Can 1688 ship directly to Taiwan? Shipping from 1688 / Alibaba: MOQ, sea freight and customs
For most 1688 wholesale orders, start with sea express: chargeable units use the larger of actual weight and volumetric weight (L×W×H cm ÷ 10000). Sea express is NT$50 per unit, with an NT$100 dispatch surcharge under 10 units. Larger or bulky orders should use LCL/FCL sea freight by quote. Commercial imports can be declared under a company or business name with duty receipts and import declarations.
What is 1688 and how is it different from Taobao?
1688.com is Alibaba Group’s B2B wholesale marketplace. It is built for factory supply, bulk pricing and business sourcing, while Taobao is primarily retail and consumer focused. For Taiwan buyers opening a shop, restocking office supplies, buying event giveaways or importing bulky furniture, 1688 is usually the better fit.
- MOQ tiers: many items can be ordered from 1 piece, but 10, 100 and 1000 units usually unlock better pricing.
- Factory supply: fewer retail markups and more OEM/ODM options.
- Commercial documents: invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin and import declarations can be planned together.
- Low margin, high turnover: savings are real only after freight, duty and inspection costs are included.
1688 is not ideal for one-off personal purchases. It works best when the order quantity and business purpose are clear.
3 common 1688 sourcing scenarios
Scenario A: shop restocking
Typical need: Shopee, momo or retail stores, 30-100 SKUs and 50-200 units per style.
Suggested route: test costs with sea express, then move steady restocks to LCL sea freight with simplified company declaration.
Watch for: electronics, toys, food and cosmetics may need BSMI or TFDA checks.
Scenario B: office or event purchasing
Typical need: stationery, staff gifts and event merchandise, around 20-80 kg.
Suggested route: sea express or small LCL shipment. Check personal-use exemptions or commercial declaration rules before ordering many identical items.
Scenario C: bulky furniture and appliances
Typical need: sofas, desks, cabinets, strollers and office chairs.
Suggested route: quote by sea freight using the larger of actual and volumetric weight. Ask suppliers to flat-pack or disassemble furniture where possible.
5 steps to ship 1688 goods to Taiwan
1Register and confirm the import route
Get your Shenzhen warehouse address first. For resale in Taiwan, confirm company details, CCC tariff code, BSMI/TFDA requirements and whether simplified declaration is suitable.
2Source, negotiate and order samples on 1688
Confirm MOQ, unit price, lead time, dimensions, weight and payment method. Order 1-3 samples before placing a bulk order.
3Ship to the HowBridge Shenzhen warehouse
Use the Shenzhen warehouse address at checkout and keep your member identifier or Taiwan mobile number in the address for parcel matching.
4Inspect, consolidate and choose freight
For high-value or bulk goods, add warehouse inspection. Use sea express for small and medium lots, LCL/FCL for larger shipments, and air freight only for urgent small parcels.
5Customs, tax payment and Taiwan delivery
A company or business name can be used for simplified declaration where eligible. Regulated items still need the required inspections before delivery in Taiwan.
Paying on 1688 from Taiwan: CNY pricing and TWD conversion
Short answer: everything on 1688 is priced in Chinese yuan (CNY). Buyers outside mainland China usually pay via a verified Alipay account, an international credit card, or a cross-border payment platform such as WorldFirst. The number on the product page is CNY — the platform does not convert it for you. Payment, not shipping, is what most often blocks a first order.
This friction is structural. A Legislative Yuan Legal Bureau study on cross-border e-commerce taxation (report R00971, Weng Po-hsuan, May 2020) lists "difficulty collecting payment, logistics and information flow data" as one of three core problems in taxing cross-border e-commerce, and records that the EU published its e-commerce VAT reform regulation in February 2019 with a EUR 150 low-value threshold, effective January 2021, ending the VAT exemption for low-value consignments. Keep your order screenshots, payment records and invoices — they matter for customs and tax evidence later.
