The Complete Guide to Buy from 1688 Outside China

Navigate the ins and outs of buying from 1688 beyond China’s borders

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.

1688.com is a major online B2B marketplace used by global businesses for product sourcing. It has over 10 million suppliers. Businesses worldwide source from 1688 to expand their SKUs and establish a stronger market presence.

Payment options vary between suppliers on 1688.com. While some sellers now accept international card payments, many continue to use Chinese payment methods such as Alipay, WeChat Pay and Mainland China bank transfers. Where international cards are accepted, foreign exchange markups and transaction fees may apply.

For businesses looking for a more consistent way to pay suppliers on 1688, WorldFirst offers the World Account, a multi-currency account that lets businesses receive, hold, convert and send funds across multiple currencies from a single platform. Through the World Account, businesses can also access World Pay, the authorised international payment provider for 1688.com, to pay suppliers directly in CNH without requiring a Mainland China bank account.

This guide covers everything businesses need to know before sourcing products from 1688, from supplier selection and payments to shipping and logistics.

What is 1688?

1688 is a B2B wholesale marketplace in China, part of the Alibaba Group. Established in 1999, it is a popular marketplace for global businesses wanting to source products directly from China.²

When comparing prices on other B2B platforms in the Chinese market, the products on 1688.com are typically 4% to 15% lower, and in some cases, they are up to 40% lower. A key advantage of the platform is its ability to take small orders of as few as two pieces.

Benefits of sourcing products from 1688?

Cost-effective and transparent pricing

Most suppliers on 1688.com are factory owners and wholesalers, offering bulk product pricing. The more units you purchase, the lesser the unit price becomes.

Low minimum order quantity

The minimum order quantities are generally low. It helps businesses evaluate product quality before placing a large order. Smaller businesses can also purchase limited product quantities as they slowly scale their operations.

Verified suppliers

Suppliers on 1688.com are required to have a Chinese business license. Each supplier provides details about their company’s date of incorporation, registered capital, and company address on their store page. Buyers can also procure from 1688.com’s cross-border site, global.1688.com, which exclusively promotes verified suppliers selling trending products in the global marketplace.

Vast variety of products

As a large local wholesale platform in China with dozens of categories listed, 1688.com offers a wide range of products and suppliers. Most factories in China are listed on 1688.com, giving buyers various choices.

Original sources

Buyers have direct access to manufacturers and suppliers based in China. They can contact sellers directly, communicate their exact requirements, discuss the possibility of customising orders, and even negotiate prices. This directly leads to stronger business relationships based on trust. Moreover, working directly with manufacturers without any middlemen can help businesses access competitive pricesfor the products they are sourcing.

Types of sellers on 1688

• Wholesalers: Make up most shops on 1688.com, offering low MOQs and minimum spending. They hold more stock than factories
• Factories and manufacturers: Specialise in bulk production, sometimes requiring 1,000+ MOQ.³ They produce on order and keep minimal inventory
• Direct factory orders: Bypasses middlemen, reducing costs for bulk buyers. The 1688 app has a “Find a Factory” option which makes it easy to find factories directly
• Brand owners: Offer low MOQs like wholesalers but sell under their own brand name instead of white-label products
• Sourcing agents: Act as middlemen, helping with supplier selection, negotiations, and quality control. They charge a 1-3% commission.

How to purchase products on 1688: Step by step guide

Step 1: Open an account on 1688

1. To register on 1688, you must first create an account. There are two ways to do that:

• Via Taobao mobile app: To register for an account on a mobile device, you must sign up via Taobao. As both 1688 and AliExpress are subsidiaries of the Alibaba Group, Taobao and 1688 accounts can share the same login details. If you already have a Taobao account, you can use those details to log in to 1688.
• Via 1688.com on PC: To register via the website, visit www.1688.com and click the 免费注册 tab, which means ‘Sign up for free.’

Note: If you can’t read Chinese, use Google Translate to convert the page into English. If you’re using Chrome as your browser, right-click and select ‘Translate into English.’

2. A pop-up will appear for a user agreement.

Please select ‘register as an individual’ and open a 1688 personal account. (Again, use Google Translate to change the text into English if necessary.)

Registering for a company account on 1688.com is meant for domestic suppliers and sellers only. Foreign companies or non-local individuals are required to register as individuals, even if they are doing so on behalf of a company.

