1688 Agent: Buy Wholesale from 1688

1688 is China's largest wholesale marketplace - the platform shops themselves buy from to resell: source prices, factory-direct, without the European middleman's margin. The drawback is that it's in Chinese, sets minimum order quantities, doesn't accept European cards, and its sellers only operate inside China. JetSend is your 1688 agent: we find the supplier, handle the purchase and ship the order to your business across Europe.

What is 1688, and why is it cheaper?

1688, part of Alibaba, serves China's domestic wholesale market, which is why its prices are noticeably lower than Taobao or AliExpress: you buy directly from the manufacturer or distributor, at source prices. In return, most products carry a minimum order quantity (MOQ), and the catalogue is built for volume rather than a single unit. It's the logical choice if you're buying to resell, stock a shop or supply a project.

Search 1688 in your language

Paste a 1688 link or type what you need - we find the supplier for you, no Chinese needed. Pick an item to start your wholesale order.

How to buy from 1688, step by step

You don't need to speak Chinese, hold a Chinese account or have a company registered in China to start:

1. Send us the product. Share the 1688 link, an image or the reference; we find the supplier and check the minimum order.
2. Get your estimate. We give you the indicative cost in euros for the quantity you want, and once you accept we buy on your behalf.
3. We check it at source. The goods arrive at our warehouse in China, where we confirm they match your order before export.
4. Consolidation and delivery. We combine orders from different suppliers into a single shipment to your address in Europe.

Who 1688 is for

1688 suits resellers, small shops, dropshippers and anyone importing for their business: the mix of source pricing and buying by volume allows margins you simply can't get buying within Europe. Here are a few products from our catalogue, available wholesale too:

Minimum orders, customs and VAT

Two things make the difference when importing from 1688. The first is the minimum order quantity: each supplier sets it in their listing, and it's worth checking before you work out your order, as it varies a lot from product to product. The second is import tax: bringing goods into the EU means duties and VAT depending on the type of product and its value, which you'll want to factor into your margins. We give you an indicative estimate before you confirm; the exact terms depend on the supplier and customs.

Why source from 1688 with JetSend

Importing from China on your own means dealing with the language, minimum orders, paying Chinese suppliers and international logistics. With JetSend you keep it all with one English-speaking point of contact: we deal with the supplier, check the goods at source and consolidate them into a single shipment. We work only with 1688, Taobao and AliExpress, the most reliable platforms in Chinese commerce.

See also: buy from Taobao, our China catalogue and shipping to Europe.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a minimum order on 1688? Yes - most products have a minimum order quantity (MOQ) set by each supplier in their listing. We check it before confirming your order so you know the exact quantity.

Do I need to be a registered business to buy? Not to place the order itself, but if you're importing to resell you should account for your tax and customs obligations in your country.

Is 1688 cheaper than Taobao or AliExpress? Generally yes, because it sells at wholesale source prices. In return it usually requires buying by volume, which is why it's the better option for reselling.

Can I combine several suppliers in one shipment? Yes. We consolidate orders from different suppliers into a single shipment, so you pay for international transport only once.