| Payment method | What you need | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alipay (verified) | Passport or Mainland Travel Permit for identity verification | Personal use, small trial orders | Some functions require a +86 mobile number; limits depend on verification level |
| International credit card | Visa/Mastercard, and a seller that accepts it | Individuals and small commercial orders | Not all 1688 sellers support it; cross-border fees and FX spread apply |
| WorldFirst and similar platforms | Platform account with personal/business verification | Buyers with steady order volume | Rates, supported currencies and settlement time follow each platform current terms |
| Corporate Alipay / bank transfer | A mainland China corporate bank account | Buyers with a mainland entity or long-term supplier | Rarely available to Taiwan buyers; usually arranged through the supplier |
| Supplier-designated offline payment | Payment details provided by the supplier | Long-term, trusted suppliers only | Highest risk — split payments and keep every receipt |
How to convert to your own currency: check whether the price is per unit or per lot and what the MOQ is, multiply by the day rate, then add international shipping, duty and 5% VAT to get the landed cost. Use a live source such as the Bank of Taiwan exchange rate board; the rate on the quote date and the payment date may differ. HowBridge only handles consolidation, shipping and customs clearance — we do not offer cross-border payment, currency exchange or purchasing agency services. You pay the supplier on 1688 yourself.
Sea express, LCL and FCL comparison
| Item | Sea express | LCL sea freight | FCL container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best volume | 10-200 kg | 100-500 kg, multiple SKUs | 500 kg+ or bulky goods |
| Billing | NT$50 per unit, actual vs volumetric ÷10000 | Quoted by weight and volume | Quoted by container |
| Transit time | About 5-10 days | About 7-14 days | About 10-18 days |
| Best use case | Samples and fast restock | Shop restock and event goods | Bulk single items and furniture |
| Customs | Mostly simplified declaration | Simplified or formal declaration | Formal or batch declaration |
💡 How to choose
Use sea express to test samples and small batches. Move to LCL when monthly restocking becomes steady or volume grows. Consider FCL for large single-item orders or furniture. The real decision is total landed cost, not freight alone.
Commercial import customs
If the goods will be resold in Taiwan, treat the order as a commercial import rather than a personal parcel. Common documents include:
Documents to prepare
- Taiwan company or business registration
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of lading or transport document
- BSMI/TFDA inspection documents if required
- Ordinary certificate of origin or ECFA certificate of origin if applicable
Duties and ECFA
Landed cost usually includes product cost, international freight, duty, 5% business tax and the trade promotion service fee. Use the tariff lookup to check CCC code, duty rate and inspection requirements.
Some early-harvest items can use the ECFA certificate of origin for preferential duty. It is arranged by the China supplier or agent through CCPIT or related channels. An ordinary certificate of origin is not the same as the ECFA certificate of origin.
How to order samples wisely
Samples are insurance before a bulk order
Before ordering 100+ units, buy 1-3 samples, ask for real product videos and inspect the samples after they arrive at the warehouse.
Move samples fast, ship bulk by sea
Use air freight or sea express for sample checks. Once quality is confirmed, ship the bulk order by sea to avoid importing the wrong goods at scale.
6 common 1688 sourcing risks
1. Product photos are not proof of production quality
Factory images may be mockups or sample photos. Bulk production can differ in color, finish and workmanship.
2. Clarify MOQ and tiered pricing
A listing may accept an order, but low quantity may not get the same price or quality. Confirm MOQ, packaging and lead time.
3. Counterfeits are the highest-risk category
Trademark-infringing goods may be seized, destroyed and fined. Ask for authorization or avoid branded copies.
4. Electronics and toys may require BSMI
Chargers, Bluetooth devices, LED items and toys can be regulated. Missing approvals may cause return or customs holds.
5. Food and cosmetics need compliance checks
Food, supplements and cosmetics for resale often need TFDA or related registration and inspection.
6. Control payment and delivery risk
Choose reputable suppliers, use platform protection and split large payments into deposit and balance where possible.
Why use HowBridge for 1688 bulk imports?
Own Shenzhen warehouse
Built for bulky and heavy cargo
Sea express / LCL / FCL
From small batches to containers
Commercial customs support
BSMI and ECFA guidance
Warehouse inspection
Reduce bulk-order mistakes
B2B import logistics
For shops and registered businesses
14-language support
Support for international buyers
How to Pay Your Freight Bill: Methods and Full Process
Once your parcels have been consolidated and shipped, the system issues a freight bill for that batch. You can settle it online by card or bank transfer; a successful payment clears the bill automatically, so there is no need to report the last five digits of a transfer. Below are the payment methods currently available, every step of the process, and what online payment on this site may be used for.
