1688 International Shipping: How to Use Overseas Shipping on 1688?
1688.com is a Chinese B2B website for drop shipping and wholesale, but 1688.com’s suppliers only ship within China.
Many 1688 sellers are now part of the “Cross-border Selection” (跨境专供) section. These sellers are more accustomed to international standards and often provide English-ready packaging or better-organized data for Shopify/Amazon sellers.
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Does 1688 Offer International Shipping?
No, 1688 does not offer direct international shipping. It primarily serves the Chinese domestic market, and most sellers on 1688 are set up to ship within China. As a result, if you’re based outside of China (in the USA, Europe, or elsewhere), you won’t be able to place an order on 1688 and have it shipped directly to your address.
However, all is not lost. While 1688 does not handle international shipments itself, you can still import products through freight forwarding services.
How to Use Overseas Shipping on 1688?
If you buy from 1688.com, you will need an export agent or 1688 shipping agent to pick up your order from the supplier and deliver it to you.
To get your goods from 1688 to an overseas address, you generally have two main paths:
1. Hire”Buying Agent” (Easiest)
If you don’t speak Chinese or have a Chinese payment method (like a verified Alipay), using a Sourcing/Buying Agent (like Supplyia) is the most common route.
- How it works: You send the product links to the agent. They buy the items, receive them at their warehouse, inspect the quality, and then ship them to you globally.
- Pros: They handle payment, quality checks (QC), and consolidation of multiple orders into one box to save on shipping.
- Cons: You pay a service fee (usually 3%–10%).
2. Find “Freight Forwarder” (For DIYers)
If you can navigate the website and pay via Alipay/TourPass, you can buy the items yourself and use a Freight Forwarder’s warehouse address.
- Step 1: Find a Forwarder: Research a shipping company that provides a “China Warehouse Address.”
- Step 2: Set the Address on 1688: Enter the forwarder’s warehouse address as your shipping address in your 1688 account settings.
- Step 3: Purchase: Buy the items. The supplier ships them to the warehouse in China.
- Step 4: Consolidate & Ship: Once all your items arrive at the warehouse, the forwarder packs them together and sends them to your country.
First, when do you need a 1688 agent?
Here are some specific situations where you may need a 1688 agent:
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You are not located in China and cannot access 1688.com directly.
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You do not speak Chinese and cannot communicate with Chinese suppliers.
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You do not have the time or expertise to handle the buying process yourself.
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You need to order a large quantity of products and want to negotiate the best possible price.
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You need help with shipping and customs clearance.
However, I will delve deeper into when you might need a 1688 agent:
1. Suppose you are customizing a refined product. In this case, you can enlist the help of a 1688 agent for certain tasks, such as pre-shipping inspections and supplier compliance verification. It’s not recommended to directly purchase products from 1688, as the quality is generally average. Here, the likelihood of needing a 1688 agent is relatively low; you might be better off with a product quality control or inspect agent.
2. If you have a large quantity with fewer SKUs, you can try communicating directly with the suppliers. While you may need a 1688 agent to help coordinate many things, you can negotiate discounts with them.
3. If you have a large number of SKUs linked with a small quantity, you undoubtedly need a 1688 agent. Regardless of the quantity, the agent needs to confirm the information for each product and assist in proper reporting. In this case, they may not offer discounted fees; instead, they might charge extra due to the excessive number of additional links.
What is 1688 Shipping Agent?
A “1688 shipping agent” is a service provider that specializes in helping individuals or businesses with the logistics and shipping aspects of sourcing products from the Chinese online marketplace 1688.com.
These agents offer services related to the transportation of products from suppliers in China to the destination of your choice.
Here’s a breakdown of the services typically provided by a 1688 shipping agent:
Service Description:
Product Shipping: 1688 shipping agents focus primarily on the transportation of products. They can arrange for the shipping of your orders from various suppliers on 1688.com to your desired destination, whether it’s within China or international.
Logistics and Freight Management: They handle the logistical aspects of shipping, which can include selecting the most cost-effective shipping methods, arranging for transportation, and coordinating the entire shipping process.
Customs Clearance: Many 1688 shipping agents are well-versed in the customs requirements and procedures for international shipments. They can help with customs documentation and clearance, ensuring a smooth transition through customs.
Warehousing: Some agents offer warehousing services for temporarily storing your products before shipping them out. This can be beneficial for consolidating multiple orders or managing inventory.
Shipping Cost Negotiation: Agents often have established relationships with shipping carriers and can negotiate better shipping rates on your behalf.
Tracking and Monitoring: They provide shipment tracking and monitoring services, so you can keep tabs on the status of your orders.
Insurance Options: Many 1688 shipping agents can help you arrange insurance for your shipments to protect against loss or damage during transit.
Consolidation: Some agents offer consolidation services where they combine multiple orders from different suppliers into a single shipment, potentially saving on shipping costs.
