China produces the large majority of the world’s work gloves, and most importers buy through a trading company they have never met. This guide lays out what a direct factory purchase actually looks like — the numbers, the process and the checks — so your first order lands on time, to spec, and without surprises.
Step 1: Define the specification before asking for a price
A quotation is only as good as the spec behind it. For coated gloves the essentials are: liner gauge and material (13G polyester, 15G nylon, HPPE for cut resistance), coating (PU / nitrile sandy / nitrile foam / latex), cut level (ANSI A1–A9 / EN 388 A–F), sizes and colours, packing (e.g. 1 pair/polybag, 12 pairs/inner box, 120 pairs/carton), and any marking (logo, hangtag, barcode). Send a physical sample of your current glove if you have one — matching a sample is faster and safer than describing one.
Step 2: Understand the price levels you will see
| Product type | Typical FOB China at 5,000 pairs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 13G polyester + PU | USD 0.35 – 0.55 / pair | Most competitive segment; price-driven |
| 15G nylon + nitrile foam | USD 0.55 – 0.85 / pair | Coating weight drives the range |
| 13G HPPE + sandy nitrile, A4 | USD 1.10 – 1.60 / pair | Cut level and yarn content drive the range |
| HPPE A6 – A9 (TDM) | USD 1.80 – 4.00+ / pair | Ask for the ISO 13997 report, not just the label |
| Private label (logo, custom pack) | + tooling / setup, usually USD 30 – 150 | Screen/print plate + first-article approval |
Ranges reflect common factory-direct levels; they move with yarn prices (HPPE tracks petrochemical cycles) and with quantity. Treat them as orientation, not quotation.
Step 3: MOQ, payment and lead time
- MOQ: 1,000 pairs per style/colour is the standard factory floor for stock programmes; private label usually starts around 500 pairs per style. Mixed sizes are expected inside one style.
- Payment: T/T 30% deposit with the order, 70% against copy of B/L is the industry norm. Large first orders from a new buyer may be asked for L/C at sight — a reasonable factory protects itself, and a reasonable buyer accepts it once.
- Lead time: 25–35 days after deposit for stock colours; add 7–10 days for custom colours or private-label packaging.
- Incoterms: FOB (Shanghai/Ningbo/Shenzhen) is default; CIF or DDP can be quoted but check who clears customs.
Step 4: The quality checks that actually catch problems
- Pre-production sample (PP sample): approved in writing before bulk starts. This is your reference for everything that follows.
- Third-party inspection during production (SGS / BV / TIC or a local inspector): check AQL 2.5 for major defects — cut level is lab-verified per batch, not visually.
- Drop test on arrival: random 5 pairs per carton for coating adhesion, sizing consistency and stitching — cheap, fast, and catches the embarrassing failures.
- Documents: EN 388 / ANSI test reports per model, plus CE / UKCA documentation if you sell into the EU/UK. Keep them on file — retailers and tenders ask years later.
Five mistakes to avoid
1. Buying on price alone. A USD 0.05 saving per pair disappears with one rejected carton — or one customer complaint about cut performance.
2. No written spec. “Same as before” means nothing when the factory’s “before” is not yours.
3. Skipping the PP sample. Colour and coating weight drift between batches; the sample is the only anchor.
4. Ignoring packing. Carton dimensions and weight decide your freight cost more than the glove price. Ask for the carton spec in the quotation.
5. Treating the deposit as the end of diligence. Stay in touch during production — a factory that answers mid-production is the factory you want for the second order.
Working with a factory like Mesian
China Hunan Mesian Safety Technology Co., Ltd. is a family-owned glove factory in Changsha — 8,000 m², 170 workers, 8 million pairs a year, own spinning mill and own dipping lines (PU, sandy nitrile, foam nitrile), cut-resistant range from ANSI A1 to A9. We export to the Americas, Europe and Southeast Asia, and we work with importers and national distributors on both stock and private-label programmes. Send your specification and you will have a firm quotation within 24 hours; samples are US$19.90 worldwide and credited to your first bulk order.
