Sourcing

How do you buy from 1688 in Nigeria?

Updated 21 October 2026 · By the Import2Sales team

Short answer

The practical way to buy from 1688 in Nigeria is through a China-based buying agent, because the site is in Chinese, mainly takes Alipay, WeChat Pay and Chinese bank transfers, and most sellers only deliver inside China. You send the agent product links and pay them in naira or dollars. They buy, inspect and ship to Nigeria by air or sea.

What is 1688, and how is it different from Alibaba, AliExpress and Temu?

1688 is Alibaba Group's wholesale marketplace for buyers inside China. Its prices are usually the lowest of the four sites, but it is built for Chinese buyers. WorldFirst's 1688 guide describes it as a B2B platform with over 10 million suppliers and a Chinese-only website, and says most sellers only arrange delivery within China. A separate WorldFirst comparison, with prices checked in June 2026, puts 1688 prices often 20–50% below AliExpress. That is before agent fees and shipping.

Alibaba.com is the English export site for international wholesale buyers. AliExpress is a retail site that sells single pieces. Temu is a retail app, and BusinessDay reported in November 2024 that it accepts naira debit cards and bank transfers. The table compares the four as of 2026-10. MOQs and prices are typical patterns only, because every listing sets its own terms.

1688 vs Alibaba vs AliExpress vs Temu for Nigerian sellers (as of 2026-10; check each listing)

	1688	Alibaba.com	AliExpress	Temu
Language	Chinese only (use browser translate)	English	English	English
Typical MOQ	Varies by seller, sometimes 1 piece; factories may ask for much more	Often 50–500 pieces, varies by supplier	1 piece	1 piece
Price level	Lowest (China domestic wholesale)	Medium (export wholesale)	Higher (retail)	Retail, often discounted
Payment	Alipay, WeChat Pay, Chinese bank transfer; foreigners usually go through an agent or a cross-border pay service	Cards, bank transfer, Trade Assurance escrow	Cards, PayPal and other online methods	Naira debit cards and bank transfer (reported 2024)
Ships to Nigeria?	No, usually China-only delivery, so you need an agent	Yes, the supplier arranges it or you use a forwarder	Yes	Yes
Best for	Cheapest unit cost on repeat stock, bought through an agent	Larger or custom orders with escrow protection	Testing 1–5 pieces quickly	Personal buying or tiny tests

Why do you need an agent to buy from 1688 in Nigeria?

You need an agent because a Nigerian buyer on 1688 hits three barriers: the language, the payment methods, and delivery that stops inside China. A LooperBuy guide on 1688 payments says checkout only takes Alipay, WeChat Pay and mainland Chinese bank transfers, and that foreign cards and PayPal are blocked by default. LooperBuy is an agent itself, so treat its claims with that in mind.

Official cross-border routes do exist. WorldFirst says you need a personal Alipay account to verify a 1688 account. It also describes World Pay, which lets eligible overseas businesses pay participating suppliers without a Chinese bank account, for fees of up to 0.8%. Even with payment sorted, you still need someone in China to receive the goods, check them and ship them abroad. For most mini importers in Lagos, Abuja or Onitsha, a procurement and shipping agent handles all of that.

How does a 1688 procurement agent work, step by step?

The agent pays the 1688 seller from their own Chinese payment account, receives the goods at their China warehouse, and ships them to Nigeria. A typical order goes like this:

1Find products on 1688, using Chrome's translate feature or image search if needed. Copy the product links and note the exact colour, size and quantity.
2Send the links to your agent on WhatsApp. Ask for a full quote covering the item price in CNY, delivery to their China warehouse, their service fee, and the exchange rate they will use.
3Pay the agent the quoted amount in naira or dollars. They then pay the 1688 seller in CNY.
4The seller ships to the agent's China warehouse. Ask the agent to send photos or a short video of your goods before they ship them on.
5The agent weighs or measures your goods, and you choose air shipping (charged per kg) or sea shipping (charged per CBM) to Nigeria.
6Collect your goods at the agent's Nigerian office or arrange delivery, and pay any balance due on arrival.

Agent fees vary a lot. LooperBuy puts purchasing-agent fees at about 5–10% of the order, while WorldFirst puts sourcing-agent commission at 1–3%. Some agents build their margin into the exchange rate instead. Compare the total landed cost, not just the headline fee, and confirm current quotes with your agent.

How do you vet a 1688 agent before sending money?

Vet an agent by testing them with a small order before you trust them with a big one. A good reputation and a clear written quote matter more than the cheapest rate.

Ask for a breakdown of item cost, China delivery, service fee, exchange rate, and shipping rate per kg or CBM. Be careful if they will only give you one lump sum.
Check that they have a physical office or pickup point in Nigeria and a warehouse address in China.
Ask importers you know which agents they use. Don't rely only on the testimonials an agent posts on their own Status.
Make your first order small enough that you can afford to lose it, and only increase your orders once goods arrive as promised.
Agree in writing (WhatsApp is fine) who pays if goods are damaged, missing, or held at customs.

