Trade Route GuideSuppliers guides for importers
Find, check and work with Chinese suppliers: from the first search to a signed order.
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All suppliers guides
1688 vs Alibaba for Importers: Prices, Agents, MOQ (2026)
Can you buy on 1688 from abroad, and is the saving real? Access routes, payment barriers and a worked example that shrinks a 36.00% gap to 24.57%.
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What Trade Assurance really covers, what each payment method costs, and how a claim unfolds day by day, with a worked dispute.
SuppliersCanton Fair Guide 2027: Dates, Phases, Badge and Visa
Phase dates, the free buyer badge, visa routes by passport, a USD trip budget and how to follow up suppliers after the fair.
SuppliersChina Sourcing Agent Fees: Commission vs Fixed Fee (2026)
What sourcing agents really charge, from published fee pages: commission ladders, fixed fees, hidden markups and the clauses that keep an agent on your side.
SuppliersHow to Verify a Chinese Supplier: 12-Point Checklist (2026)
Read a Chinese business licence, check it on the official registry, spot a dangerous bank account, and add the EU, UK and US checks.
About these guides
Most import problems start before any money moves: a trading company posing as a factory, a business licence that does not match the bank account, or a contract that says nothing about quality.
These guides walk through the whole journey, from finding suppliers to checking them on official registries and agreeing terms that protect your deposit. They are written for small and medium importers who buy without an office in China.
If you are importing for the first time, read the step-by-step guide to importing from China, then the 12-point supplier checklist.
Common questions
How do I know if a Chinese supplier is real?
Check the business licence on the official national registry, compare the company name with the bank account and the contract, and order an inspection before the balance payment.
Factory or trading company: which is better?
Both can work. A trading company can be useful for small mixed orders; a factory is usually better for price and quality control on larger repeat orders. What matters is knowing which one you deal with.
Other topics: PaymentsQualityShippingCompany setup