How to buy products from 1688 to Australia [2026]

Everything you need to know about buying products from 1688 to Australia–how to manage 1688 suppliers, shipping and international payments

Key takeaways

• 1688.com offers a vast catalogue of affordable wholesale products, making it ideal for businesses looking to expand their product range globally
• Payments on 1688 require a local Chinese bank account, but solutions like WorldFirst simplify international transactions for non-Chinese buyers through World Pay
• Suppliers on 1688 are verified and often manufacturers, ensuring businesses access cost-effective sources for bulk orders
• Buyers can directly negotiate with suppliers to customise orders, fostering long-term relationships and bypassing intermediaries

For Australian businesses looking to source wholesale products from China, 1688.com is one of the most cost-effective platforms available. Owned by the Alibaba Group, it hosts over 10 million suppliers across 50+ industries and 1,700+ subcategories, with pricing that’s typically 4% to 40% lower than international-facing platforms like Alibaba.com.

The challenge for buyers outside China has traditionally been payment. 1688 was built for the Chinese domestic market, so most suppliers accept only Chinese payment methods. Some suppliers now accept international card payments, though availability varies and card payments often involve foreign exchange markups and transaction fees.

For Australian buyers looking for a more consistent way to pay 1688 suppliers, WorldFirst offers World Pay, the authorised international payment provider for 1688.com. Through the World Account, Australian businesses can pay participating 1688 suppliers directly in CNH without needing a Chinese bank account.

This guide walks through the exact steps to buy from 1688 to Australia, from setting up your accounts to placing your first order.

Steps to buy products from 1688 to Australia

Step 1: Open and translate the 1688 website

Go to 1688.com. The site is in Chinese by default. Most browsers can translate the page automatically:

• Chrome: right-click anywhere on the page and select “Translate to English”
• Firefox: install a translation add-on if you don’t have one built in
• Safari: use the translation icon in the address bar

Google Translate also works for translating specific phrases or product names when needed.

Step 2: Register and verify your 1688 account

To register, either sign up directly on 1688.com or use the Taobao mobile app (Taobao and 1688 are both Alibaba Group platforms and share login credentials). Foreign buyers should register as an individual, not as a company, because company registration on 1688 is meant for domestic Chinese businesses.

Once registered, you’ll need to verify your account by linking a personal Alipay account. Download the Alipay app, register with your mobile number, complete the identity verification (which includes uploading your passport and taking a live photo), then link the Alipay account to your 1688 account.

Step 3: Set up your WorldFirst account and activate World Pay

Before you can pay 1688 suppliers through World Pay, you’ll need a WorldFirst account and World Pay activated on it. WorldFirst is the only authorized payment provider for making international payments on 1688.com

Register with WorldFirst: Sign up at worldfirst.com and complete the account application. Verification typically takes a few business days once documents are submitted.

Activate World Pay in your dashboard: Once your account is live:

1. Log in to your WorldFirst dashboard
2. Go to Payments → World Pay
3. Click Activate to authorise cross-border payments
4. Enter your 1688 ID to link your 1688 account
5. Read and agree to the terms shown on the page, then click Next
6. Enter the 6-digit verification code sent to your mobile number

Once activated, your 1688 account is linked to your World Account and you can pay participating 1688 suppliers directly in CNH.

Step 4: Search for products on 1688

Finding products across 10 million suppliers and 1,700+ subcategories can take some navigation. Two techniques help:

• Text search with Google Translate: Convert the product name from English to Chinese, then paste the Chinese term into the 1688 search bar. This returns much more accurate results than searching in English.
• Image search: Click the camera icon in the search bar and upload an image of the product you’re looking for. 1688 returns visually similar listings from across the platform. Useful when you have a reference product but don’t know its Chinese name.

Step 5: Find a suitable supplier

The same product can be listed by dozens of suppliers with different quality and pricing. When comparing suppliers, look at:

• Years of operation on the platform
• Response rate to buyer messages
• Delivery time based on past order performance
• Trustworthiness badge (marked as 实⼒商家), awarded to suppliers meeting 1688’s quality and delivery standards
• Location relative to your freight forwarder
• Repurchase rate, showing what share of buyers return for more orders
• Minimum order quantity (MOQ) that fits your first purchase size

A high repurchase rate on an established supplier is one of the strongest signals of consistent quality. A supplier with many years but a low repurchase rate is worth a closer look before committing.

Note: You can also find dropshipping suppliers on 1688 to kickstart your e-commerce journey. Though the process might not be as direct as AliExpress or Alibaba dropshipping.

→ For a more detailed comparison, take a look at the 1688 vs Alibaba and 1688 vs AliExpress guides.

Step 6: Communicate with the supplier

Communication with suppliers is one of the most important yet difficult aspects of buying products on 1688.

1688 lets you message suppliers directly through Aliwangwang, 1688’s built-in chat tool. Most suppliers also use WeChat for ongoing conversations. Since most suppliers have limited English, keep messages short, clear and professional.

Confirm these details before placing an order:

• Whether the product can be shipped outside China (some suppliers only supply domestically)
• Return and refund policy
• Delivery timeframe and any inventory or manufacturing lead time
• Product certifications, if your product category requires them
• Minimum order quantity and unit pricing at different volumes

Sourcing agents are an option if you’d prefer someone else to handle supplier communication and quality control. They typically charge 1% to 3% commission.

