PTL Group offers international companies a flexible, compliant alternative to relying only on local distributors. Our model provides better control over your business operations and sales, supported by experienced, on-the-ground execution.
With over 25 years of experience, PTL Group understands the challenges foreign companies face in China — from compliance and pricing to logistics and customer access. Our tailored model allows you to operate effectively in the Chinese market without opening a subsidiary.
Why Choose PTL Group for Distribution in China
Many companies start with a local distributor, expecting simplicity. But over time, they face limited client visibility, lack of control over pricing and branding, and a growing dependency on third parties.
Our distribution solution for the Chinese market is designed to solve these issues. As your local partner, PTL Group gives you ownership of your pricing strategy, visibility into operations, and control over your customer relationships, while ensuring full compliance with Chinese laws and regulations.
While you drive sales and manage customer relationships, we provide the infrastructure and operational backbone for you to sell in China: import licensing, product registration, warehousing, RMB invoicing, payment collection, and profit repatriation. Whether you’re testing the market or expanding your footprint, our model makes distribution in China more accessible and efficient, without setting up a WFOE.
Managing Distribution in China with PTL Group
Our role is more than support — we become your trading execution arm. As a trusted intermediary between you and local clients or OEMs, PTL Group helps protect your commercial interests and ensure consistency in pricing, service, and brand presentation. Unlike a local distributor, who usually controls all these aspects on your behalf, but cares more for their own interests than yours.
Our Trading Services in China, also go a step further: as the official seller of record, PTL Group signs sales contracts on your behalf. This means we bear legal and operational responsibility for the transaction. Our reputation – and yours – depends on every step of the process being handled professionally and in full regulatory compliance. While we do not manage business development or direct sales activities, we provide full infrastructure to support your local sales team, from hiring and employment to regulatory, financial, and logistical services.
Who Benefits from Our Distribution Services in China?
PTL Group’s services are ideal for:
- Mid-sized companies seeking scalable operations in China
- Exporters and manufacturers looking to protect their brand, pricing, and data
- Businesses facing challenges with traditional distributors
- Companies testing the Chinese market without committing to a legal entity
- Firms with operations across provinces need coordinated distribution
We tailor our approach to fit your specific goals and structure, whether you’re launching or optimizing your distribution in China.
How Our Distribution Model Works
Our process gives you full operational capability without the need to manage everything yourself:
- Product Compliance & Registration
We handle import approvals and register your products under PTL Group’s licenses. - Import & Warehousing
Goods are imported under our licenses and stored in our strategically located warehouses. - Sales Execution
PTL Group signs RMB contracts with your Chinese clients, issues compliant invoices, and collects payments. - Order Fulfillment
Our local team picks, packs, and delivers orders while managing inventory in real-time. - Revenue Repatriation
Funds are transferred to your international account, and all taxes and documentation are handled locally.
This model reduces complexity and cost while maintaining your oversight and compliance throughout the entire process of distribution in China.
FAQs About Our Distribution Services in China
Is PTL Group a distributor?
No. We are not a distributor in the traditional sense. We act as your operational partner — not a reseller — ensuring you maintain pricing power and direct relationships with clients. While your sales and support team directs their focus on growing your business, our operations teams execute their sales orders, as part of our Trading Services in China.
Do I need to establish a Chinese entity to work with PTL Group?
No. That’s the advantage. Our framework allows you to operate legally and efficiently in China without registering a WFOE.
What are some hidden advantages of managing distribution in China through PTL Group?
A key benefit is the integration between our logistics and finance teams. Unlike freight forwarders or import agents, PTL Group oversees the entire supply chain – from licensing and customs to financial transactions and VAT management. This reduces friction, improves cost predictability, and prevents delays – ultimately saving you time and money.
Can I switch from my current distributor to PTL Group?
Absolutely. Many clients move to PTL GROUP after encountering issues with traditional distributors. We manage smooth transitions that protect your business continuity and customer relationships.
Why should I work with an Agent, like PTL Group, and not directly with the distributor?
We provide the operational execution arm to your sales process, free of conflicting interests and other priorities. A distributor is limited to their network and, typically, restricted to their location. A distributor also has their priorities and other clients, so your products might not always be at the top of their list. An agent such as PTL Group works for you and does not have conflicting sales priorities with other products.
Ready to Rethink Your Distribution in China?
At PTL Group, we believe that companies should be able to expand into China without losing control. With over 25 years of experience, the services we provide for efficient distribution and trading in China are built to give you independence, transparency, and peace of mind.
Q&A about Logistics management in China
What are the main ports in China?
China has a vast coastline and numerous ports, both on its mainland and offshore islands. Some of the main ports in China include:
- Shanghai: The Port of Shanghai is the world’s busiest container port, handling over 43 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of cargo annually.
- Shenzhen: The Port of Shenzhen is the fourth-busiest container port in the world, handling over 25 million TEUs of cargo annually. It is also a major gateway for trade between China and Hong Kong.
- Ningbo-Zhoushan: The Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan is the third-busiest container port in the world, handling over 27 million TEUs of cargo annually. It is located on China’s east coast, south of Shanghai.
- Qingdao: The Port of Qingdao is located on China’s northeast coast and handles over 19 million TEUs of cargo annually. It is a major gateway for trade between China and Japan, South Korea, and other countries in the region.
- Tianjin: The Port of Tianjin is located on China’s northern coast and handles over 16 million TEUs of cargo annually. It is a major gateway for trade between China and northern Asia.
- Guangzhou: The Port of Guangzhou is located on China’s southern coast and handles over 18 million TEUs of cargo annually. It is a major gateway for trade between China and Southeast Asia.
- Read more about the most important ports for logistics in China.
What is a CCC (China compulsory certificate)?
A mandatory certification system implemented by China to ensure that products imported or sold in the Chinese market comply with specified safety, quality, and environmental protection standards. The CCC mark is required for a wide range of products, including electrical and electronic devices, automotive parts, toys, and medical devices.
What is an ATA Carnet ATA?
An international customs document that allows the temporary importation of goods for exhibitions, trade shows, or professional purposes without paying import duties or taxes. ATA Carnet simplifies customs procedures and facilitates the temporary movement of goods across multiple countries.
More information about Distribution Services in China
- Managing Distributors in China: Opportunities, Challenges, and Solutions
- Tapping into Chinese Market Potential: The Many Benefits of Trading Services in China
- Haven’t Registered an Entity in China? You Can Still Build Your Local Business
- Outsourcing Supply Chain Management: Make Your China Business Work Better
- Understanding Accounting and Stock Management in China: A Practical Guide