List of 1688 Agents with International Shipping Experience：
| Agent Name | Order Size | Services | Specialty | Shipping Methods |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Supplyia |
All (Small, Medium, Large) | Sourcing, freight forwarding, product customization | Can handle all order sizes, product customization | Air freight, sea freight |
Superbuy |
All (Small, Medium, Large) | Sourcing, product inspection, quality control | Suitable for both small and large orders | Air freight, sea freight |
Quacn |
Small to Medium | Sourcing, warehouse services, international shipping | Best for small to medium orders | Air freight, sea freight |
CJdropshipping |
Small to Medium | Sourcing, dropshipping, product inspection | Best for small orders or dropshipping businesses | Air freight |
Taobao Focus |
Small to Medium | Sourcing, product consolidation, international shipping | Ideal for small to medium orders from 1688 and Taobao | Air freight, sea freight |
Yoybuy |
Small to Medium | Sourcing, order consolidation, international shipping | Great for small and medium orders | Air freight, sea freight |
Sourcingbro |
All (Small, Medium, Large) | Sourcing, product inspection, quality checks | Best for small to large orders with product customization | Air freight, sea freight |
ChinaBuying |
Small to Medium | Sourcing, product inspection, international shipping | Best for small to medium orders | Air freight, sea freight |
B2B Source |
Medium to Large | Sourcing, procurement, freight forwarding | Great for larger B2B orders | Air freight, sea freight |
Yunnex |
Small to Medium | Sourcing, order consolidation, international shipping | Great for small orders and fast shipping | Air freight, sea freight |
Sourcing Agent China |
Small to Large | Sourcing, supplier management, freight forwarding | Good for all order sizes, especially bulk orders | Air freight, sea freight |
EasySourcing |
Small to Medium | Sourcing, logistics, customs management | Ideal for small and medium-sized businesses | Air freight, sea freight |
Wholesalebox |
Medium to Large | Sourcing, bulk purchasing, product inspection | Ideal for larger bulk orders | Air freight, sea freight |
Taobao Global |
Small to Medium | Sourcing from 1688, product consolidation | Best for small to medium orders | Air freight, sea freight |
Dragon Sourcing |
Medium to Large | Sourcing, procurement, supplier negotiation | Best for large orders with tailored sourcing needs | Air freight, sea freight |
Jing Sourcing |
Small to Medium | Sourcing, supplier communication, product management | Great for small to medium orders, product customization | Air freight, sea freight |
FBA Forwarding |
Small to Large | Freight forwarding, Amazon FBA services | Great for sellers using Amazon FBA | Air freight, sea freight |
Fruugo |
Small to Medium | Sourcing, product listings, global distribution | Ideal for online retailers, small orders | Air freight, sea freight |
About 1688 Lnaded Cost:
How to check product weight on 1688?
To check a product’s weight on 1688, scroll down the listing page and look for sections like “Product Details,” “Specifications,” or sometimes “Logistics” / “Cross-border info.” The weight is usually shown in kg or grams under these details.
Keep in mind that this is typically the net weight (product only). For shipping calculations, it’s safer to add extra weight for packaging—cartons, padding, and labeling all increase the total.
As a simple rule:
- Use the listed weight as your base
- Add a small buffer (for example, +0.2–0.5 kg per carton, depending on packaging)
This helps avoid underestimating shipping costs and prevents issues when booking freight.
So, Before You Buy, You Should Clearly Calculate Your 1688 Sourcing Landed Costs
It’s crucial to calculate your 1688 landed costs before placing an order on 1688. This includes the product cost, shipping fees, freight forwarding fees, customs duties, and any additional payment transaction fees.
By calculating these costs upfront, you can get a clearer understanding of your total expenses, ensuring there are no surprises when your products arrive.
For example, let’s say you buy 5 items from 1688 for a total of ¥1,000 (about $150 USD). You would need to account for the following additional costs:
- Freight forwarding fees: $50 for air freight shipping.
- Shipping cost: $100 for shipping (air freight) to the USA.
- Customs duties and taxes: If the total value of the goods exceeds the threshold in your country, you could pay an additional 10% in duties and taxes, which would be around $15.
- Total estimated cost: $150 (products) + $50 (forwarding fees) + $100 (shipping) + $15 (customs) = $315 USD.
Example Breakdown:
Let’s say you buy 5 items from 1688 for a total of ¥1,000 (about $150 USD). You would need to consider the following additional costs:
- Freight forwarding fees: $50 for air freight shipping.
- Shipping cost: $100 for shipping (air freight) to the USA.
- Customs duties and taxes: If the total value of the goods exceeds the threshold in your country, you could pay an additional 10% in duties and taxes, which would be around $15.
- Total estimated cost: $150 (products) + $50 (forwarding fees) + $100 (shipping) + $15 (customs) = $315 USD.
If you’re unsure how to calculate your landed costs or if you find the process overwhelming, don’t worry. You can simply provide us with your product list, and our team at Supplyia specializes in helping international buyers calculate these costs accurately. We’ll take care of the complex calculations for you, so you have a clear idea of your total expenses before you make the purchase.
Custom, Ship from 1688 and Assess Product Quality:
Supplyia is a reliable logistics and freight forwarding service that specializes in helping international buyers ship products from 1688, a popular Chinese wholesale platform. Since 1688 does not offer direct international shipping, Supplyia provides an efficient solution by offering users a local Chinese address where their orders can be delivered.
Once the products arrive at the designated 1688 shipping address, Supplyia then ships them to your international location, whether it’s in the USA, Europe, or other regions.
In addition to logistics, Supplyia also offers value-added services to streamline your sourcing experience. Supplyia can help you communicate with suppliers directly, ensuring that your orders meet your exact specifications. Whether you’re looking to customize products, make modifications, or request special packaging, Supplyia can facilitate these changes with the supplier on your behalf.
We offer multiple shipping options, including air freight and sea freight, catering to different needs for speed and budget. With Supplyia, international buyers can seamlessly import goods from 1688, ensuring a smooth purchasing and shipping process from China to the rest of the world, while also accommodating any custom requests you may have.