How do you check a 1688 supplier, MOQ and samples?

Check a 1688 supplier by looking at its badges, years on the platform, repurchase rate and real buyer reviews, then order a sample before you buy in bulk. A Supplyia guide to legit 1688 suppliers says the basic 诚信通 (Chengxintong) badge is only basic identity verification and does not guarantee quality. The guide rates the 实力商家 (Powerful Merchant) badge and factory-inspection badges as stronger signals, and it prefers suppliers with three or more years of operation. Keep in mind that Supplyia is itself a sourcing agent.

Repurchase rate (回头率): Supplyia calls this the most important seller metric. A high rate suggests buyers keep coming back.
Business model: 生产加工 means production or processing (a factory), and 批发 means wholesale or trading.
MOQ (起批量): this appears next to the price tiers. It varies widely, from single pieces at some wholesalers to large runs at factories.
Reviews: look for buyer photos and detailed comments rather than generic five-star lines.
Samples: ask your agent to buy 1–3 pieces first and send you photos or a video before you order 50.

How do you pay safely and avoid getting scammed?

The safest setup is for payment to the seller to go through 1688's own checkout, either through your agent or an official cross-border pay service, and never as a private transfer to a stranger. The LooperBuy payment guide warns that wire transfers and informal off-platform payments leave you with no recourse in a dispute. For larger factory orders it describes a 30/70 split: 30% upfront to start production and 70% after inspection, before shipment. If you want escrow on an English-language site, Alibaba's Trade Assurance holds your payment until you confirm you have received the goods. It offers refunds if an order doesn't ship, gets lost, or arrives defective or wrong.

In Nigeria, pay your agent into a business account in the company's name, keep every receipt and chat, and be wary of so-called agents who only exist on WhatsApp and push you to pay quickly.

What translation tips make 1688 easier?

The fastest trick is to open 1688 in Chrome and use the built-in page translation, then switch to image search when keywords fail. WorldFirst also suggests translating product names into Chinese with Google Translate, and using the camera icon beside the search bar to search by photo.

Image search: upload a photo of the item and 1688 shows similar listings, often cheaper than the one you saw on AliExpress.
Learn a few words: 起批 (minimum order), 现货 (in stock), 包邮 (free shipping), 颜色 (colour) and 尺码 (size).
Translated specs such as size, voltage and material can be wrong, so ask your agent to confirm them with the seller in Chinese.
Screenshot the exact variant you chose, because many listings show several prices on one page.

How do you turn your 1688 product into sales in Nigeria?

Before you order, work out your landed cost and profit. Then build a simple product page you can share on WhatsApp Status while the goods are still on their way. The free Product Opportunity Checker from Import2Sales takes your supplier price, weight and selling price and estimates landed cost, profit, margin and a 0–100 product score. Our guide on how to calculate landed cost explains each cost line.

Once the numbers work, paste the 1688 link into Import2Sales. It has a dedicated 1688 importer and creates a mobile-first sales page with a headline, benefits, an FAQ and an 'Order on WhatsApp' button. Orders are confirmed in WhatsApp chat, so you can take pre-orders or offer payment on delivery. It is not a full online store with a cart or inventory, just a quick page for each product. To choose between air and sea, read air vs sea shipping from China to Nigeria.

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy from 1688 directly without an agent in Nigeria?

It is possible in theory but hard in practice. 1688 is in Chinese, mainly takes Alipay, WeChat Pay and Chinese bank transfers, and most sellers only deliver inside China. Even with a cross-border payment service, you still need a warehouse in China to receive and forward your goods. That is why most Nigerian mini importers use an agent.

Is 1688 cheaper than AliExpress?

Usually yes, because 1688 is China's domestic wholesale market and AliExpress charges retail prices. Once you add your agent's fee, delivery within China and international shipping, the gap gets smaller. Compare the full landed cost per unit, not just the listed price, before you decide which site to buy from.

What is the minimum order on 1688?

There is no single minimum. Each seller sets its own MOQ, which appears next to the price tiers. Some wholesalers sell single pieces, while factories may want hundreds or thousands of units. Your agent may also have a minimum order value of their own, so ask them before you start shopping.

How much do 1688 agents charge in Nigeria?

It depends on the agent. Some charge a percentage of the order value, some charge a flat fee, and some add their margin to the exchange rate they give you. International guides quote commissions from about 1% to 10%. Ask several agents for a full written breakdown and compare the total landed cost.

How long does it take to get 1688 goods to Nigeria?

There are two stages. First the seller delivers to your agent's China warehouse, then the agent ships internationally. Air freight is faster and is charged per kilogram. Sea freight is slower and is charged per CBM. Ask your agent for their current timelines and rates before you pay, because these change often.

How do I know a 1688 seller is genuine?

Check how long the shop has been on 1688, which badges it holds, its repurchase rate and whether reviews include real buyer photos. A basic membership badge only proves the business is registered, so give more weight to factory-inspection badges. Always buy a sample or small test quantity first, and ask your agent for photos before anything ships.

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