Buying from 1688 and shipping internationally can give importers access to a wide range of Chinese wholesale products. However, 1688 is primarily a China-focused marketplace, so overseas buyers may need additional support with payment, supplier communication, domestic delivery and international freight. (Shipvida)
For buyers outside China, a common approach is to purchase through a sourcing agent or arrange for suppliers to send goods to a China warehouse before international forwarding.
How to Buy from 1688 and Ship Overseas
1. Find Your Products and Suppliers
Search 1688 for the products you want and compare different suppliers. Check product specifications, minimum order quantities, reviews, supplier information and available variations before placing an order.
Because many listings are in Chinese, translation tools can help you understand product descriptions and communicate basic requirements.
2. Arrange Payment and Purchasing
Depending on your account and the available payment options, you may be able to complete the purchase yourself. If you cannot manage the Chinese payment or supplier communication, a 1688 purchasing agent can place the order on your behalf.
An agent can also help confirm product specifications before payment.
3. Send the Goods to a China Warehouse
When international delivery is not available or is not suitable for your order, your suppliers can send the goods to a warehouse in China. The warehouse receives your different packages before they are prepared for export. (Tonlexing Logistics)
Give suppliers the correct warehouse address, recipient information and customer reference so your packages can be identified when they arrive.
4. Inspect and Consolidate Your Orders
If you have purchased from several 1688 suppliers, the warehouse can receive and organise the different packages.
Depending on the service, your goods can be checked for quantities, packaging and visible damage. Suitable orders can then be consolidated into one shipment.
This is particularly useful when you are buying smaller quantities from multiple suppliers.
5. Choose Air or Sea Freight
Air freight is generally suitable for smaller, urgent or time-sensitive shipments. It offers faster transportation but usually costs more per kilogram.
Sea freight is commonly preferred for larger, heavier or less urgent cargo. LCL can be used for shipments that do not require a full container, while FCL is suitable for larger volumes.
Your final choice should consider cargo weight, volume, destination, delivery deadline and total landed cost.
What Does International Shipping Cost?
The total cost is affected by more than the 1688 product price. Consider:
- Product cost
- Domestic delivery in China
- Agent or purchasing fees
- Warehouse handling
- Inspection and repacking
- Consolidation
- International freight
- Customs duties and taxes
- Destination handling
- Final delivery
A cheap product can become expensive if international shipping and other logistics charges are not calculated before ordering.
How Travo.ng Can Help
Travo.ng can help coordinate the logistics side of buying from 1688 and shipping internationally, including China warehouse coordination, supplier-to-warehouse movement, cargo consolidation and international freight planning.
If you are buying from multiple 1688 suppliers, bringing the orders together before international forwarding can make your shipment easier to manage and may help control unnecessary freight costs.
Before requesting a shipping plan, provide the product type, supplier locations, number of packages, weight, dimensions, total volume and destination.
With the right purchasing and logistics arrangement, buying from 1688 and shipping internationally can become a practical way to source products from China’s domestic wholesale market.
