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11.09.2026
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Sourcing agencies & trading platforms
There are many different ways to find a producer in China. In addition to working with a sourcing agency, the major Chinese trading platforms are the best-known options.
There are many different ways to find a producer in China. In addition to working with a sourcing agency, the most well-known options are certainly the large Chinese trading platforms. But what is the difference between the two?
Three of the largest and most important platforms for wholesale in China are:
There are also sector-specific trading platforms, such as for clothing or electronics.
Every retailer is probably familiar with Alibaba, China's largest trading platform. The well-known B2B platform should not be confused with its B2C offshoot Aliexpress. Like many other such portals, Alibaba has an immense number of products and retailers listed. However, very few of these merchants are able to cater to individual requests; most of them simply manufacture the products already on offer. In our opinion, Alibaba has both advantages and disadvantages that need to be considered when using it. Most of these points are not exclusive to this platform, but apply to most Chinese online trading platforms in general.
DHgate is comparable to the Chinese Amazon and supplies its customers with a wide range of products. DHgate is ideal for finding suppliers and researching products. From clothing to electronics - you can find almost anything there. There is also a German translation of the website, even if it is not always translated correctly, it is still helpful. Possible points of criticism would be the mostly fake customer reviews and the somewhat complicated structure of the website, which makes it difficult to search for specific products.
The online retail site Lightinthebox is known for selling items of clothing. Although this platform is very popular, there are many customer opinions that advise against buying from this site. The items are often misrepresented and returns are usually not possible. If it is possible, it is unnecessarily complicated. The blog post on the Nerdheaven website contains a whole host of warning words. According to our research, Lightinthebox is not particularly reputable. Another disadvantage of this website is the FAQ, which only provides very incomprehensible answers to customers' questions.
If you are looking for an existing product that is produced in China, the trading platforms can be very helpful. Even if you should always treat them with caution! However, if you want a more elaborate, customized product, you probably won't find a suitable producer there.
A sourcing agency is an advantage in cases where a simple, standard market product does not meet the requirements. Searching for suppliers yourself can save money, but it can cost time and nerves, which is where a procurement agency can help. Furthermore, supply bottlenecks can also be avoided with the help of skillful supplier selection.