Online payment on this site is used solely to pay consolidated freight and related logistics service fees (international freight, forwarding, domestic delivery, customs clearance and warehousing-related service fees). We do not collect payment for your goods, we do not pay sellers on your behalf, and we are not a party to your transaction with the seller. Payment for items bought on Taobao, Tmall, 1688, Pinduoduo or any other platform must still be made to the seller through that platform as usual. We charge only for the logistics service of moving your goods from the warehouse to you.
Payment methods currently available
Confirm in the LINE app or scan a QR code, using a linked card or balance.
Credited instantlyConfirm in the JKOPay app or scan the QR code; pay with a linked bank account or card.
Credited instantlySingle payment, authorised online in real time. Cards issued in Taiwan and overseas are both accepted; every charge is settled in TWD.
Credited instantlyOn iPhone, iPad or Mac using Safari, authorised with Face ID / Touch ID. Web-based Apple Pay is supported only in Safari; it will not appear in Chrome, Edge or Firefox.
Credited instantlyA virtual account is issued for this bill; the amount must match exactly.
3-day window · cleared automatically once the bank posts itYou receive a payment code, print the slip at a 7-ELEVEN, FamilyMart, Hi-Life or OK Mart kiosk and pay at the counter; up to NT$20,000 per payment.
7-day window · cleared automatically once payment postsOn Android or in Chrome, paid with a saved card.
Credited instantlyOn a Samsung device or in Samsung Internet, paid with a saved card.
Credited instantlyScan the QR code with the Taiwan Pay app or a supported bank app; up to NT$49,999 per payment. The page does not return to our site after payment — your bill updates automatically once the payment notification arrives.
Credited instantlyScan the QR code with the E.SUN Wallet app. The page does not return to our site after payment — your bill updates automatically once the payment notification arrives.
Credited instantlyCredit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Taiwan Pay, E.SUN Wallet, ATM transfer and convenience-store code payment are collected through NewebPay; LINE Pay is handled by LINE Pay itself. We do not add any payment processing fee. The amount shown is exactly what you pay. Mobile wallets have device requirements: web-based Apple Pay works only in Safari, Google Pay needs Android or Chrome, and Samsung Pay needs a Samsung device or Samsung Internet; on unsupported browsers the checkout simply does not show that option. JKOPay is contracted directly with JKOPay.
Convenience-store barcode payment and WebATM are not yet available. Please use one of the methods above for now.
How online payment works
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A freight bill is issued after your parcels ship
Once your parcels have been received at the consolidation warehouse, packed and shipped, the system issues a freight bill for that batch, covering international freight, forwarding and domestic delivery charges.
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Sign in and open "My Bills"
Sign in to your account and open My Bills to see the amount due, the number of parcels and a line-by-line breakdown of the charges before you pay.
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Tap "Pay Now" to open the secure checkout
The checkout shows the parcels being settled and the total due once more, and lists the available payment methods. Amounts are always calculated on the server, so they never vary by device or browser.
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Choose a payment method and complete payment
You are then taken to the payment page for the method you chose. Credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay are completed on the NewebPay page; choosing LINE Pay takes you to the LINE Pay payment page, where you simply confirm in the LINE app; choosing JKOPay takes you to the JKOPay payment page, where you confirm in the JKOPay app or scan the QR Code; choosing ATM transfer gives you a dedicated virtual account, bank code and payment deadline; choosing convenience-store code payment gives you a payment code to print the slip at a store kiosk and pay at the counter. Please complete non-instant payments before the deadline. If you choose Taiwan Pay or E.SUN Wallet, a QR code appears — pay by scanning it in the matching app; the page will not return to our site afterwards, and your bill updates once the payment notification arrives.
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The bill clears automatically
On successful payment the gateway notifies us immediately and the bill switches to paid, so there is no need to report the last five digits of a transfer. ATM transfers update automatically once the bank posts the funds.
All payments are completed on the NewebPay or LINE Pay payment page. We never receive or store your full card number or security code, and every connection is TLS-encrypted. If you have paid but the bill has not updated yet, please do not pay again: methods that are not instant take time to clear by design. Contact customer service and we will check it for you.
FAQ: shipping from 1688 to Taiwan
Use HowBridge for 1688 bulk imports
Own Shenzhen warehouse + sea express / LCL / FCL + commercial customs support + ECFA / BSMI guidance
Register free and get warehouse address