direct import

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablebusiness

   A product bought from a foreign producer and brought into a country without going through a local distributor.

   Grammar: Countable and often plural: cheap direct imports from Asia.

   Patterns

   • a direct import from somewhere
   • direct imports of something
   • buy something as a direct import

   These wines are direct imports from small family farms in Italy.

   The shop sells direct imports at lower prices because there is no middleman.

   Direct imports of electronics rose sharply last year.

2. 2noununcountablebusiness

   The activity or process of bringing goods into a country yourself, without using an importer or agent.

   Grammar: Uncountable when it names the practice: the direct import of coffee.

   Patterns

   • the direct import of something
   • direct import from somewhere

   The company began the direct import of coffee to control quality.

   Direct import saves money but means handling customs yourself.

Word forms

Common combinations

direct import from

These cheeses are a direct import from France.

direct import costs

Direct import costs include shipping and customs duties.

direct import business

She runs a small direct import business selling Japanese tea.

by direct import

We get all our olive oil by direct import.

Synonyms and how they differ

direct purchase

Broader: it can mean buying anything straight from the source, not only goods from abroad.

Opposites

Word family

importer noun

A person or company that brings goods into a country.

import verb

To bring goods into a country from abroad.

importation noun

The formal act of importing goods.

Commonly confused: direct import or direct shipment?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “direct import”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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