1688.com in Pakistan: 1688 vs Alibaba for Pakistani Sellers

China is still the main source of private-label products for Amazon and Shopify sellers, including sellers in Pakistan. The two platforms most people compare are Alibaba.com and 1688.com. Both belong to Alibaba Group, but they are built for different buyers. Choosing the right one, and using it properly, affects your cost, your risk and how much work you take on.

The short version

Alibaba.com is built for international buyers. It is in English, suppliers quote in US dollars, it offers Trade Assurance protection, and suppliers will ship to Amazon warehouses or to Pakistan. Prices are often higher, partly because many listings are from trading companies rather than factories.
1688.com is China's domestic wholesale market. It is in Chinese, prices are in RMB, payment is usually through Alipay, and most suppliers only deliver within China. Prices are often lower, but you almost always need a sourcing agent to buy, check and export the goods.

Lower unit prices on 1688 do not automatically mean a lower landed cost. Add the agent's fee, domestic Chinese shipping, inspection and export handling before you compare.

Alibaba.com in more detail

Who sells there: a mix of manufacturers and trading companies. Look for "Verified" or audited suppliers and check the business licence and years on the platform.

Pros

English communication and quotes in USD.
Suppliers are used to custom packaging, logos and private label.
Trade Assurance can protect your payment if the supplier fails to ship on time or the goods do not match the agreed specification, as long as you pay through the platform.
Suppliers can ship directly to an Amazon FBA warehouse or your forwarder.

Cons

Prices can include a trading company's margin.
Minimum order quantities (MOQs) for customisation are often higher.
Many listings show attractive prices that change once you ask for your real specification.

1688.com in more detail

Who sells there: mostly Chinese factories and wholesalers selling to Chinese retailers and online sellers.

Pros

Prices are often closer to factory level.
Many suppliers sell small quantities, which is useful for testing products.
A huge range of ready-made products for dropshipping or bundling.

Cons

The site, chat and invoices are in Chinese.
You need a Chinese payment method, which most Pakistani buyers do not have.
Suppliers generally do not export, so goods must be collected by an agent in China.
Buyer protection is designed for domestic Chinese buyers, so you rely on your agent if something goes wrong.
Customisation (your logo, your packaging) is possible with some suppliers but needs negotiation in Chinese.

How sourcing agents work

A sourcing agent buys on 1688 (or directly from factories) on your behalf, receives the goods at their warehouse, checks them, repacks if needed and hands them to a freight forwarder.

What to agree in writing before you use one:

Fee: commonly a percentage of the product value, a fixed fee per order, or both.
Quality checks: what exactly they inspect, and whether you receive photos and videos.
Storage: how long they hold stock free of charge.
Labelling: whether they can apply FNSKU barcodes and Amazon carton labels.
Payment: who carries the risk if the supplier sends the wrong goods.

Start with a small order to test the agent before trusting them with a large one.

Quality control: do not skip it

Whichever platform you use:

Order samples from two or three suppliers and compare them side by side.
Write a specification: materials, dimensions, colours (with Pantone codes if they matter), packaging, labels and acceptable defect rate.
Inspect before shipping: a pre-shipment inspection by a third-party company or your agent is far cheaper than a pile of Amazon returns and bad reviews.
Keep records: photos of approved samples, the agreed spec and all messages. They are your evidence in any dispute.

Shipping: China to Amazon or China to Pakistan

For Amazon US, UK or EU: ship directly from China to the Amazon warehouse through a freight forwarder. There is no need to route goods through Pakistan, and doing so adds cost and time. In the US you will need an importer of record and customs bond, which forwarders usually provide.

For selling in Pakistan (Daraz or your own Shopify store): goods come into Pakistan by sea through Karachi or by air, and you pay Pakistani customs duty and sales tax. Rates depend on the product's HS code, so ask a customs clearing agent for the landed cost before ordering.

Which one should you use?

First private-label product, little experience: Alibaba.com with Trade Assurance, samples and an inspection. The higher price buys you protection and simpler communication.
Testing many products in small quantities, or bundling ready-made items: 1688 through a reliable agent.
Established product with steady volume: use what you have learned to approach the factory directly and negotiate, regardless of which site you found it on.

Should you source in Pakistan instead?

For some products, especially textiles, leather, sports goods, surgical and beauty instruments, and home textiles, Pakistani manufacturers can compete well with China and are easier to visit and supervise. See Amazon FBA sourcing: China vs Pakistan for a comparison.

Frequently asked questions

Is 1688 cheaper than Alibaba?

Unit prices are often lower, but once you add agent fees, domestic shipping and inspection, the difference is smaller and sometimes disappears. Compare landed cost, not listing price.

Can I use 1688.com from Pakistan?

Yes, you can browse 1688.com from Pakistan, but the site is in Chinese, most suppliers only sell inside China and ship to Chinese addresses. Pakistani buyers usually use a browser translation tool to search, then order through a sourcing agent or a freight forwarder with a warehouse in China, who pays the supplier, checks the goods and ships them to Pakistan, Amazon or your 3PL.

Can I pay a 1688 supplier from Pakistan?

Usually not directly, because suppliers expect Alipay or Chinese bank transfers. That is one of the main things a sourcing agent handles.

Can Markify help with sourcing?

We help clients plan products, write specifications and arrange FBA shipments as part of our Amazon management service. For the full journey from supplier to customer, see our cross-border logistics guide.

Work with Markify Ecommerce

Markify Ecommerce (listed on Google Maps as Markify Ecommerce - Unicored Technologies) is an ecommerce marketplace management agency in Bahria Orchard, Lahore. We manage Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Shopify, Etsy and TikTok Shop accounts, and we set up US LLCs and UK Ltd companies for Pakistani sellers.

Office: Central Block, Bahria Orchard, Raiwind Road, Lahore 55150, Punjab, Pakistan
Phone & WhatsApp: +92 321 3131641
Free account audit: Send us your store or account details and we will reply with the first fixes we would make.