Pay Chinese suppliers
same-day
Get your China business payments right every time
Fast
Trusted
Flexible
Direct
Powered by the Alipay ecosystem
Compare costs and features when paying Chinese suppliers
receiving fees may apply
*90% of funds settle same-day, subject to payment cut-off time and beneficiary banks.
How to pay Chinese suppliers
Open your World Account
Review the rate
Pay your supplier
Hear from businesses making payments to China
More ways to pay suppliers
Business debit cards
Payments with escrow
Global payments
Make same-day payments to Chinese suppliers.
Frequently Asked Questions
One of the best ways to pay Chinese suppliers from the UK is by using a specialist cross-border payment provider. Banks typically route payments through SWIFT, which can take 3–5 business days and deduct fees along the way. A provider like WorldFirst uses local payment rails to move funds directly into Chinese bank accounts, in USD or RMB, with 90% of payments clearing the same day. You also get real-time tracking and transparent rates, confirmed before you pay.
With WorldFirst, you can pay Chinese suppliers in RMB directly into their Chinese bank account. Open a free World Account, convert your GBP to CNH at a competitive live rate, and pay your supplier straight from your balance.
With WorldFirst, around 90% of payments to China clear the same day, as long as you pay before bank cut-off times. If you miss the cut-off time, we have a next-day payment option. Alternatively, the SWIFT network takes up to 3 business days. Transfers between WorldFirst accounts are instant.
A payment cut-off time is the deadline for your payment to process that day. If you miss it, the payment will be processed the next business day. We route through MYbank, a regulated bank in China, which allows us to move funds internally and via local payment rails instead of SWIFT. To be processed via this route, payment requests need to be submitted by 3pm China Standard Time.
RMB is the name of China’s currency: it stands for renminbi. CNY and CNH are two versions of it.
- CNY is the onshore currency, traded and regulated within mainland China.
- CNH is the offshore version, traded internationally with fewer restrictions.
Yes, you can make business payments to China securely. WorldFirst is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and has been making international payments since 2004. We’re powered by Ant International, the global fintech ecosystem behind Alipay, and serve over 1.6 million businesses worldwide.
Open a World Account, apply for a virtual World Card instantly, for free, and add it to your Alipay wallet before you travel. Alipay is accepted almost everywhere in China – from supplier showrooms to taxis and restaurants – so you can pay in person without carrying cash or worrying about ATM fees. Your World Card charges 0% FX on CNH and earns cashback on every transaction.
Once you’ve agreed on a purchase, you just need to submit the payment request. If you’re sending to someone for the first time, you’ll need their account name, SWIFT/BIC ID and account number. If the seller also has a World Account, it’s even easier – just ask for their WorldFirst Payment Account number (it begins with WF-).
While there isn’t a fixed order limit for purchases from businesses in China, there are risk-based controls on money flowing in and out of the region, particularly for larger orders. This takes place in the form of additional checks on the seller’s side, so would be handled by them.
