Sourcing from 1688 to South Asia
1688.com is one of China’s largest B2B platforms, connecting buyers directly with factories and offering prices often 30–50% lower than other global sites. It helps South Asian importers find affordable, high-quality products. However, challenges like the Chinese-only interface, payments in Yuan (CNY), domestic shipping, and verifying genuine suppliers often make sourcing difficult.
This guide simplifies the process for your businesses, showing exactly how to buy safely and efficiently from 1688, even without knowing Chinese or having a local contact, so you can access factory prices and increase your import margins.
Table of Contents
What is 1688.com?
1688.com is a B2B marketplace launched in 1999, and focused mainly on business-to-business trade within China. It hosts over 10 million suppliers across thousands of categories, covering almost every type of product you can imagine.
Unlike AliExpress (which is mainly for retail) or Alibaba.com (which is especially built for international trade), 1688 is designed for the Chinese domestic market. But international buyers can still make bulk purchases from the marketplace.
Why source products from 1688.com to South Asia?
Factory-direct prices
When you buy from 1688 China, you’re getting rates directly from manufacturers, wholesalers, and suppliers. This lets South Asian importers get the same products that big global e-commerce brands buy, but at factory prices. Sellers on Daraz, Shopify, or local shops can stay competitive without compromising on quality. For businesses with tight budgets, these savings can really increase profits.
Small order flexibility (low MOQ)
Many 1688 suppliers allow you to buy in small quantities, sometimes even just one piece. For example, many car part factories, bag sellers, and clothing suppliers offer low MOQs, letting you test quality or market demand before investing in bulk. Even heavy items like laptops can often be ordered in single units.
However, categories like toys may require larger MOQs, though the unit price drops significantly when you order in bulk. While many suppliers offer free shipping within China, shipping them to South Asia via a freight forwarder can be costly, so it’s best to test sample orders before scaling up.
Verified and traceable suppliers
Suppliers on 1688 go through verifications and have customer ratings and diamond memberships that you can review. South Asian importers can look at a supplier’s history, ratings, and customer reviews before making any payment.
Many suppliers also show factory photos, certifications, and past sales, so it’s easier to see if they’re trustworthy.
Diverse product range
From mobile accessories and clothes to home tools and beauty products, Alibaba’s 1688 has millions of products across different categories. So, you can expand your range, find trending items, and explore niche markets–all in one place. It works well for both wholesalers and dropshippers.
Private labelling and OEM
South Asian importers can easily start their own brand through private labeling and OEM on 1688. Choose a product category like apparel, equipment, cookware, lights and more. Many suppliers offer logo printing and custom packaging, sometimes for as low as 50–100 pieces.
Search for OEM or ODM suppliers, message them for customization options, and request samples before bulk orders. Always confirm English labeling and arrange shipping with your freight forwarder. This approach helps small businesses build branded products without needing large investments.
- Open 20+ local currency accounts and get paid like a local
- Pay suppliers, partners and staff worldwide in 100+ currencies
- Collect payments for free from 130+ marketplaces and payment gateways, including Amazon, Etsy, PayPal and Shopify
- Save with competitive exchange rates on currency conversions and transfers
- Lock in exchange rates for up to 24 months for cash flow certainty
Step-by-step: How to buy from 1688.com in South Asia
Step 1: Create a 1688 account
- Visit global1688.com
- Translate the page to English using the Translate extension as discussed in the above sections
- Click on “免费注册” (Free Registration/Join Free)
- Next, register using your email or mobile number. Choose ‘individual’, not company since international buyers cannot register for a company account
- Verify your account via SMS
Step 2: Set up an Alipay account
- Download the Alipay app on your phone (available on both Android and iOS)
- Use your number or email to sign up
- Complete passport ID and selfie verification
- Link Alipay to your 1688 account to confirm your identity. You can do this in a few steps –
- Create your Alipay account using your passport or ID.
- Log in to Alipay
- Open the 1688 app and tap your profile icon
- Agree to all terms and permissions
- Choose ‘Login with Alipay’ and allow the connection
- Once linked, return to 1688, and you’ll now see the Alipay logo as a payment option
Step 3: Find products and suppliers
Buyers can still use the 1688 website even if it’s in Chinese. You can search for products in two ways:
- Translate keywords into Chinese using Google Translate and search on 1688
- Or use the camera icon on 1688 for image search (upload a product photo to find similar ones)
Here’s the easy way to find reliable suppliers on 1688 –
To find reliable suppliers, follow these steps:
Check supplier details
Click on a product page, then the store name to visit the supplier’s main page. Look for:
- Years in business: Prefer 3+ years
- Return rate: Above 35% indicates repeat buyers
- Response rate: How quickly they reply
- Verified badges: Blue or gold icons indicate reliability
Read product reviews
Scroll down to see buyer ratings and feedback. Look for their product ratings, real pictures of products, and any comments about product quality. Avoid suppliers with no reviews or fake-looking feedback.