3. Fill in your information on the registration page and click 同意并注册, which means ‘Agree and register.’

4. Enter the verification number sent to your mobile phone to verify your 1688 account

Step 2: Verify your account

To verify and activate your 1688.com, you will need an Alipay account. If you don’t have one yet, you can create one by downloading Alipay from your App store and following the below steps.

Set up an Alipay personal account

1. Register for an Alipay personal account (not a business account).

2. Enter the verification code that is sent to you on your mobile phone.

3. Next, complete the verification process, which involves uploading your passport and picture. You will also be required to take a live picture during real-time verification.

Now, your Alipay personal account is ready and you can continue setting up a 1688 account.

Connect your Alipay account to your 1688 account

1. Go to Alipay account management ‘支付宝账户管理’
2. Select ‘现在去认证’ to verify your account

• Once your status has been authenticated ‘已绑定已认证’, you can start to authorise your 1688 account with WorldFirst to make 1688 payments

That’s it. Your 1688 is ready to use and send payments to suppliers

Step 3: Pay 1688 suppliers from outside China using World Pay

1688.com primarily operates using Chinese payment methods, including Alipay, WeChat Pay and Mainland China bank transfers. Some suppliers also accept international card payments, although availability depends on the individual seller and card payments may involve foreign exchange markups and transaction fees.

Buyers based outside China can use World Pay to pay 1688 suppliers. World Pay is the authorised international payment provider for 1688.com. It is a payment service available through the World Account that enables eligible overseas businesses to pay participating 1688 suppliers directly in CNH. Businesses do not need a Mainland Chinese bank account, and payments can be funded using balances held within the World Account.

Here are some of the many benefits of registering with WorldFirst to pay Chinese suppliers on 1688

• Secure and seamless: Pay participating 1688 suppliers from Australia using your World Account. Suppliers receive payment in CNH through World Pay.
• Instant payments: Payments to 1688.com suppliers are instant and the fee is up to 0.8% of the total amount.
• No limits: There are no threshold limits for yearly foreign exchange payments. There’s also no minimum transfer amount

How to pay on 1688 with World Pay

1. Register on WorldFirst and create an account. Take a look at the complete steps for signing as a sole trader or a company

2. To make purchases on 1688.com with your WorldFirst balance, go to “Payments” > “World Pay.” At the top of the World Pay (跨境宝) page, you’ll see the available CNH balance you have to make purchases at 1688.com. If you don’t have sufficient balance, you can top up from an external bank account or convert your balances in other currencies into CNH.

3. Now, link your 1688.com account to WorldFirst. To do so, click on “Manage linked 1688.com accounts“

4. Next, fill in the phone number you used to sign up for your 1688.com account and click on “Next.” By following the prompts, you’ll be able to authorise your 1688.com account

5. Read and agree with the terms. Click on next.

6. Enter the six digit code send to your mobile number to securely authorise your 1688 account

And you’ve successfully authorised your 1688 account to WorldFirst!

7. Go back to 1688.com to place an order. On the checkout page, check custom border logistics and click on custom order.

8. On the next page, select the currency as RMB and select Cross-border treasure. Tap on the ‘agree to the agreement and pay’

9. To confirm the order, enter your Alipay password and that’s it! Your order will be directly placed and the order amount will be deducted from your World Account’s CNH balance.

Finding products and suppliers on 1688

Searching products

Searching for products on 1688 can seem daunting, as the marketplace has millions of listed products. There’s no lack of products to search for. Top categories include fashion, accessories, sports equipment, home décor, office supplies, automotive supplies, food and beverage, and raw materials.

Since the entire 1688 website is in Chinese, there are two ways to search for your desired products.

1. Use Google Translate

You can use Google Translate to convert the desired product name from English to Chinese and copy/paste the Chinese word into the search bar to find similar product listings. Alternatively, you can also use Google Translate to convert the entire website into English and then search the categories available on 1688.

2. Search by image

A quick way to find products on 1688 is to conduct an image search. If you have images of the products you want to source, you can use the image search feature on the website. Start by clicking on the camera icon, visible on the right side of the search bar, and upload the product images.

The website will then display all the product listings that match the uploaded image.

Finding reliable suppliers

The quality of the product you receive will depend significantly on the suppliers you choose, so it is crucial to find reliable suppliers.

To ensure the reliability of a new supplier, consider the following factors:

• Years of operation: You can check how many years the supplier has listed products on 1688
• Response rate: It indicates how quickly you can expect the supplier to respond to your queries
• Delivery time: The metric indicates how fast the supplier can dispatch products based on past performance

Some suppliers can dispatch within 24 hours of the order being placed. It is indicated by the label checkbox 24⼩时发货. However, it is not available for cross-border delivery.

