External ResourceSourcing Platforms
Alibaba
Find export-ready suppliers and compare product quotations.
- Best for
- Overseas buyers who want to contact suppliers directly.
- Use when
- Use when you want to compare MOQ, price, lead time, product options and supplier profiles.
- Limitations
- Not every supplier is a real factory. Verify company details, production capability, payment terms and product quality.
Supplier SearchRFQExport Suppliers
External ResourceSourcing Platforms
Made-in-China
Research export suppliers for industrial products, machinery and B2B categories.
- Best for
- Machinery buyers and B2B importers comparing factory options.
- Use when
- Use when product specs, certificates, production capability and export support matter.
- Limitations
- Supplier pages are only a starting point. Confirm specs, warranty, after-sales support and inspection acceptance.
Supplier SearchMachineryB2B
External ResourceSourcing Platforms
Global Sources
Find export-oriented suppliers, products and trade show exhibitors.
- Best for
- Electronics, gifts and export-supplier research.
- Use when
- Use when building a supplier shortlist before RFQs or trade fair follow-up.
- Limitations
- Still verify samples, MOQ, company identity, compliance and payment terms.
Supplier SearchTrade FairExport Suppliers
External Resource1688 & Chinese Search Tools
1688
Browse China domestic wholesale listings and manufacturer-style sellers.
- Best for
- Buyers using an agent for Chinese communication, payment and consolidation.
- Use when
- Use when comparing domestic China pricing or finding small factories behind export listings.
- Limitations
- Most sellers are domestic-facing. Export handling, quality control and after-sales support may need an agent.
1688WholesaleChinese Platform
External Resource1688 & Chinese Search Tools
Baidu
Search Chinese company names, product terms and local market information.
- Best for
- Buyers checking Chinese-language supplier traces with help from a translator or agent.
- Use when
- Use when you have a Chinese company name, product keyword or industrial cluster term to research.
- Limitations
- Search results can be noisy. Do not treat search visibility as proof of legitimacy.
Chinese SearchVerificationSupplier Research
External ResourceTrade Fairs & Wholesale Markets
YiwuGo
Research Yiwu market booths and small commodity categories.
- Best for
- Yiwu buyers, small-order buyers and mixed-goods wholesalers.
- Use when
- Use before planning a Yiwu market visit, sample collection or agent brief.
- Limitations
- Confirm booth status, product quality, export support and consolidation separately.
YiwuWholesale MarketSmall Commodities
External ResourceTrade Fairs & Wholesale Markets
Canton Fair
Official trade fair reference for China export supplier discovery.
- Best for
- Buyers planning China sourcing trips and exhibitor research.
- Use when
- Use when checking fair phases, categories, exhibitors and visit planning.
- Limitations
- Do not place orders without supplier verification, samples, written specs and payment safeguards.
Trade FairCanton FairSupplier Discovery
External ResourceTranslation & Communication
Google Translate
Translate short supplier messages, product terms and screenshots.
- Best for
- First-time buyers checking basic Chinese communication.
- Use when
- Use for quick understanding before asking an agent or translator to confirm details.
- Limitations
- Machine translation can miss technical, legal or payment nuance. Confirm important terms manually.
TranslationCommunicationChinese Terms
External ResourceTranslation & Communication
DeepL Translator
Translate supplier messages, product specs and sourcing notes.
- Best for
- Buyers preparing clearer cross-language communication.
- Use when
- Use when comparing translated RFQs, supplier replies or inspection notes.
- Limitations
- Do not rely on machine translation for contracts, safety requirements or payment terms.
TranslationCommunicationRFQ
External ResourceShipping & Freight
Freightos
Research freight market context and shipping quote references.
- Best for
- Importers comparing broad freight cost expectations.
- Use when
- Use before asking freight forwarders for formal quotes.
- Limitations
- Final quotes depend on cargo details, route, Incoterms, customs and destination charges.
ShippingFreightLogistics
External ResourceShipping & Freight
World Freight Rates
Estimate freight context before requesting forwarder quotes.
- Best for
- Buyers preparing early shipping budget assumptions.
- Use when
- Use when comparing rough route and shipment cost sensitivity.
- Limitations
- Treat estimates as rough references only. Ask forwarders for live, itemized quotes.
ShippingFreight EstimateLogistics
External ResourceHS Code / Duty / Customs
World Customs Organization HS Nomenclature
Reference HS classification structure and customs terminology.
- Best for
- Importers discussing HS codes with brokers or forwarders.
- Use when
- Use when preparing questions about customs classification and duty checks.
- Limitations
- HS classification is country-specific in practice. Confirm with your broker or customs expert.
HS CodeCustomsDuty
External ResourceHS Code / Duty / Customs
U.S. HTS Search
Search U.S. tariff classifications and duty references.
- Best for
- Buyers importing into the United States.
- Use when
- Use when checking U.S. HTS possibilities before asking a broker.
- Limitations
- Classification errors can be costly. Confirm with a customs broker before import.
HS CodeDutyCustomsUSA
External ResourceInspection & QC
QIMA Resources
Read inspection, audit and product quality control references.
- Best for
- Buyers learning inspection scope and QC terminology.
- Use when
- Use when preparing inspection requirements before production or final payment.
- Limitations
- Educational content does not replace an agreed inspection scope or independent review.
InspectionQCFactory Audit
External ResourceInspection & QC
AQSIQ / Standards Search Reference
Use standards and compliance references as a starting point for product checks.
- Best for
- Buyers preparing compliance questions for suppliers or testing labs.
- Use when
- Use when a product may need safety, labeling or market-entry testing.
- Limitations
- Standards change and differ by destination market. Confirm with a qualified testing lab.
InspectionComplianceTesting
External ResourcePayment & Contracts
PayPal Buyer Protection
Review PayPal buyer protection basics for eligible transactions.
- Best for
- Small sample orders or early-stage buyer-supplier transactions.
- Use when
- Use when evaluating payment method options for low-value orders.
- Limitations
- Protection rules have limits and exclusions. Read current terms before relying on them.
PaymentBuyer ProtectionSamples
External ResourceProduct Research
Google Trends
Check search interest patterns for product categories and seasonal demand.
- Best for
- Amazon, Shopify and wholesale buyers researching demand signals.
- Use when
- Use before selecting product categories or planning sample orders.
- Limitations
- Search interest is not proof of product profitability, supply quality or compliance.
Product ResearchDemandTrends
External ResourceProduct Research
Amazon Best Sellers
Browse marketplace product demand signals and category examples.
- Best for
- Amazon sellers and product researchers.
- Use when
- Use when collecting product ideas before searching China sourcing routes.
- Limitations
- Popular listings may be competitive, patented, restricted or hard to source profitably.
Product ResearchAmazonDemand