Compare multiple suppliers
Check out 3-4 suppliers selling similar products and compare their prices, MOQs, product quality, and shipping options.
Step 4: Contact suppliers
Language can be a real barrier since most suppliers speak limited English, and Google Translate isn’t always accurate; it can lead to confusion about prices, terms, or product specs. If possible, get help from a translator or bilingual sourcing agent to ensure nothing is misunderstood.
Ask these questions:
- Can you ship to my freight forwarder’s address in China?
- What’s your MOQ (minimum order quantity) and price per unit (if not available on the website)?
- Do you offer custom branding or packaging?
- How long is production and dispatch?
Step 5: Pay 1688 suppliers from South Asia using World Pay
Paying suppliers on 1688 can be tricky from South Asia since most sellers expect payment in Chinese Yuan (CNY) via Alipay or domestic Chinese bank accounts. World Pay makes this process seamless for South Asia importers.
World Pay is the official cross-border payment solution for 1688.com. Powered by WorldFirst, is the only officially authorized way to pay 1688.com suppliers from outside China.
It lets you make instant, secure, and compliant payments directly to Chinese suppliers–no need for sourcing agents or a local bank account.
Here’s how to make payments on 1688 using World Pay
- Create a World Pay account. Sign up on World Pay’s website using your bank account or credit/debit card. Complete the verification process with your ID or business documents
- Fund your account by adding money from your bank account or receive USD payments from global clients and convert them to CNH.
- Go to Payments → World Pay (跨境宝) on your WorldFirst dashboard. You’ll see your available CNH balance for 1688 purchases. If needed, convert funds from other currencies into CNH
- Link your 1688.com account to WorldFirst:
- Go to “Manage linked 1688.com accounts.”
- Enter the phone number you used for 1688 registration.
- Follow the prompts to authorise your 1688 account.
- Once authorised, go back to 1688.com to place your order.
- On the checkout page, choose Custom border logistics → Custom order.
- Select RMB as currency and Cross-border treasure as payment method.
- Agree to the terms and confirm your payment using your Alipay password.
Since you are paying directly on 1688.com, your order stays protected.
Benefits for importers using World Pay:
- Safe and secure payments to Chinese suppliers
- Transparent exchange rates and lower fees compared to informal channels
- Ability to pay directly in supplier’s currency without needing a Chinese bank account
- Useful for repeat orders and bulk purchases
Step 6: Importing from China to South Asia
Since most 1688 sellers only ship within China,importers may need a freight forwarder or 1688 agent to proceed with importing from China.
Here’s how it works:
- The supplier sends goods to the forwarder’s warehouse in China
- The forwarder consolidates your orders and ships them to South Asia.
Main shipping options:
- Air freight (5–10 days): Faster but more expensive, great for smaller packages
- Sea freight (30–45 days): Cheaper but slower, ideal for bulk orders
1688 dropshipping: Is it possible?
1688 doesn’t officially support international dropshipping, but sellers can still make it work with the help of China-based dropshipping agents. These agents purchase products from 1688 for you, store them in their warehouse, and ship directly to your customers as orders come in. They can also handle custom packaging or branding if needed.
To find a reliable agent, search online for “1688 dropshipping agent China” or join mini importation communities on Facebook. Compare service fees (usually 5–10% commission), shipping costs, delivery speed, and reviews. Always clarify quality standards, returns, and other terms in a written agreement before starting.
Streamline payments with World Pay when sourcing from 1688 to South Asia
Sourcing from 1688 gives South Asian importers access to factory-direct prices and a huge supplier base, but handling payments in Chinese Yuan has always been a challenge.
World Pay by WorldFirst solves this as the only authorised international payment solution for 1688.com, letting you pay suppliers instantly, safely, and at competitive exchange rates.
With WorldFirst, you can:
- Pay suppliers and freight partners in CNH directly from your USD or other balances
- Enjoy competitive FX rates and low transfer fees
- Get instant payment confirmation for your suppliers
- Open local currency accounts in 15+ currencies to collect payments globally
Businesses trust WorldFirst
- Almost 1,500,000 businesses have sent US$500B+ around the world with WorldFirst and its partner brands since 2004
- Your money is safeguarded with leading financial institutions
