Machinery & Equipment: Pay China Suppliers Fast
Import industrial machinery, manufacturing equipment, and capital goods Send CNY payments to China suppliers with t+0 (2.3s avg within unicorn network). Save 83% vs traditional banks.
Save £2,525 per £100k Payment
Typical savings for Machinery & Equipment paying China suppliers
- ❌ 2-3 day settlement
- ❌ Hidden FX margins
- ❌ High correspondent bank fees
- ❌ Manual compliance checks
- ✓ T+0 (2.3s avg within Unicorn network)
- ✓ Transparent pricing
- ✓ Alipay available
- ✓ 0.14s automated compliance
At £500k-£10M monthly volume, save £30,300/year
Common Challenges: Machinery & Equipment in China
Industry Pain Points
- High-value transactions (£500k-£5M+)
- Long lead times (3-12 months)
- Progress payments required
- FX exposure over project timeline
Country-Specific Considerations
- SAFE (State Administration of Foreign Exchange) compliance required
- Commercial invoices must match payment purpose
- Dual-currency accounting may be needed for large volumes
- Capital controls apply to CNY flows
How Unicorn Solves Machinery & Equipment Payment Challenges in China
Fast Settlement: T+0 (2.3s avg within Unicorn network)
Use Alipay for instant CNY settlement.Instant mobile payments, widely accepted by suppliers
Real-Time FX Exposure Tracking
Upload supplier invoices as PDFs. Our AI OCR extracts amounts and currencies. See exactly what waiting costs you in real-time. Lock rates for 15 seconds when you see a good rate.
0.14s Compliance Screening
Automated compliance checks for China regulations.SAFE (State Administration of Foreign Exchange) compliance required handled automatically.
Machinery & Equipment Payment Profile
Understanding the payment dynamics of Machinery & Equipment when paying China suppliers
⏱ Payment Timing
Milestone-based: 30% on order, 30% on manufacturing complete, 30% on delivery, 10% after commissioning. 6-12 month project cycles.
📄 Invoice Terms
30/30/30/10 milestone structure standard. LC for orders over £500k. Retention (5-10%) held for warranty period (12-24 months).
Project-based and lumpy. Capital budget cycles (Q1 approvals, Q4 spend). Long lead times mean payments spread over months.
📊 FX Risk Profile
EXTREME: 6-12 month exposure on high-value purchases (£500k-£5M). EUR and JPY volatility. FX forward contracts essential for project budgeting.
Long-term OEM relationships. German precision (quality), Chinese (price-competitive), Japanese (robotics). Service contracts maintain relationships.
Common Documentation for Machinery & Equipment
- Proforma Invoice (milestone schedule)
- Certificate of Origin
- CE/UKCA Declaration of Conformity
- Installation & Commissioning Certificate
- Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) Report
Popular China Supplier Types for Machinery & Equipment
Common China Suppliers
- Textile manufacturers (Guangzhou, Shenzhen)
- Electronics suppliers (Shenzhen, Shanghai)
- Machinery manufacturers (Ningbo, Dongguan)
- Consumer goods factories (Yiwu, Foshan)
Payment Tips for China
- Avoid SWIFT fees (3-4%) by using local rails like UnionPay or CIPS
- Schedule payments before Chinese holidays (CNY week shuts down)
- Use freight forwarder as commercial invoice reference
- Lock FX rates before placing large orders to protect margins
Ready to Pay China Suppliers 83% Cheaper?
Join Machinery & Equipment businesses saving £2,525 per £100k payment with t+0 (2.3s avg within unicorn network).
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