What is 1688?
1688.com is a subsidiary of Alibaba Group, founded in 1999 with the mission of connecting Chinese manufacturers, factories, and wholesalers directly with domestic buyers. Originally designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in China to source products at wholesale prices from millions of manufacturers, the platform has since expanded to serve overseas buyers in markets like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Vietnam.
Why source products from 1688?
Competitive pricing
● Eliminate middleman markups: Most suppliers on 1688 are factories and wholesalers, allowing buyers to avoid extra fees that comes with trading companies
● Volume discounts: Tiered pricing means lower per-unit costs for larger orders
Vast product selection
● 10M+ suppliers across 1,700 subcategories with nearly every Chinese factory is represented
● Complete online catalogue: Buyers can explore endless options online without anytravel
Reliable and vetted suppliers
● Verified business licenses: All suppliers are vetted and required to display registration details (founding date, capital, address)
● Cross-border support: Dedicated “Cross-Border Supply” section simplifies international product sourcing
Low MOQs
● Order as few as 1–2 items: Unlike traditional wholesale platforms with high MOQs, 1688 offers low MOQs for many products
● Ideal for startups and market testing: With low MOQs, small businesses with limited budgets can quickly order products and even test the markets and product quality before placing bulk orders
