Buying from both Alibaba and 1688 can give importers access to a wide range of Chinese suppliers and competitive wholesale products. However, managing separate deliveries from several suppliers can become complicated. Learning how to consolidate orders from Alibaba and 1688 can make the shipping process more organised.
Instead of sending every supplier’s order separately, buyers can have eligible purchases delivered to a warehouse in China and combine them before international shipping.
How Order Consolidation Works
The process usually starts by giving each supplier the correct warehouse receiving details. Once the goods are ready, suppliers send the packages to the warehouse.
The warehouse can then:
- Receive packages from Alibaba and 1688 suppliers.
- Record each shipment and match it to the buyer’s orders.
- Check quantities and visible packaging condition.
- Store the packages while other orders are still arriving.
- Repack or remove unnecessary packaging where appropriate.
- Combine compatible orders into one shipment.
- Arrange air, LCL or FCL freight to the destination.
This is particularly useful when your Alibaba and 1688 purchases are coming from different suppliers or cities.
Why Consolidate Alibaba and 1688 Orders?
Suppose you buy clothing from a Guangzhou supplier on 1688, electronics from Shenzhen through Alibaba and accessories from Yiwu. Shipping every order independently can create multiple international shipments and separate freight arrangements.
With consolidation, the different packages can be brought together at a China warehouse before being shipped onward.
This can simplify tracking and shipment management and may reduce duplicated international freight arrangements. However, consolidation does not automatically guarantee a lower total cost; the final result depends on package size, weight, packaging and destination.
What Should You Check Before Consolidation?
Before sending your orders to a warehouse, make sure the supplier uses the correct receiving information and that each package can be identified properly.
Keep records of:
- Supplier names and order numbers
- Product descriptions
- Quantities and SKUs
- Number of cartons
- Package dimensions
- Gross weight
- Special handling requirements
For larger purchases, consider arranging an inspection before the goods are consolidated. Finding a quantity or packaging problem while the cargo is still in China is generally easier than discovering it after international delivery.
Air Freight or Sea Freight?
The combined shipment determines which freight option makes sense.
Air freight can be suitable for smaller or urgent consolidated orders.
LCL sea freight can work for larger commercial shipments that do not fill a container, while FCL sea freight becomes more appropriate when the combined cargo requires a dedicated container.
For bulky products, compare the total CBM and weight before choosing the shipping method.
How Travo.ng Can Help
Travo.ng can help coordinate the logistics involved in consolidating Alibaba and 1688 orders, including supplier cargo coordination, warehouse receiving, consolidation planning and suitable air or sea freight arrangements.
When requesting a shipping plan, provide your supplier locations, order quantities, product types, carton dimensions, estimated weight or CBM and final destination.
With the right warehouse and freight arrangement, multiple Alibaba and 1688 purchases can be organised into a single, more manageable international shipment.
