Category: China Sourcing

When Alibaba works for African buyers, what Trade Assurance does and does not cover, and when to move from the platform to buying factory-direct.

Planning a buying trip to China? When it is worth it, how to prepare, how to buy at Guangzhou markets, and how goods get from the market to your container.

Some sourcing agents earn commission from factories. How agents get paid, how hidden commissions affect price and quality, and how to tell if an agent is independent.

A clear product specification gets comparable quotes and an inspection standard. The 10 things to include, vague words to avoid, and a before-and-after example.

How to source from China for NGO and donor-funded projects in Africa: tender specifications, competing quotations, supplier verification, inspection and an audit-ready file.

Many “factories” on B2B platforms are trading companies, and some borrow a real factory for audits. Seven checks to tell them apart, and when a trader is the better choice.

How to verify a Chinese supplier before you pay a deposit: business licence checks, bank account matching, factory visits, certificates and warning signs.

A step-by-step guide to sourcing from China for African businesses: specifications, supplier verification, quality control, consolidation and export.