Your supplier in China sends you a quotation for the same product, at the same dollar price as earlier this year. Nothing has changed. Or so it seems.
Between 28 January and 2 November 2026, the euro fell from 1.1974 to 1.1216 against the US dollar, based on the European Central Bank’s reference rates.
For a $100,000 order, that means the euro cost rose from approximately €83,514 to €89,158. That is €5,644 more, even though the supplier’s price stayed the same.
The euro also fell against the Chinese yuan over that period, from 8.3176 to 7.4567 yuan. That matters if you buy in yuan, but it can affect dollar quotations too.
Why suppliers feel it too
Many Chinese manufacturers quote in dollars but pay their employees, material suppliers and subcontractors in yuan. When the yuan strengthens against the dollar, each dollar brings in fewer yuan.
Some factories can absorb that difference. Others may shorten the validity of their quotations or ask to revise a price. It depends on their margins, costs and how they manage currencies.
This does not automatically mean a supplier can change an agreed price. That depends on what the quotation and contract say.
Different payments, different rates
A quotation is only the start. If you pay a deposit before production and the balance before shipment, you may convert euros into dollars at two different rates. Freight may be quoted and paid separately.
There is also the customs exchange rate. In euro-area countries, customs generally uses the ECB rate published on the second-last Wednesday of the previous month to calculate the customs value. EU countries outside the euro area use rates published by their competent national authority or a designated bank.
That means the rate used to calculate duty and the starting value for import VAT may be different from the rate you paid your supplier at.
What to check before placing an order
When comparing quotations, convert them on the same date and check that they cover the same products, quantities and delivery terms.
Before confirming the order, make sure you know:
- What currency is the quotation in, and how long is it valid?
- Is the price fixed once the order is accepted?
- Can the price be adjusted if exchange rates change?
- When are the deposit, balance and freight payable, and in which currency?
At Berg, we look at these details alongside the supplier’s price. If there is a possibility of a price adjustment, it is better to agree how it will work before production starts.
The figures above use ECB reference rates. The rate you receive from your bank or payment provider, and any fees, will affect your actual cost.
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