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How to dropship from 1688

Last update: March 10, 2026

Contents

1688 is a major B2B marketplace for buying products at wholesale prices. But can you dropship from 1688? Let’s find out.

Key takeaways

1688 doesn’t offer direct international shipping or dropshipping
International buyers can partner with dropshipping agents for procuring, storing, and shipping 1688 products
You can find 1688 dropshipping agents on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Google
WorldFirst Cross-border Pay allows international buyers to pay 1688 suppliers directly

Introduction

1688.com is a B2B marketplace that provides a wide variety of products at wholesale prices. However, the marketplace was mainly created for domestic businesses, and it comes with some major challenges for international buyers:

The website is primarily in Chinese
1688 only accepts domestic payments through local Chinese bank accounts
There is no direct international shipping or dropshipping

But that doesn’t mean international buyers can’t purchase or dropship products from 1688.

Let’s delve into how international buyers can dropship 1688 products without losing out on profit margins.

What does 1688 dropshipping involve?

1688 dropshipping involves finding products to sell on the B2B marketplace and then using dropshipping agents to manage procurement, storage, and shipment of products directly to the customers.

The dropshipping fulfillment model can appeal to businesses wanting low overheads and high efficiency.

You build an online storefront and market the products to your prospective customers. When a customer places the order, you send the order information to the dropshipping agent, and when the products have been shipped, you share the shipment tracking information with the customer.

Is it possible to dropship directly from 1688?

No. 1688 doesn’t offer dropshipping to overseas buyers. 1688 suppliers majorly sell products to inland businesses, which is why many suppliers also don’t have export licenses (since they need them.)

If you are buying products from 1688.com as a foreign buyer, you must partner with a reliable dropshipping agent to manage the shipment.

Take a look at our complete 1688 guide to learn how to buy from 1688 suppliers directly.

How do 1688 dropshipping agents work?

Dropshipping from China can become quite a challenging experience without experts by your side. The language barrier on platforms like 1688, where most suppliers understand Chinese only, can make things even more challenging.

A good dropshipping agent in China can help you overcome these language and cultural barriers by effectively communicating with suppliers on your behalf, negotiating the best prices, and dropshipping orders directly to your customers across the world.

When you start working with a new dropshipping agent, they will first research suppliers based on your desired product type. The agent will then provide you with product quotes and when you agree, they will begin fulfilling the orders for your customers. You can share each order detail with the agent. They will be responsible for sourcing products from suppliers, performing end-to-end quality checks, and shipping them directly to the customer.

Here are some of the benefits of working with a dropshipping agent:

Less stress: When you partner with a 1688 dropshipping agent, they can connect you with the right suppliers with high-quality products at competitive prices. They also manage all the supplier communication on your behalf, ensuring products are delivered from the factories on time to maintain shipping timelines.
Improved quality control: Your dropshipping agent can inspect products the supplier sends before shipping to your customers to ensure the products align with your quality expectations and requirements. You can also ask your dropshipping agents to take videos or photos of the products before shipping them. Any returns or quality issues are handled by the agent on your behalf.
No communication barrier: The biggest challenge businesses face when sourcing products from China is the language barrier. Most suppliers in 1688 speak Chinese and only have a basic understanding of English. Your dropshipping agents can communicate with the supplier on your behalf in their native language and avoid any chances of miscommunication.
Better scalability: While you work with one dropshipping agent who remains your main point of contact, they can help you source a wide range of products from different suppliers. You don’t have to manage payments, shipments, and relationships with multiple suppliers, as all that is handled by your dropshipping agent. Instead, you can focus on scaling your dropshipping business quickly and meeting the market demand.

Best products to dropship from 1688

1688 is primarily used by manufacturers and wholesalers, which means you often get access to products before they hit AliExpress or Amazon. For dropshippers, this is a competitive advantage–you can test trending products earlier and at lower prices.

But the key is to find products that are easy to ship, have low return rates, and don’t require heavy customization. Here’s how to find the best items to dropship from 1688:

How to find products on 1688

Method 1: Image search

This is essentially a reverse image search that helps you quickly locate verified manufacturers instead of relying on retail platforms.

Use the built-in image search tool on 1688.com or third-party tools like Aliprice.com (which also has a Chrome extension)
Upload a picture of the product you want to dropship, and you’ll instantly see suppliers on 1688 selling it

Method 2: Reddit search

Reddit search helps check crowdsourced feedback helps you avoid problem products before you list them.

Search Reddit communities for the product category you’re considering.
Check what other dropshippers and customers are saying: Are reviews positive? Do people complain about quality or delivery issues?

Method 3: Browse 1688’s best sellers

On 1688, look for ‘bestselling’ tags or filter by the number of units sold.
This shows you what other buyers (including Chinese domestic retailers) are already purchasing at scale—a strong signal of demand.

Top categories for 1688 dropshipping

Here are some trending consumer goods categories that work well for dropshipping:

Home and kitchen: organizers, storage racks, LED lighting, reusable silicone lids.
Phone accessories: wireless chargers, cases, tripods, magnetic mounts.
Pet products: grooming tools, interactive toys, collapsible bowls.

Apparel and fashion accessories: socks, minimalist jewelry, tote bags.

How to find a 1688 dropshipping agent?

