Resources
Doing business with China.
A growing library of plain-language guides for Nigerian importers, sourcing agents, students and travellers. Sourcing and suppliers, paying in RMB, shipping and freight, customs, quality control, the cities, the culture, and the per-industry detail that decides whether an order makes money.
Latest guides
Payments & settlement· 6 min
Getting the recipient name right on Alipay
The number one reason a payment to a Chinese supplier fails is a recipient name that does not match the Alipay account. Here is how to get it right every time.
Culture & etiquette· 7 min
Negotiating with Chinese suppliers without losing face
How price negotiation actually works with Chinese factories, why relationships beat hard bargaining, and the tactics that get you a fair, durable price.
Sourcing & suppliers· 8 min
How to vet a 1688 supplier before you send a single yuan
A field checklist for reading a 1688 supplier the way an experienced buyer does, so you commit money to a factory that can actually deliver.
Browse by topic
Sourcing & suppliers
9Finding, vetting and negotiating with Chinese factories and wholesalers.
- How to vet a 1688 supplier before you send a single yuan
- Alibaba vs 1688 vs Taobao: which one to buy from
- How to spot a supplier scam before you pay
Payments & settlement
9Paying Chinese suppliers in RMB on Alipay and WeChat Pay, the safe way.
- Getting the recipient name right on Alipay
- Your first payment to a Chinese supplier: a checklist
- Why to make a test payment before a big order
Shipping & freight
10Sea, air, forwarders, consolidation and Incoterms from China to Nigeria.
- Sea vs air freight from China to Nigeria: how to choose
- Choosing a freight forwarder for China to Nigeria shipments
- Incoterms explained for Nigerian importers
Customs & clearance
9HS codes, duty, agents and the documents that clear a Nigerian port.
- HS codes and Nigerian customs duty: a plain guide
- Choosing a clearing agent at a Nigerian port
- Customs valuation: how your goods are priced for duty
Quality control
9Inspections, AQL, samples and stopping bad goods before they ship.
- Pre-shipment inspection without flying to China
- AQL sampling explained for importers
- How to handle a failed inspection with your supplier
City & regional guides
9Guangzhou, Yiwu, Shenzhen, Foshan and the markets that matter.
- Yiwu market: a first buyer's ground guide
- Guangzhou wholesale markets: where to buy what
- Yiwu vs Guangzhou: where should you buy
Travel & visas
9Visas, flights, eSIM, apps and money for a buying trip to China.
- Getting a China business visa from Nigeria
- The apps you need on a buying trip to China
- Practical safety tips for buyers in China
Culture & etiquette
9Negotiation, guanxi, WeChat etiquette and the holiday calendar.
- Negotiating with Chinese suppliers without losing face
- Chinese New Year: planning your order calendar
- When a supplier says yes but means no
Contracts, legal & IP
9Purchase contracts, trademarks, protecting designs and handling disputes.
- Writing a purchase contract with a Chinese supplier
- Protecting your brand and designs when sourcing from China
- How to run due diligence on a Chinese company
Electronics
9Sourcing phones, accessories and gadgets from Shenzhen and beyond.
- Electronics sourcing in Shenzhen: Huaqiangbei explained
- Avoiding refurbished-as-new electronics from China
- Testing electronics before they ship
Fashion & textiles
9Clothing, fabric, shoes and bags from Guangzhou and Yiwu.
- Sourcing clothing from Guangzhou for the Nigerian market
- Fabric sourcing and minimum order quantities explained
- The seasonal fashion buying calendar
Machinery & auto parts
9Industrial equipment, generators, spares and auto parts.
- Importing machinery and equipment from China
- Sourcing auto parts from China: genuine vs aftermarket
- Shipping and clearing heavy machinery
Ready when you are
Your next supplier payment, today.
Open an account, file the figures, transfer the Naira, and watch the status move to Completed.