{"id":3624,"date":"2026-08-05T15:22:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T15:22:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sanyangmedical.com\/tt-vs-lc-payment-terms-medical-equipment\/"},"modified":"2026-08-05T20:05:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T20:05:11","slug":"tt-vs-lc-payment-terms-medical-equipment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sanyangmedical.com\/fr\/tt-vs-lc-payment-terms-medical-equipment\/","title":{"rendered":"T\/T ou L\/C : Comment les distributeurs paient pour les importations d'\u00e9quipements"},"content":{"rendered":"

What T\/T and L\/C Mean for Medical Equipment Buyers<\/h2>\n

Telegraphic transfer (T\/T) and letter of credit (L\/C) are the two payment methods most commonly used in medical equipment imports from China. Each protects different parties at different stages of the transaction, and choosing the wrong one for your order size or relationship stage can mean either unnecessary bank fees or unprotected exposure to supplier non-performance. For distributors placing their first order with a Chinese factory, the choice between T\/T and L\/C depends on order value, trust level, and the documentation requirements of the importing country.<\/p>\n

Sanyang Medical’s standard terms reflect the most common arrangement in the industry: 30 percent T\/T deposit to initiate production and 70 percent balance before shipment. For large orders, typically above 50,000 USD, the factory accepts L\/C at sight. These terms are not arbitrary. They balance the manufacturer’s need to cover material and labor costs during production with the buyer’s need to verify that goods are produced before releasing full payment.<\/p>\n

T\/T Payment: How It Works and When to Use It<\/h2>\n

T\/T is a direct bank-to-bank wire transfer. The buyer instructs their bank to send funds to the supplier’s account. The transfer typically takes 1 to 3 business days and costs 20 to 50 USD in bank fees per transaction, regardless of the amount. For a 15,000 USD order of surgical lights and trolleys, the fee is negligible. For a 5,000 USD sample order, it is still manageable. This is why T\/T is the default method for orders under 50,000 USD and for repeat orders between parties who have an established relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Parameter<\/th>\nT\/T (Telegraphic Transfer)<\/th>\nL\/C (Letter of Credit)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Bank fees<\/td>\n20 to 50 USD flat per transfer<\/td>\n0.1% to 0.25% of transaction value<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Processing time<\/td>\n1 to 3 business days<\/td>\n5 to 10 business days<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Buyer protection<\/td>\nNone after funds leave account<\/td>\nBank guarantees payment only against shipping documents<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Supplier trust required<\/td>\nHigh (funds sent before inspection)<\/td>\nModerate (bank verifies documents)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Typical threshold<\/td>\nOrders under 50,000 USD<\/td>\nOrders above 50,000 USD or first-time buyers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The risk with T\/T is clear: once the 70 percent balance is wired, the buyer has no recourse if the goods arrive damaged or incomplete. This is why the standard practice is to pay the balance only after a pre-shipment inspection or at minimum after receiving photos of the packaged goods and the container loading process. For guidance on what to check before releasing payment, the sample order evaluation guide<\/a> covers inspection procedures that apply to both sample and production orders.<\/p>\n

L\/C at Sight: How It Works and When to Use It<\/h2>\n

A letter of credit<\/a> shifts the payment risk from the buyer to the buyer’s bank. The buyer’s bank issues a document guaranteeing payment to the supplier upon presentation of a specified set of shipping documents: bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, and any required certification documents. The bank, not the buyer, verifies that these documents match the L\/C terms exactly. If the supplier fails to ship or the documents do not match, the bank does not release payment.<\/p>\n

L\/C at sight means the bank pays the supplier immediately upon document presentation and verification. The cost is 0.1 to 0.25 percent of the transaction value, so for a 100,000 USD operating room equipment package, the fee ranges from 100 to 250 USD. For a 500,000 USD hospital project supply, it reaches 500 to 1,250 USD. This makes L\/C cost-effective only for larger orders where the flat T\/T fee savings do not compensate for the protection gained.<\/p>\n

\"Operating<\/p>\n

The 30\/70 Split: Why It Is the Industry Standard<\/h2>\n

The 30 percent deposit and 70 percent balance split exists for a specific reason. The 30 percent deposit covers the manufacturer’s material procurement costs: steel, ABS resin, LED modules, motors, and electronic components. Medical equipment manufacturing is not like consumer electronics where components are stocked in advance. Each order triggers a production run with materials purchased specifically for that order. Without the deposit, the factory would finance the buyer’s materials, which is unsustainable for a factory dealing with multiple simultaneous orders.<\/p>\n

The 70 percent balance before shipment protects the buyer. At this stage, the production is complete and the goods are packaged. The buyer can request pre-shipment photos, a third-party inspection, or even a video call to verify the production. Only after verification does the buyer release the balance. For Sanyang Medical, standard products like trolleys and examination lights complete in 3 to 7 days, while custom orders like OEM-branded pendants or beds with specific language interfaces take 15 to 20 days. The balance payment is due when production is complete, not when the order is placed.<\/p>\n

Document Requirements for L\/C Transactions<\/h2>\n

When using L\/C, the document set must be specified in the L\/C application. Medical equipment imports typically require more documentation than general consumer goods because of regulatory compliance. The following documents are standard for a medical equipment L\/C:<\/p>\n