Sourcing Can Seem Like An Enormous Uphill Task. That is Why We Compiled a Top 20 List of Sourcing Platforms For You To Find Suppliers. We Hope This Can Help You Secure Your First Private Label Product For Amazon FBA.
1. Alibaba (The Biggest and Most Saturated Platform)
Website: alibaba.com
Headquarters: Hangzhou, China
Motto: Global trade starts here
As the world’s largest b2b sourcing portal, the name “Alibaba” has become synonymous with sourcing from China. Usually it is the first website people turn to when searching for products. The range of suppliers and products it has available is very comprehensive with availability in almost any industry.
The website has however developed a bad reputation as a hotbed of counterfeits, a situation which the infamous CEO Jack Ma has called “a cancer”. Other issues faced by Alibaba include fake supplier verification and scams.
They started out as a sourcing website for overseas buyers, Alibaba Group has now grown to becoming China’s largest tech company and its interests include a portfolio of eCommerce platforms. One of the most famous being Taobao, the ecommerce industry leader which has over 1 billion unique visitors per month.
2. DHgate
Website: dhgate.com
Headquarters: Beijing, China
Motto: Buy globally, sell globally
DHgate is an online wholesale marketplace where buyers can find competitively priced quality made in China products, usually at lower MOQs than other platforms.
One standout feature is their payment handling system, which only passes payments to the seller when the buyer confirms receipt of goods.
3. Global Sources
Website: globalsources.com
Headquarters: Hong Kong
Slogan: Reliable exporters: find them and meet them
Global Sources has helped more than 1.4 million international buyers in more than 240 countries to source from overseas, with China making up the majority of deals.
Their regular trade shows in Hong Kong s are very popular and help facilitate international companies to source in China face to face with trusted Chinese suppliers at booths.
4. Made-in-China
Website: made-in-china.com
Headquarters: Nanjing, China
Motto: Connecting buyers with Chinese suppliers
This is a third-party platform for connecting buyers with Chinese suppliers and features a clean layout which is easy to navigate and use.
Similar to Alibaba.com, Chinese suppliers can create their own homepage on Made-in-China which includes their company profile, introduction and product listings.
5. China Suppliers
Website: en.china.cn
Headquarters: Beijing, China
Motto: Connecting global buyers and China suppliers
China Suppliers claims to be the “Exclusive Government Authorized B2B E-Marketplace in China” and our research found they are owned by the China Internet News Center (中国互联网新闻中心) which is under the State Council Information Office. So they are basically an offspring of the Chinese communist government.
Despite a slightly cumbersome interface it is a useful website featuring many Chinese suppliers and products. Plus, it has a very easy to remember URL!
6. OFweek
Website: en.ofweek.com
Headquarters: Shenzhen, China
Motto: Industrial b2b marketplace
Specializing in high-tech and electronics, Shenzhen-based OFweek is a well-designed website featuring many Chinese suppliers.
If you are looking for Chinese tech products, this is the place you want to go to first.
7. AliExpress
Website: aliexpress.com
Headquarters: Hangzhou, China
Motto: Smarter shopping, better living!
AliExpress was launched by Alibaba Group in 2010 as a platform for Chinese companies to sell retail quantity to foreign consumers
Although not a sourcing site as such, it is nevertheless widely used for this purpose, especially for companies looking to buy with low MOQs.
Unlike on Alibaba.com, sellers on AliExpress can be either companies or individuals making supplier verification difficult and leading to some scams. Most vendors on alley express also use a very low cost shipping method which will incur along shipping time. This is done because they are selling very low-priced products and there is actually not much for them to wiggle around.
8. HKTDC
Website: hktdc.com
Headquarters: Hong Kong
Motto: Your business – our mission
Operated by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, this website plays an important role in helping Hong Kong companies to establish relationships with buyers from around the world.
These days, there isn’t much manufacturing in Hong Kong, but many Hong Kong companies operate factories in Mainland China and this is a good gateway to sourcing their products. You can expect factories with Hong Kong management to be very professional and the standard of quality is much higher than a domestic owned Chinese factory. However the cost would be higher and you basically get what you pay for.
9. DIYTrade
Website: diytrade.com
Headquarters: Hong Kong
Motto: Global b2b trading platform
A clean and easy to use website, DIYTrade features over 5 million products across a wide range of industries from underwear to ball bearings. There are some hidden gems on this site. But it would require due diligence.
