Sourcing Goods from China: 1688, Cargo Shipping or Official Import

China gives the best purchase price in almost any physical-goods category — but between spotting an item on 1688 and having stock sitting in a marketplace warehouse lie an agent, quality control, customs and the choice between cargo shipping and official import. Here is the sourcing route step by step and the honest economics of both delivery options.

• 1688.com — China's domestic wholesale market: prices below Alibaba, but the interface is in Chinese and sellers work in yuan with Chinese addresses — you cannot manage without an agent.
• Alibaba — the international shop window of the same factories with a markup for convenience: English-speaking managers, international shipping, Trade Assurance.
• Factories direct — for volume: contacts usually come from trade shows (Canton Fair) or after successful orders through the platforms.
• The Guangzhou and Yiwu markets — offline buying through a purchasing agent; worth it for regular large volumes.

An agent (a buyer or fulfillment service in China) purchases the goods on 1688, receives them at a warehouse in China, checks quality, consolidates the shipment and sends it by your chosen method. The fee is usually a percentage of the purchase amount plus tariffs for inspection and packing. Do not save on inspection: a defect discovered in Moscow can no longer be returned to the factory.

Cargo shipping is the gray route: the goods travel in a consolidated bulk load, customs payments are included in the carrier's rate, and you are left with no import documents.

• Pros: cheaper and simpler, with a minimal entry threshold.
• Cons: no proof of origin — which means problems with certification and Chestny Znak, the risk of losing the shipment with no compensation, and legal exposure during inspections. For labeled categories cargo shipping is a dead end.

Official import (white logistics) means a contract, a customs declaration, VAT and duties, and a complete document package.

• Pros: legal goods that pass any marketplace or government check without trouble; documents for responding to brand-rights complaints.
• Cons: more expensive and slower; you need a customs broker or an importer of record.

1. 1The 1688 price × the exchange rate + the agent's fee.
2. 2Domestic Chinese logistics to the consolidation warehouse.
3. 3Delivery (a cargo rate per kg or cubic meter, or official import: freight + duty + VAT).
4. 4Quality control, repacking, labeling.
5. 5Local logistics to the marketplace warehouse.

Run the resulting cost through unit economics with the marketplace commission, logistics and returns included — then compare it with wholesale in Russia (guide: wholesale in Russia or China): at small volumes Russian wholesale often wins on turnover speed.

• Ordering a batch without a sample. A sample through an agent costs pennies against a defect running through the whole batch.
• Ignoring lead times. Production + consolidation + delivery = weeks and months: seasonal goods are ordered a season ahead, not right before the season — the seller's calendar.
• One SKU, the whole bankroll. The first purchase is a test: with a small batch.
• Someone else's brand on the product. A logo just like the original is counterfeit: a rights-holder complaint, a blocked card and claims from the marketplace.

Related guides: parallel imports on marketplaces.

"What is cargo shipping from China?" Delivery inside a carrier's consolidated load with no import cleared in your name: cheap and simple, but with no import documents. It does not suit labeled or certified categories — you cannot obtain legal codes and declarations without import paperwork.

"How do you buy on 1688 without knowing Chinese?" Through a purchasing agent: they buy the goods, check quality at their own warehouse in China, consolidate and ship. They take a percentage of the purchase plus service tariffs.

"How long does delivery from China take?" From weeks to a couple of months depending on the method: air is faster and pricier, rail and road are slower and cheaper, sea is the longest. Add production and consolidation time. Seasonal items are ordered with a time buffer ahead of the season.

"Which is better value — China or wholesale in Russia?" At small volumes and for quick tests Russia often wins: turnover speed and no customs risk. China wins at volume, when the purchasing saving outweighs logistics and the money frozen in transit.

"Can you legally sell goods from China on marketplaces?" Yes — with official import, declarations and certificates. Cargo goods with no paperwork are exposed: the marketplace can request documents at any moment, and in labeled categories you cannot operate without official import.