• Trustworthiness: The label is only available to suppliers who have achieved a certain standard in quality and timely delivery (You can tick the checkbox 实⼒商家 to view suppliers that have the trustworthiness label)
• Location: You can filter suppliers based on their proximity to your logistics provider to save shipping costs and delivery time. (It is represented by the 所 在 地 区 label)
• Repurchase rate: This is a crucial metric that indicates the percentage of buyers who make repeat orders with the seller after their initial purchase. Even if the supplier has many years of experience, a low repurchase rate could indicate issues with product quality.
• Minimum order quantity (MOQ): MOQ indicates the smallest number of products a supplier can make for any given order. Each supplier sets their MOQ based on their order capabilities. Setting an MOQ helps suppliers ensure they can earn profits even on small orders. Small quantity orders can be expensive on 1688. If possible, consider larger orders to get the most value and save on shipping costs.
• In-depth inspection: You can check on factory details of a supplier by going to their company profile and clicking on 工厂档案 label, which translates to factory files. You can find a lot of information on the supplier factory, including the number of employees, fulfilment rate, factory address, contact information, list of products manufactured in the factory, and pictures of the factory.

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.

Communicating with suppliers

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

1688 allows you to communicate directly with factories and wholesalers. You can message suppliers through their shop profile using Aliwangwang, the official chat tool of 1688.com. The majority of suppliers will also offer the option to chat via WeChat. Chinese suppliers on 1688 have a limited understanding of English or other languages, so it’s essential to keep communication simple, professional, and concise.

Alternatively, a sourcing agent can help with translations and requests. Without one, you will have to rely on digital translation tools or hire a trusted translator.

Some questions you can ask suppliers include:

• Can products be sent outside of China, or are they for domestic sale only?
• What is the return policy?
• What is the delivery timeframe?
• What is the inventory and/or manufacturing timeframe?
• Product certifications (if your product requires these)

Note: You can negotiate prices and terms with your supplier. It is a common practice and highly recommended.

Managing shipping

International shipping can be complex and often expensive. Your shipment costs can make or break your product margins. That is why taking the time to consider a shipping provider is important.

Here are some of the most common shipping solutions for product delivery from China to Australia:

You might also need the assistance of a freight forwarder who can handle customs clearance and delivery for your shipment. Freight forwarders are intermediaries specialising in international shipping. They take the headache out of getting your cargo from the factory to your warehouse with services that include documentation preparation, insurance, customs clearance, and storage options. They can also advise on the best international shipping method for your cargo.

Top tip: Learn how to reduce shipping costs with this handy guide.

1688 dropshipping: Is it possible to dropship directly from 1688?

No, 1688 doesn’t support dropshipping for overseas buyers. Most suppliers on 1688 cater to domestic Chinese businesses and often lack expertise in international dropshipping.

If you’re a foreign buyer, you’ll need a reliable dropshipping agent to handle sourcing and shipping.

How to find a 1688 dropshipping agent

• Google: Search for agents experienced with your local market.
• LinkedIn: Look up and vet agents based on their background and client history.
• Facebook Groups: Join eCommerce and dropshipping communities to find recommended agents.

1688 vs Alibaba vs AliExpress: Which is the best platform for sourcing Products from China?

If you’re planning to source products from China, there are several B2B marketplaces that you can choose from. The right one will depend on your requirements and the type of products you plan to source. Take a look at the direct comparison between 1688, Alibaba, and AliExpress

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

Paying across 1688, Alibaba and AliExpress

Many businesses source from more than one Chinese marketplace: 1688.com for factory-direct wholesale, Alibaba.com for international wholesale orders, and AliExpress for smaller purchases or product testing.

Each platform has its own payment setup. WorldFirst supports all three:

• 1688.com: Pay participating 1688 suppliers directly in CNH through World Pay, the authorised international payment provider for 1688.com
• Alibaba.com and AliExpress: Pay at checkout with the World Card wherever Mastercard is accepted

When you pay with the World Card in one of 15 supported currencies and hold enough of that currency in the account, the payment comes straight from that balance without a foreign exchange fee. Outside those 15 currencies, the card supports payments in 150+ currencies at Mastercard’s rates. Businesses can also issue up to 20 World Cards at no additional cost, which helps when managing purchasing across teams or supplier categories.

