Which is best for Nigerian mini importers: 1688, AliExpress, Temu or Alibaba?
Updated · By the Import2Sales team
Short answer
For most Nigerian mini importers, AliExpress is the easiest start (small orders, pay by card, ships to you), while 1688 gives the cheapest factory prices but needs a China agent or cross-border payment service. Alibaba suits bulk and OEM. Temu is a consumer shop, not a sourcing platform, so skip it for reselling.
Quick verdict: which one should you use?
It depends on your stage. If you are testing a product or buying small quantities, start on AliExpress because you can buy 1-5 units, pay with a Nigerian card, and have it shipped to you without an agent. Once a product sells and you want better margins, move to 1688 for near factory-direct prices, using a China sourcing agent or a cross-border payment service to pay and consolidate your goods. Use Alibaba when you need bulk, custom branding (OEM) or a supplier who communicates in English.
Temu is a shopping app for end consumers, not a wholesale source. You buy at retail-style prices with no direct supplier contact, so it is not built for reselling at a profit. It is useful mainly for spotting trending products and benchmark prices.
What is the real difference between the four platforms?
They sit at different points of the supply chain. 1688 is a Chinese-language domestic wholesale site where factories and wholesalers sell to buyers inside China, so prices are usually the lowest, sometimes 20-40% below Alibaba for the same item, according to a sourcing-agent comparison EpicSourcing. Alibaba is the global B2B marketplace built for international buyers and bulk or OEM orders. AliExpress is Alibaba's retail arm for small, single-item orders shipped worldwide. Temu is a consumer shopping app that announced its expansion into Nigeria in December 2024 ITWeb Africa.
Compare 1688, AliExpress, Temu and Alibaba side by side
Here is how the four stack up on the things that matter to a Nigerian seller. Prices and rules can change, so confirm with your agent before you budget.
1688 vs AliExpress vs Temu vs Alibaba for Nigerian mini importers (as of 2026-10)
| Attribute | 1688 | AliExpress | Temu | Alibaba |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Language | Chinese only (translation imperfect) | English | English | English |
| MOQ | Wholesale lots; higher quantities expected | Often 1 unit, no minimum | 1 unit (consumer) | Bulk; MOQ set by supplier |
| Prices | Lowest (factory-direct) | Higher per unit on small lots | Retail consumer prices | Mid; cheaper in bulk |
| Payment | Alipay / Chinese bank (via agent or cross-border service) | Nigerian debit/credit card | Card in-app | Card / Trade Assurance escrow |
| Needs an agent? | Yes (or a cross-border payment service) | No | No | Usually no (ships to you) |
| Shipping to Nigeria | Domestic China only; agent forwards | Ships direct to your address | Local delivery via partner (Dellyman) | Ships internationally / via freight |
| Best for | Cheapest bulk once a product works | Testing & small orders | Spotting trends, not reselling | Bulk & custom/OEM branding |
Do I need a sourcing agent for each one?
Only 1688 strictly needs a workaround. 1688 was built for the domestic Chinese market, so suppliers expect Chinese payment methods like Alipay, WeChat Pay and mainland bank transfers, and there is no built-in option to pay with an international card at checkout WorldFirst. Because of that, Nigerian buyers pay through a sourcing agent or a cross-border payment service, and an agent also forwards the goods out of China. AliExpress and Temu need no agent because you pay by card and they ship to you. On Alibaba you can often pay directly through Trade Assurance and arrange a freight forwarder for the sea or air leg.
How do the goods actually reach Nigeria?
It depends on the platform and your order size. AliExpress handles delivery to your door, and Temu runs local last-mile delivery in Nigeria through a partner, the Lagos logistics startup Dellyman BusinessDay. For 1688 and most Alibaba orders you receive goods at a China agent's warehouse, who then ships by air or sea to Lagos and clears customs. How you then receive and deliver locally varies by state, so see the state-by-state guide at /mini-importation.
