Expanding business in China is both a desire and a major challenge for many Brazilian companies. Doing international trade efficiently with the Chinese market, considered the largest and most dynamic in the world, requires cultural knowledge, structure and reliable interlocutors.
It was precisely in the face of these obstacles that Dufrio, a leading refrigeration company, found the ideal partner in Afianci Global Networking's ChinaHub to consolidate its operations in China.
Want to know more? Read on and find out how Dufrio managed to pay for its entire expansion project in China in just one month with the help of Afianci!
Why is being present in China so challenging?
Many Brazilian companies already have China as their main trading partner. In this sense, the importance of being present in the country is undeniable: proximity to suppliers guarantees better negotiations, technological innovation and scalability.
However, the obstacles to turning this potential into concrete results are great:
- Cultural and language barriers;
- High cost of frequent travel;
- Lack of reliable interlocutors for negotiations;
- Legal and accounting challenges for opening and maintaining a unit;
- Quality management and logistics at a distance.
These obstacles are part of everyday life for many companies and Dufrio was no different. But with Afianci Global Networking's ChinaHub solution, it was possible to change this reality. Shall we learn more about this successful case?
The Dufrio case: local presence with intelligence and confidence
Dufrio is one of the largest air conditioning and refrigeration distributors in Brazil, a benchmark in its segment and with operations throughout the country.
The company's partnership with China has been going on for more than 20 years with import processes, but it faced specific difficulties to speed up product development.
It was in this context that Pablo Franco, Purchasing and International Business Executive from Dufrio, sought out Afianci's solution:
“One of the biggest difficulties we had was speeding up product development. The time zone issue alone doubled the time. With Project China, agility, quality and, above all, negotiation have changed completely. The Chinese culture of being present in a room, having tea with the supplier, changes everything. Relationships, payment deadlines, structuring the product from start to finish... everything is different when you're there.” - Pablo Franco
Ready-made structure and comprehensive support in China
The partnership between Afianci and Dufrio began in 2024, when Pablo met Radamés Parmeggiani, CEO of Afianci, at a trade fair. The trust already existed from previous deals, and when the need arose to expatriate an employee to China, the choice of Afianci was natural.
“I needed someone I really trusted. The decision was unanimous for Afianci, which had its headquarters in Brazil, financial health and consolidated history.”, explains Pablo.
The partnership continued and ChinaHub's solutions simplified Dufrio's structuring in China. This arrival in the country, which could have been full of uncertainties, was completely optimized:
“When I got there, I already had a pre-prepared structure. The office was ready, personalized, I already had apartment options, internet installed. It helped a lot, both in my personal and professional life. In negotiations, I had great difficulty with language. But with the ChinaHub team, made up of Mandarin-speaking Brazilians and Portuguese-speaking Chinese, I felt supported at all times. They showed me the best ways to negotiate and find suppliers.” - Pablo Franco
The results of the partnership were felt in no time:
“After a month in China, we had already paid for the entire project just by renegotiating with the suppliers we already had. ChinaHub helped me with a large part of this result.” - Pablo Franco
Cost reduction and total focus on the business
Another benefit of ChinaHub, highlighted by Dufrio, is the possibility of focusing entirely on product development and negotiations, without having to worry about day-to-day bureaucracy and unforeseen events.
“A lot of people think it's easy to bring products from China. It's easy for simple things. But when you're talking about big businesses, companies with volume or strong growth potential, this service makes all the difference. If I had to worry about structuring an office, an apartment, the internet going down, the electricity going out... my focus would be on something else. The investment is justified because we can focus on doing business.” - Pablo Franco
Now that you've seen the impressive results that Dufrio achieved with Afianci's help, how about finding out what ChinaHub is and how it can provide complete support for your business?
What is Afianci Global Networking's ChinaHub?
O ChinaHub is a complete 360º support service created for Brazilian companies that need to have a physical and strategic presence in China. Afianci, which has been operating in the country for over 10 years, offers a solid infrastructure and a trilingual team (Portuguese, English and Mandarin) ready to help at all stages:
- Corporate office in China (private, shared or virtual rooms);
- Legal and accounting advice;
- Suport for starting a business in China or outsourcing via Afianci's structure;
- Hiring local employees or expatriation of Brazilians;
- Logistics management, trading and suppliers;
- Help with cultural adaptation and complete infrastructure.
More than offering physical space, ChinaHub provides the company with a presence in the largest global market, without the high costs that an independent operation would require.
Turn physical presence into a competitive advantage
Dufrio's case demonstrates that having a strategic presence in China is not just a question of being physically in the country - it's about having the right partner, who understands both Chinese culture and the needs of Brazilian companies.
Afianci Global Networking's ChinaHub offers this bridge: a consolidated structure, experienced trilingual staff, in-depth knowledge of the local market and 360º support, allowing Brazilian companies to turn China's challenges into concrete growth opportunities.
“I recommend Afianci and ChinaHub without a doubt. Today, with the team's support, I can really focus on what matters: product development and negotiating major projects.” - Pablo Franco
If your company already has significant operations with China or is ready to take the next step into the international market, consider that the difference between average and exceptional results may lie in the quality of the local support you choose.
Contact Afianci Global Networking and discover how ChinaHub can transform your operation in China.
