Check suppliers, price imports, write RFQs

China Wholesale Suppliers: Find and Contact Them

Write one clear request for quotation, send it to several suppliers and compare the answers.

China wholesale suppliers are easiest to compare when each one gets the same written request for quotation (RFQ). The RFQ builder on this page writes that request for you. You enter your product details, quantities, certifications and delivery terms, and it produces an English e-mail with a subject and body, plus a Simplified Chinese version in a second tab. It runs in your browser and uploads nothing, so the same inputs always produce the same text. Send one consistent request to several suppliers, then compare their unit prices, minimum order quantities, lead times and answers to who makes the goods.
China wholesale suppliers example

How to use the RFQ builder

  1. Enter the product and its specifications, material, size, and colour or finish.
  2. Set up to three quantity tiers, one for each order volume you want quoted.
  3. Fill in packaging and labelling, and say whether you need your logo or a private label.
  4. Select the certifications you need from CE, FCC, UL, RoHS, REACH, FDA, CPC, ISO 9001 and BSCI / SMETA, then enter your target market.
  5. Choose whether you need a pre-production sample.
  6. Select an Incoterm and named place, then enter the destination, your payment terms preference and the required delivery date.
  7. Add any other requirements, then enter your buyer company and name.
  8. Read the English e-mail, including its subject line, in the output.
  9. Click Copy, or Download .txt to save the e-mail.
  10. For a Chinese supplier, switch to the Simplified Chinese tab and copy that version.

Because the same inputs always give the same text, a saved .txt file is an exact record of what each supplier received.

Use Try an example to see a filled-in RFQ, and Clear all to start another product. Send the same text to each supplier and change only the greeting, so the replies can be compared. Keep a copy of what you sent and each reply together in one folder.

Where can I find wholesale suppliers in China?

Many buyers start on B2B platforms, search by keyword, and then send the same RFQ to several sellers. Other routes include trade fairs, wholesale markets and sourcing agents.

On Alibaba.com you can search by keyword or send a Request for Quotation so that sellers bid. You can also filter for Trade Assurance suppliers. Trade Assurance holds your funds in escrow when you pay on Alibaba.com. The Gold Supplier, Verified Supplier and Trade Assurance Supplier badges are defined on Alibaba’s buyer page, so read those definitions before you rely on a badge.

On Made-in-China.com, Audited Supplier reports are produced by SGS. They cover business licences, certifications, and production and quality control systems.

The Canton Fair (China Import and Export Fair) is held in Guangzhou. Travel and buyer-service sites list the autumn 2026 session as the 140th, in three phases from 15 October to 4 November 2026. We could not read the official site, so confirm the dates and registration there before you plan a trip. Wholesale markets such as Yiwu are another route, described on China wholesale markets. For a side-by-side look at platforms, see Wholesale websites compared.

How do I tell a wholesaler from a manufacturer?

Ask the supplier directly who makes the product and where, then check the answer against an independent record. A manufacturer owns the production, while a trading company buys from factories and resells, and a wholesaler may be either.

At a wholesale market of stalls such as Yiwu, the person you talk to may be a reseller or a factory outlet. Epic Sourcing describes trading companies as offering lower minimum order quantities, many categories through one contact, export documentation and better English communication. It lists a typical markup of 10 to 30% and mediated factory access as downsides. It describes factories as often requiring 500 to 1,000+ units for custom products. These figures come from that agent’s blog, not from a survey, so treat them as a starting point.

Made-in-China.com Audited Supplier reports show whether a supplier is a manufacturer, a trading company or both. Every RFQ from this tool asks the supplier whether they manufacture or trade the products, and asks for the production address, so you can check the answer. The Supplier legitimacy checker and the factory vs trading company guide can help you judge what the answers mean.

Sources read for this page

Opened on the dates shown; notes say where we used a substitute.

Frequently asked questions

How do I contact a Chinese supplier?

Use the messaging system of the platform where you found the supplier, and keep all communication there. Alibaba advises using its Message Center and requesting a sample before you place bulk orders.

How many suppliers should I ask for a quote?

The tool does not set a number. A reasonable approach is to send the same written RFQ to several suppliers so that their unit prices, minimum order quantities and lead times can be compared directly.

Does the RFQ builder send the e-mail for me?

No. It writes the e-mail text, which you copy or download and then send yourself through the supplier’s channel.

Does the RFQ builder upload my product details?

No. It runs in your browser and uploads nothing, and the same inputs always produce the same text.

Is the Chinese version a full translation of what I typed?

No. The Simplified Chinese version translates only the fixed wording of the e-mail. What you typed stays in your own language, so enter any details the supplier needs in Chinese yourself.

Can I use the same RFQ for a factory and for a trading company?

Yes. Send the same text to both and compare the answers. Each reply should say whether the supplier makes the goods or trades them, and give its full registered company name and production address.