Import, export and wholesale describe three different things, even though they get used almost interchangeably in casual conversation. Understanding which one applies to a specific transaction helps you ask the right questions of a supplier.
Quick Answer
Importing means bringing goods into a country. Exporting means sending goods out of a country. Wholesale means selling in bulk, regardless of direction. A company can do all three: import raw material, manufacture a product, and wholesale it domestically or export it elsewhere.
How the Three Connect in Practice
A single business can import coffee beans from Brazil, roast them domestically, wholesale the finished coffee to local supermarkets, and export a portion to another country — all three activities happening around one product. None of the three terms describe the same thing, even when they involve the same physical goods.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between import and export?
Importing brings goods into a country; exporting sends goods out of a country. They describe opposite directions of trade.
Is wholesale the same as import or export?
No. Wholesale describes selling in bulk, which can happen domestically or alongside import/export activity — it is a separate concept from trade direction.
Can one company import, export and wholesale the same product?
Yes. A company can import raw material, manufacture a product domestically, wholesale it locally, and export a portion — all as part of one supply chain.