Step 7: Place your order and pay with World Pay

Once you’ve chosen a product and supplier, add the order to your cart on 1688 and go to checkout. To pay with World Pay:

1. On the checkout page, tick cross-border logistics and click custom order
2. Select RMB as the currency
3. Select Cross-border treasure (跨境宝) as the payment method
4. Tap Agree to the agreement and pay
5. Enter your Alipay password to confirm the order

The payment amount is deducted from your CNH balance in the World Account. If you don’t have enough CNH, you can top up from an external bank account or convert from other currency balances in your World Account at competitive rates. Payments are instant, and fees are up to 0.8% of the total amount.

Review the order summary after payment to confirm delivery timelines and any final details with the supplier.

Step 8: Arrange shipping

Most 1688 suppliers don’t handle international shipping. To get products from China to Australia, you’ll need to arrange freight separately, either through a freight forwarder or a direct courier arrangement.

Freight forwarders handle documentation, customs clearance, insurance and last-mile delivery. For most first-time 1688 buyers, working with a freight forwarder is the simpler route because they manage export documentation and Australian customs on both ends.

When choosing a freight forwarder, factor in the supplier’s location. A forwarder close to the supplier’s factory reduces domestic Chinese transport costs and speeds up the pickup step. Air freight is faster but more expensive; sea freight is cheaper for larger volumes but takes weeks.

Why buyers use WorldFirst for 1688 payments

World Pay is the authorised international payment provider for 1688.com. For Australian businesses paying suppliers on 1688 regularly, the World Account provides a few advantages over trying to arrange each payment through a bank or card:

• Direct CNH payments to participating 1688 suppliers, funded from your World Account CNH balance
• Instant settlement to the supplier once the payment is confirmed
• Fees up to 0.8% of the total payment amount, with no minimum transfer requirement
• No annual FX limits on how much you can send
• Competitive rates on converting AUD or other currencies into CNH within the account
• Local receiving accounts in 20+ currencies including AUD, USD, GBP, EUR, CNH, NZD, SGD and JPY, useful for businesses also collecting international sales revenue
• The World Card for paying suppliers on Alibaba, AliExpress and other platforms wherever Mastercard is accepted, with no fees when paying in any of the 15 supported currencies (with sufficient balance held in that currency). Cashback on eligible spending (Terms and Conditions Apply).
• Zero fees on account opening, monthly maintenance and receiving funds

The same World Account handles the entire cross-border workflow: paying 1688 suppliers in CNH through World Pay, paying freight forwarders in USD or other currencies, and collecting international sales revenue from customers or marketplaces.

FAQs

1. How do I pay 1688 suppliers from Australia?

Most 1688 suppliers accept Chinese payment methods such as Alipay, WeChat Pay and Mainland China bank transfers. Some suppliers now accept international card payments, though availability varies. World Pay, the authorised international payment provider for 1688.com, lets Australian buyers pay participating suppliers directly in CNH from a World Account without needing a Chinese bank account.

2. How do I activate World Pay for 1688 payments?

Once you have a WorldFirst account, log in to your dashboard, go to Payments → World Pay, click Activate, enter your 1688 ID to link the account, agree to the terms, and enter the verification code sent to your mobile. Once activated, you can select World Pay (Cross-border treasure) as your payment method at 1688 checkout.

3. What are the fees for paying 1688 suppliers through World Pay?

Fees are up to 0.8% of the total payment amount. There are no minimum transfer amounts and no annual FX limits on how much you can send.

4. Do 1688 suppliers ship to Australia?

Generally no. Most 1688 suppliers only arrange domestic delivery within China. To get products to Australia, you’ll typically use a freight forwarder or sourcing agent to consolidate goods, manage export documentation and arrange international shipping.

5. How long does it take to receive products from 1688 in Australia?

Timelines depend on the supplier’s manufacturing or dispatch time and the shipping method. Air freight from China to Australia typically takes 5 to 10 days once dispatched; sea freight takes 3 to 6 weeks. Factor in supplier lead time (often 5 to 30 days depending on whether the product is in stock or made to order) on top of shipping.

6. Is 1688 safe for Australian buyers?

1688 can be a safe platform when you evaluate suppliers carefully. Suppliers must have a Chinese business licence to list, but buyer diligence still matters. Check the supplier’s years of operation, response rate, trustworthiness badge, repurchase rate and factory information before placing an order.

7. Can I place small orders on 1688?

Yes. Minimum order quantities are generally low on 1688, and unit pricing decreases as order volume increases. Some suppliers accept orders of as few as two units, though shipping cost per unit becomes disproportionately high on very small international orders.

8. What’s the difference between 1688 and Alibaba for Australian buyers?

1688 primarily serves the Chinese domestic market, with lower prices and Chinese-only payment methods for most suppliers. Alibaba is designed for international B2B buyers and accepts a wider range of international payment methods. Buyers who source through both can use World Pay for 1688 in CNH and the World Card for Alibaba purchases wherever Mastercard is accepted.

Disclaimer: The information contained is general only and largely our views. Before acting on the information you should consider whether it is appropriate for you, in light of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Although information has been obtained from and is based upon multiple sources the author believes to be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy and it may be incomplete or condensed. All opinions, estimates, mentioned products/services and referenced material constitute the author’s own judgement as of the date of the briefing and are subject to change without notice. WorldFirst shall not be responsible for any losses or damages arising from your reliance of such information. Information on 1688 and its products/services are sourced from and can be found at 1688.com.