How WorldFirst helps businesses buy from 1688 outside China

Buying from 1688.com involves more than just paying suppliers; businesses also need to collect international sales revenue, pay freight providers and convert funds in multiple currencies. WorldFirst is a global payments provider that helps businesses send, receive, hold and convert cross-border payments through a single multi-currency account.

The World Account lets businesses open local currency accounts in 20+ currencies, including CNH, USD, GBP, EUR, AUD, NZD, SGD, HKD and JPY. From one platform, businesses can hold funds, receive international payments, convert currencies at competitive exchange rates and send payments in 100+ currencies across 200+ countries and regions.

For businesses sourcing products from 1688.com, this means the same account can support the entire importing workflow rather than just the supplier payment itself.

With a World Account, businesses can:

• Pay 1688 suppliers directly in CNH through World Pay, the authorised international payment provider for 1688.com
• Collect payments from 130+ marketplaces and payment gateways, including Amazon, Etsy, Shopify, Stripe and PayPal
• Hold balances in multiple currencies and convert funds into CNH when supplier payments are due, helping reduce unnecessary currency conversions
• Pay international freight forwarders, logistics providers and overseas business partners in their local currencies
• Manage business expenses with the World Card, a multi-currency business payment card that can be used for business purchases wherever Mastercard is accepted
• Make instant, zero-cost transfers between World Accounts
• Integrate with Xero and NetSuite to simplify accounting workflows
• Lock in exchange rates for future payments with forward contracts (subject to eligibility)

The World Account has zero account opening fees, zero monthly fees and zero fees for receiving funds, making it suitable for businesses with ongoing international sourcing requirements.

Pay 1688 suppliers from outside China with WorldFirst

1688 website features a large catalogue of wholesale products at competitive prices. By allowing you to contact sellers directly, 1688 helps expand your network of sellers and build long-term business relationships.

Australian businesses can products from 1688 and manage streamline international payments with World Pay

FAQs

Can you buy from 1688 outside China?

Yes. International buyers can purchase products from 1688.com. While the platform is designed primarily for the Chinese market, overseas businesses can register an account, communicate with suppliers and arrange international shipping through freight forwarders or logistics providers.

How do you buy from 1688.com in Australia?

Australian businesses can register a 1688.com account, verify it with Alipay, source products, negotiate with suppliers and arrange shipping to Australia. Supplier payments can be made through World Pay or, where supported by the supplier, selected international card payment methods.

Does 1688.com ship to Australia?

Generally, no. Most 1688 suppliers only arrange domestic delivery within China. International buyers typically use a freight forwarder or sourcing agent to consolidate goods, manage export documentation and arrange shipping to Australia.

How do you pay 1688 suppliers from outside China?

Most 1688 suppliers accept Chinese payment methods such as Alipay, WeChat Pay or Mainland China bank transfers. Some suppliers also accept international card payments, although availability varies by seller. World Pay enables eligible overseas buyers to pay participating suppliers directly in CNH without requiring a Mainland Chinese bank account.

Is 1688 safe for foreign buyers?

Yes, 1688.com can be a safe platform for international buyers when suppliers are carefully evaluated. Suppliers are required to hold a Chinese business licence, but buyers should still review supplier credentials, transaction history, response rates and factory information before placing an order.

How do I place an order on 1688 from Australia?

To place an order on 1688, start by shortlisting products and contacting suppliers. Before placing an order, confirm product quality, payment terms and delivery timeframes. While some 1688 suppliers now accept international card payments, availability varies by seller and card payments may involve foreign exchange markups and transaction fees. World Pay provides an alternative payment method that can be used for participating 1688 suppliers, with suppliers receiving payment in CNH.

How to get 1688.com in English?

1688.com is primarily available in Chinese, but you can browse it in English using Google Translate or Chrome’s built-in page translation feature. International buyers can also visit global.1688.com, which showcases selected suppliers and products for cross-border sourcing.

Do 1688.com suppliers accept international payment methods?

Payment options differ between 1688.com suppliers. Although some sellers now support international card payments, many still accept only Chinese payment methods, including Alipay, WeChat Pay and Mainland China bank transfers. Where suppliers accept card payments, businesses can use the World Card, a multi-currency business payment card. International card payments may also incur foreign exchange markups and transaction fees.

Is 1688 and Alibaba the same?

No. Both platforms connect buyers with Chinese suppliers, but they serve different markets. 1688.com primarily focuses on China’s domestic wholesale market, while Alibaba is designed for international B2B trade and offers broad support for international buyers, shipping and payment methods.

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 judgment 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.