Finding the right 1688 dropshipping agent is critical as they help bridge the gap between your customers and Chinese suppliers. Agents handle product sourcing, quality checks, and shipping, so choosing poorly can sink your business.

Where to search for 1688 dropshipping agents

Google: Use specific keywords like “1688 dropshipping agent China” or “1688 agent for Shopify/Amazon dropshipping’
LinkedIn: Look for agents with experience serving AU/NZ sellers
Facebook Groups: Join dropshipping communities and ask for referrals

What to ask agents

MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity): Do they support single-item dropshipping or bulk only?
Shipping partners: Which couriers do they use (ePacket, YunExpress, DHL, etc.)?
Client references: Have they worked with AU/NZ or EU clients before? Can they share case studies?

What red flags to watch out for

Suppliers with no references or unwilling to share past client stories
Suppliers who refuse to provide warehouse photos or videos

Suppliers who only insist on communicating only via WeChat message and avoid lack of transparency

How to ensure the reliability of 1688 dropshipping agents?

It’s important to verify the experience and reliability of dropshipping agents before you decide to partner with them. Here are some factors you should consider:

Does the agent have experience sourcing products from 1688?
Have they dropshipped for a business based in Australia?
Is the communication with the agent clear? How much time does it normally take them to respond to you?
What is their current quality control process? Can they readily provide photos and videos of the supplier warehouses and products?
What is the average shipping time? What kind of shipping partners do they have? Do they also provide shipment tracking?

How to dropship from 1688 to Amazon, eBay, or Shopify?

Many AU/NZ sellers are now using 1688 as their go-to sourcing platform and then selling through global marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, or Shopify. The advantage is simple: you get factory-direct prices and can build your store around products that aren’t yet oversaturated on AliExpress or Amazon.

Here’s how the workflow usually looks:

A customer places an order on your Amazon, eBay, or Shopify store.
Instead of pre-purchasing stock, you forward that order to your 1688 dropshipping agent, who procures the product from a local supplier in China.
The agent then ships the order directly to your customer (dropshipping) or to your chosen fulfillment warehouse (e.g., Amazon FBA if you want to hold inventory).

You can start lean with direct-to-customer dropshipping and, once demand stabilizes, move into bulk shipments to FBA or third-party logistics (3PL) providers for faster delivery.

Another advantage is that sourcing from 1688 instead of AliExpress often means better quality control and lower prices, since you’re dealing directly with manufacturers rather than intermediaries. Your agent can also help with small customizations (like branded packaging or inserts) to give you a stronger presence on global marketplaces.

In short, dropshipping from 1688 to Amazon, eBay, or Shopify lets you:

Test products quickly and cheaply.
Scale up to bulk inventory when a product proves successful.
Build a brand around products that haven’t hit mainstream markets yet.

Managing payments to 1688 dropshipping agents and suppliers

One of the biggest hurdles for overseas dropshippers is paying suppliers and agents. Since 1688 is designed for the domestic Chinese market, most suppliers expect payments in Chinese Yuan. This can be tricky for international sellers without a proper cross-border payment solution.

Here’s how to handle you can handle it.

Option 1: Paying 1688 agents

If you’re working with a dropshipping agent, you’ll usually pay them directly, and they’ll handle payments to suppliers on your behalf. But the challenge is currency mismatch and hidden costs: suppliers may want Yuan, USD, or EUR, while you may be paying in AUD or NZD.

To make fast transfers to 1688 dropshipping agents without losing your valuable margins, you can use a multi-currency account like the World Account to send, receive, and hold funds in CNH, USD, EUR, and other currencies. You can direct payments to suppliers in their preferred currency at competitive exchange rates and even make same-day USD payments to Chinese suppliers (cut off timings apply).

Same currency transfers do not attract any fee and you can also transfer money to other World Account holders instantly and at no cost.

Option 2: Paying suppliers directly on 1688

If you’d rather pay suppliers directly (without going through an agent), you can use World Pay, which is the only authorised way to pay 1688 suppliers if you’re based outside China. Here’s how it works

You connect your 1688 account to World Pay
When you checkout with a supplier on 1688, you choose World Pay as your payment option
Funds are deducted from your World Account and then settled directly with the supplier in CNY

Since it’s fully integrated with 1688, this method is secure, compliant, and gives you peace of mind that your supplier will receive payment quickly.

In addition, 1688 has recently started allowing credit card payments for overseas buyers. However, this option is still limited as only some suppliers accept credit cards because of high transaction fees. For most sellers, World Pay remains the most reliable and widely accepted payment channel.

Alternative to 1688: Dropshipping through AliExpress

AliExpress is an online global marketplace that connects B2B and B2C buyers worldwide with Chinese sellers. Since AliExpress is a global version of 1688 (Both are under the Alibaba group), it supports international shipping and dropshipping.

You should compare product pricing and shipping fees before ordering from AliExpress to ensure you can maintain optimum profit margins.

Start your dropshipping business today

Set up your 1688 dropshipping business to take advantage of wholesale product prices and streamline payments with WorldFirst to further decrease payment fees.

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.

Based in Sydney, Jim is responsible for the WorldFirst business across Australia and New Zealand. He brings with him over 25 years of experience helping Business Owners, CFO’s and Treasury Managers overcome the challenges with cross border payments and navigating volatile foreign exchange markets.

Jim Vrondas

Author

Country Manager ANZ at WorldFirst

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