Both Alibaba.com and 1688.com belong to the Alibaba Group, but they have very different purposes. Alibaba is designed for export, while 1688 is the core of the Chinese domestic market. Here is why 1688 is often the best option for e-commerce sellers.
| Criteria | 1688.com (Via SinoYak) | Alibaba.com |
|---|---|---|
| Target Market | Chinese Domestic Market | International Buyers (Export) |
| Prices | Very Low (Local Prices) | Higher (Export Margin) |
| MOQ (Min Order Qty) | Flexible (1 to 10 pcs) | Often Strict (100+ pcs) |
| Language | Chinese (Translated by SinoYak) | English |
| Payment | EUR/USD via SinoYak | Credit Card / Wire Transfer |
On Alibaba.com, factories know they are dealing with Westerners. They therefore apply a significant "export margin." On 1688, the same factories sell to local Chinese resellers. Prices are therefore at the real market rate, without markup. By using SinoYak, you bypass this margin and buy at the same price as a local e-commerce seller in Shenzhen.
On Alibaba, factories often demand orders of 100 to 500 pieces. On 1688, many suppliers accept orders of 1 or 2 pieces. This is ideal for testing a product in your Shopify or Amazon FBA store without risking a large inventory.
Import your products at local factory prices with SinoYak.
🚀 Import a 1688 Product