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How to ship products from 1688 to Australia

Last update: November 19, 2025

Contents

Sourcing from 1688 but unsure how to ship products to Australia? Learn how to handle freight, customs, and payments with less friction and more control

Key takeaways

Most 1688 suppliers don’t offer international shipping as the platform is built for domestic Chinese trade
Choosing the right freight mode, whether its air, sea, or express, affects your cost, delivery time, and customer experience
Working with a shipping partner can simplify everything from warehouse consolidation to final delivery
Use WorldFirst to pay both 1688 suppliers and logistics partners in their preferred local currencies–all at competitive exchange rates

1688 is one of the biggest wholesale B2B marketplaces in the world, offering better pricing, wider product variety, and access to scalable supply chains. But since it’s built primarily for domestic Chinese businesses, most suppliers on 1688 don’t offer international shipping or have limited experience dealing with customs documentation and export procedure.

So while finding a 1688 supplier might seem straightforward, shipping goods across borders is a whole different challenge. From choosing the right freight mode to understanding customs clearance, arranging insurance, and finding a reliable shipping partner–every decision impacts your delivery timelines and profit margins.

Here’s a strategic guide to help you navigate the shipping process when sourcing from 1688.

Can you ship directly from 1688 to Australia?

In most cases, you can’t. 1688 is designed for domestic trade within China, and the majority of suppliers on the platform don’t offer international shipping. Many lack export licenses or the logistics support needed to handle cross-border orders. While some larger manufacturers may assist with shipping if you meet high MOQs, this is the exception rather than the rule. So you might need a 1688 agent who can help you manage product procurement and international shipping.

→ Check out our complete guide on how to buy from 1688 outside China

Choosing the right freight mode: Air or sea?

The freight method you choose will affect your landed cost, margins, and even customer satisfaction. Longer transit times can lead to stockouts or delayed deliveries which can eventually frustrate customers and harm your brand. That’s why successful importers carefully match their freight mode to the urgency, volume, and margins of each shipment, balancing speed and cost to maintain both profitability and service quality.

Mode	Best for	Lead time (calendar days)	Cost
Express	Urgent, low-volume orders	3-5 days	Highest
Air	Small to mid-size orders	5-10 days	Higher
Sea	Large, cost-sensitive loads	30-40 days	Lowest

Most importers use sea freight for inventory restocks and air freight for trending or time-sensitive products to manage their budget and delivery timelines. These are standard estimates and may vary based on port congestion, origin city, customs clearance, or seasonal demand, so it’s a good idea to always add a buffer to keep your operations smooth.

→ For more details how to ship from China to Australia

Customs compliance: What documents do you need?

Shipping internationally means dealing with two sets of customs processes: first in China and then in Australia. One mistake in paperwork can delay your shipment or lead to fines. You need to know about all the customs compliance requirements and import taxes in Australia.

Here’s a high-level look at the documents you may need at each stage:

Pre-shipping

Export licence (where applicable)
Permit (for restricted goods)
Proforma invoice
Certificate of inspection
Export packing list

Preparing for shipment

Commercial invoice
Export letter of credit
Cargo insurance certificate

On arrival

Bill of lading
Certificate of origin
Customs import declaration (handled by your shipping partner)

Work with a shipping partner familiar with Australian import regulations. They’ll help you avoid unnecessary delays, penalties or goods being held at the border.

What are your shipping options?

Here’s a break down the three main methods for shipping from 1688 to Australia:

Use a sourcing or dropshipping agent who can coordinate with 1688 suppliers, consolidate goods, and handle international shipping
Hire a freight forwarder to manage pickup, consolidation, customs clearance, and delivery to Australia
Use a consolidation warehouse in China if you’re ordering small quantities from multiple suppliers and then get all the goods shipped together

Choose the right option based on your shipment volume, budget, and level of control. Agents offer convenience, forwarders give more oversight, and warehouses work best for small-batch orders.

Choosing a shipping partner

If your supplier doesn’t offer shipping or you need greater control over delivery timelines, a third-party shipping partner can be your best bet. A reliable shipping partner can pick up goods from your supplier in China and also manage consolidation, inspection, customs clearance and final delivery.

Find a shipping partner

Look for a shipping partner like Wefulfil, an Australian supply chain company that provides end-to-end sourcing, warehousing and shipping solutions for e-commerce businesses. They can help with 1688 imports and handle everything from China warehouse storage to doorstep delivery in Australia. Wefulfil’s consolidated model keeps costs low while maintaining visibility and speed, perfect for 1688 buyers scaling operations.

Here’s what the shipping process looks like with Wefulfil:

Account setup and integration: Wefulfil assesses your requirements and connects with your suppliers
Suppliers ship to Wefulfil’s China warehouse: Goods from 1688 are sent directly to Wefulfil’s warehouse for inspection
Goods are checked and stored: Products are quality-checked, counted, and added to your inventory dashboard
Orders are fulfilled automatically: As customers place orders, Wefulfil handles picking, packing, and labelling
Shipments are consolidated and dispatched: Orders are grouped and shipped via air for speed and cost-efficiency
Customs cleared in Australia: Wefulfil prepares and submits all import paperwork on your behalf
Delivery to your customers: Orders are delivered within 5-8 business days of processing

Track shipments and manage returns: All activities are visible via your dashboard, including returns

Simplify payments to Chinese suppliers and shipping partners

If you need to pay 1688 suppliers, you can use World Pay, which is the only authorised payment solution for international buyers to make purchases on 1688.com. It allows international buyers to pay verified suppliers in RMB (CNY), with built-in compliance and settlement processes.

For logistics partners like freight forwarders and sourcing agents, you can send payments in 100+ currencies at competitive exchange rates, all from the same World Account. You can also open local currency accounts in 15+ currencies. So you can pay suppliers in China as well as your shipping partners directly, in their preferred local currency.

Each currency account includes local account details, which you can use to receive payments from supported 130+ marketplaces and payment getaways including Amazon, Etsy, and Stripe

Here are some of the many benefits of your World Account:

Make supplier and partner payments without needing a Chinese bank account
Get access to competitive exchange rates (0.8% of 1688 payments and up to 0.6% for all major currencies)
Maintain better cash flow visibility with a single dashboard for all payments and collections
Lock in exchange rates for up to 24 months to manage currency risks

Build a reliable 1688 supply chain

Getting goods shipped from your 1688 suppliers in China to Australia doesn’t need to be overwhelming, if you build the right infrastructure in place. Start with a shipping partner who understands B2B cross-border logistics and a payment platform like WorldFirst that can streamline international transfers while keeping costs low.

By combining sourcing, shipping and payments into one streamlined workflow, you’ll get your products faster, with fewer surprises and better margins.

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.

Rick Hill has worked in payments and financial services for the past nine years. He began his career at a large institutional bank and has since worked across startups and scaleups. Over the past four years, his experience with e-commerce retailers has led him to believe that WorldFirst will be crucial in helping brands expand globally by demystifying the complexities of entering new markets.

Rick Hill

Author

Head of Sales ANZ at WorldFirst

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How to ship products from 1688 to Australia

Can you ship directly from 1688 to Australia?

Choosing the right freight mode: Air or sea?