10. ECVV
Website: ecvv.com
Headquarters: Shenzhen, China
Motto: Challenge your trading
A bridge-builder that empowers merchants to easily connect and do business. Recommended by the Shenzhen Government and American International Business Council. It is another site with very interesting products.
11. EC21
Website: ec21.com
Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea
Motto: Global b2b marketplace
One of the leading global b2b marketplaces, Korea-based EC21 is very popular with Chinese manufacturers looking for international buyers.
12. MakePolo
Website: en.makepolo.com
Headquarters: Beijing, China
Motto: Accurate purchasing search engine
Makepolo promotes itself as the “accurate purchasing search engine” but it’s search function operates just the same as the other China sourcing websites.
They do list a large number of products and suppliers though, so it is well worth a look, even though I find their page load times to be a little slow.
13. ECPlaza
Website: ecplaza.net
Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea
Motto: More trade chances for you
South Korea-based ECPlaza features a large number of Chinese suppliers on their easy to navigate website.
14. Global Market
Website: globalmarket.com
Headquarters: Guangzhou, China
Motto: Certified manufacturers online
GlobalMarket has established solid cooperation with reputable Chinese suppliers and heavily promotes their GMC (Global Manufacturer Certificate) certifications which claim to only include genuine manufacturers. Definitely worth a look.
15. Tradekey
Website: tradekey.com
Headquarters: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Motto: Your key to global trade
Although a global sourcing website, with offices in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing, Tradekey certainly has a strong Chinese presence.
Claims to be the first b2b platform with both ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certifications. Although their website can feel cluttered, it contains a hive of China sourcing information.
16. Asian Products
Website: asianproducts.com
Headquarters: Taipei, Taiwan
Motto: Bridging the gap between buyers and suppliers
Chinese name: 亚洲产品 (yà zhōu chǎn pǐn) “Asia Products”
Focusing on suppliers from Taiwan and China, Asian Products is a slightly old-fashioned but nevertheless useful source of information with plenty of companies listed.
17. B2B Manufacturers
Website: manufacturers.com.tw
Headquarters: Taichung, Taiwan
B2B Manufactures is another listings website specializing in Taiwanese and Chinese manufacturers. Although their listings cover a wide range of products, the results for industrial equipment seem to be strongest.
18. Yiwubuy
Website: yiwubuy.com
Headquarters: Yiwu, China
Motto: Buy with peace of mind
As the official website of the world’s largest small commodity wholesale market – Yiwu International Trade Market, Yiwubuy offers their physical stores an online presence. Especially worth a look if you are planning a visit.
19. B2B China Sources
Website: b2bchinasources.com
Headquarters: Dongguan, China
Motto: Reliable suppliers vs. global buyers
Sister website to B2B Manufacturers, B2B China Sources is operated from Mainland China and promises to help “global buyers to buy Taiwan quality at China prices”!
20. Taiwan Trade
Website: taiwantrade.com
Headquarters: Taipei, Taiwan
Many factories in China are operated by Taiwanese companies and using Taiwan Trade can be a great way of locating them. Also useful for finding made-in-taiwan products too.
BONUS: If you have a Chinese VA or employee, you should always be checking the domestic market first.
Just as companies worldwide look to China for buying their inventory or getting their products manufactured, local companies in China are constantly sourcing raw material, parts and finished products in China.
Here is a list of the biggest domestic sourcing platforms that are well known and widely used.
1688
Website: 1688.com
Headquarters: Hangzhou, China
1688 is the Chinese language version of Alibaba.com
HC360
Website: hc360.com
Headquarters: Beijing, China
Chinese name: 慧聪网 (huì cōng wǎng) “Wisdom Clever Site”
HC360 is one of China’s leading b2b websites for domestic trade.
GongChang
Website: gongchang.com
Headquarters: Zhengzhou, China
Chinese name: 世界工厂 (shì jiè gōng chǎng) “World Factory”
This online sourcing platform specializes in large-size machinery and equipment.
Sourcing in China can be a daunting task, but it does not have to be if you are in good hands with a local representative that can help you meet or exceed your needs. Please drop us a line with any China -related questions that you may have and we would be glad to help.