For small, light or urgent items, air freight is standard. Import2Sales uses a default assumption of ₦13,000/kg for air freight when estimating landed cost (an Import2Sales default assumption, not a live quote). Rates and transit times move with fuel, season and FX, so always confirm the current rate and timeline with your own agent before pricing a product.
Which gives the best profit margin?
1688 almost always wins on unit cost, but only after you add the agent fee, forwarding and freight. A product that looks cheapest on 1688 can lose its edge once a service fee and air freight are added, while an AliExpress order with free shipping to your door may beat it on small quantities. The only way to know is to run the full landed cost for each option.
Before you commit to a platform, drop the supplier price, weight and your planned selling price into the free Import2Sales Product Opportunity Checker at /check. It returns your landed cost, naira profit, margin and a 0-100 opportunity score so you can compare a 1688 lot against an AliExpress buy on the same numbers. See the method in /blog/how-to-calculate-landed-cost-mini-importation.
After you pick a supplier, how do you actually sell it?
Sourcing is only half the job; you still need a way to take orders. Most Nigerian mini importers sell straight on WhatsApp with pre-orders or payment on delivery, no cart or website needed. Paste your AliExpress, 1688, Temu or Alibaba product link into Import2Sales and it builds a mobile-first sales page with an AI-written headline, benefits and FAQ, plus a one-tap 'Order on WhatsApp' button that opens a pre-filled chat.
Import2Sales has dedicated importers for AliExpress, 1688 and Temu links, and a general importer that reads Alibaba and most other links (you can also type product details in by hand if a link cannot be read). Turning the product link into a page takes about a minute; see /product-link-to-sales-page.
Frequently asked questions
Does Temu ship to Nigeria in 2026?
Yes. Temu announced its expansion into Nigeria in December 2024, and by late 2025 had partnered with the Lagos logistics startup Dellyman for local last-mile delivery. But Temu sells at consumer prices with no direct supplier contact, so it suits spotting trending products, not sourcing stock to resell at a profit. Confirm delivery to your address at checkout.
Is 1688 cheaper than Alibaba?
Usually yes. 1688 is a Chinese domestic wholesale site and prices can run 20-40% below Alibaba for the same item. The catch is that 1688 is in Chinese, is built for buyers inside China and expects Chinese payment, so you typically use a sourcing agent or cross-border service to buy and forward the goods, which adds a service fee to the low price.
Can I buy from 1688 without a Chinese bank account?
Not directly. 1688 expects Alipay, WeChat Pay or mainland Chinese bank transfers, and has no built-in option to pay with an international card at checkout. Nigerian buyers pay through a sourcing agent who settles in RMB on your behalf, or a cross-border payment service. The agent route also handles forwarding your goods out of China to Lagos.
Do I need an agent to import from AliExpress to Nigeria?
No. AliExpress is the easiest for beginners: you can buy single units, pay with a Nigerian debit or credit card, and have the item shipped to your address. That makes it ideal for testing a product before you commit to a bulk 1688 or Alibaba order. Per-unit prices are higher than wholesale, though.
Which platform is best for a beginner mini importer?
Start with AliExpress to test products cheaply with small orders and no agent. Once a product sells, switch to 1688 (with an agent or cross-border service) for the lowest bulk prices, or Alibaba if you need branding or large quantities. Skip Temu as a source; it is a consumer app, useful only for researching what is trending.
How do I know if a product will be profitable before I import it?
Calculate the landed cost, not just the supplier price. Add the agent fee, air or sea freight, customs and any local delivery, then compare with your selling price. The free checker at /check does this for you: enter supplier price, weight and selling price and it returns your profit, margin and a 0-100 opportunity score.
Can I turn an Alibaba or 1688 link into a sales page?
Yes. Import2Sales has dedicated importers for AliExpress, 1688 and Temu, and a general importer that reads Alibaba and most other links. Paste the link and it builds a mobile-first sales page with headline, benefits, FAQ and a one-tap 'Order on WhatsApp' button. If a link cannot be read, you can enter the product details manually.
Mini importation in your state
Local markets, how goods arrive and where to sell, for every Nigerian state.