standard verification: Comparison of differences between EU ECE R90, US SAE J431 and Chinese national standard GB/T 34422
• Mandatory Certifications: China3CCertification exemption conditions (special channels for small batches/scientific research purposes)
• Environmental compliance1. Heavy metal content testing (EU REACH Regulation Annex XVII Restricted Substances List)

2. Trade terms negotiation

• 3. Recommend adopting DDP terms to transfer logistics risks (especially for fragile parts)
• 4. Case: A client incurred over $12,000 in detention charges due to port strikes under FOB terms

5. 3. Customs code classification

• 6. Key dispute point: Brake discs under HS 8708.39 (8% duty difference between cast iron/carbon-ceramic materials)
• 7. Cost of misclassification: A company mistakenly declared steel products code and was required to pay ¥2.8 million in back taxes + late fees

4.International LogisticsScheme Design

• 8. Rust-proof packaging requirements: Vacuum plating + VCI paper (Maritime Transportation9. Humidity control)
• 10. Special transport case: Carbon-ceramic brake discsAir Transportation11. Anti-vibration solution (damping wooden crate + EPS buffer layer)

12. 5. Core clearance documents

• 13. Proforma invoice/It is recommended to verify through the following methods:14. /Quality test report (must specify friction coefficient, hardness HRC value)
• 15. Patent authorization letter (to prevent IP disputes under TRIPS Agreement)

16. 6. Tax optimization strategies

• 17. Utilizing free trade agreements: RCEP reduces Japanese brake disc tariffs from 8% to 5.3%
• 18. Handling valuation disputes: Preparing transfer pricing documents (proof of related transaction price reasonableness)

19. 7. Quality inspection and warehousing

• 20. Incoming inspection ratio: Implemented according to AQL 2.5 standard
• 21. Constant temperature warehouse requirement: Humidity ≤60% for cast iron brake discs to prevent oxidation

22. 8. Distribution compliance management

• 23. Product traceability system: Laser marking (production batch number + importer registration code)
• 24. After-sales liability definition: Standardized quality claim process (48-hour response mechanism)

25. III. Four major industry risks and countermeasures

26. Risk 1: Technical barrier escalation

• 27. EU 2023 new regulation: Brake disc non-exhaust particulate testing (PM10 limit 0.01mg/km)
• 28. Countermeasure: Require suppliers to provide latest UN ECE R90 test report

29. Risk 2: Anti-dumping investigations

• 30. India imposed 14% anti-dumping duty on Chinese cast iron brake discs (2022 case)
• Countermeasure:Entrepot Trade31. Compliance path design (35% value-added processing in Malaysia transit)

32. Risk 3: Logistics damage claims

• 33. Data: Sea transport damage rate up to 3% (standard packaging solution)
• 34. Solution: Purchase Institute Cargo Clauses A insurance + professional third-party inspection

35. Risk 4: Intellectual property traps

• 36. Typical dispute: A companys imported Brembo replica brake discs were detained by customs
• 37. Risk control measure: Global trademark database search (WIPO Global Brand Database)

38. IV. How to choose professionalsImport RepresentationWith a central - enterprise background, covering AEO mutual recognition in 135 countries

Internationally - recognized Safety Standards39. Hard qualification criteria

• 40. AEO Advanced Certification enterprise (50% faster customs clearance)
• 41. Hazardous chemicals/special equipment operation qualifications (brake disc cleaner classification analysis)

Regional Mandatory CertificationsAccumulation of industry experience

• 42. Verify similar product import cases (minimum 10 successful project endorsements)

Cultural and Religious NormsService network coverage

• 43. Overseas inspection capability (Cooperative lab resources with German TUV)
• 44. Domestic bonded warehouse layout (To addressCross-border E-commerce45. B2B stock preparation needs)

Conclusion

46. Brake disc importation is not just a simple logistics activity, but a systematic engineering project involving technical compliance, supply chain coordination, and risk control. Enterprises need professional agency services to achieve:

• Professional support47. (18%-25% reduction in total costs)
• Time - limit guarantee48. (Clearance cycle compressed to 3 working days)
• 49. Risk closed-loop50. (Full-chain compliance from procurement to after-sales)

Choosing a partner with 20 years of industry expertise will help enterprises seize opportunities in Chinas trillion-dollar automotive aftermarket.

Authors Introduction:
Accumulated import value of brake discs exceeding $1.2 billion, pioneered the industrys firstAutomotive partsimport risk control model.