KR
1. Alibaba.com vs. 1688 — What's the Difference?
Both platforms belong to the Alibaba Group, but they serve different purposes — and that has a direct effect on how you should approach B2B importing.
| Alibaba.com | 1688 | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary customers | Overseas buyers (B2B export-oriented) | Domestic Chinese wholesale buyers |
| Language | English/Korean supported | Chinese |
| MOQ | Medium to large | Small to large |
| Payment | Trade Assurance (secure payment) | Alipay (requires a Chinese bank account) |
| Shipping terms | Incoterms negotiable — EXW, FOB, DAP, etc. | Typically routed through a parcel forwarder |
💡 Alibaba.com factories often have export experience, which makes it possible to hand cargo directly to a freight forwarder under FOB or EXW terms. That's a much better setup for direct freight forwarding than 1688.
2. How to Import Directly Through a Freight Forwarder — No Parcel Forwarder Needed
Routing Alibaba B2B volume through a parcel forwarder actually works against you. There are three reasons why.
- Parcel forwarder warehousing and repackaging fees add up. The more boxes you have, the more it costs.
- You'll hit the personal import de minimis (roughly $150). B2B volume needs to be declared as a formal business import.
- Certificate of origin and HS code handling aren't available. You need a freight forwarder to actually claim FTA duty benefits.
Here's how the direct freight forwarding process works.
01
Give the factory your forwarder's contact info
Tell the forwarder the factory location (city/industrial park) and quantity
The forwarder arranges local pickup (truck dispatch) directly
02
Check HS code and customs clearance feasibility before departure
Classify the item and confirm import eligibility ahead of time
This prevents the worst-case scenario of being told after arrival that customs clearance isn't possible
03
Choose LCL or FCL
Volume of 3–4 CBM or less: LCL (consolidated) is more economical
Above that: FCL (a dedicated container) is more economical
Your forwarder compares costs and recommends the best option
04
Shipping, transport, and customs handled end-to-end
Factory → Chinese port → ocean freight → arrival at Incheon Port
Import declaration → bonded warehouse → final delivery, all handled by your forwarder
05
Country-of-origin marking and FTA Certificate of Origin issuance
For items eligible under the Korea-China FTA, a Certificate of Origin (CO) can be issued to cut duties
Missing origin markings are also checked and corrected before shipment
3. Parcel Forwarder vs. Direct Freight Forwarding — Compared
Here's a side-by-side comparison of both methods. For B2B volume, the answer is clear.
| Parcel Forwarder | Direct Freight Forwarding | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small volume (1–5 boxes) | Medium to large volume (0.5 CBM+) |
| Import entity | Individual (simplified clearance) | Business (formal import declaration) |
| Personal de minimis | $150 cap | No cap |
| Cost structure | Forwarder fee + warehousing + freight (itemized separately) | All-in quote (no hidden extras) |
| Customs handling | Basic handling by the parcel forwarder (limited HS code review) | HS code pre-check + duty optimization |
| FTA duty benefits | Not available | Available via CO issuance |
| Origin marking | Difficult to verify | Checked and corrected before shipping |
| Lead time (China → Incheon) | 7–14 days (including parcel forwarder transit) | ~5–7 days by ocean LCL (from Shanghai) |
⚠️ If you judge purely by the headline freight rate, you'll lose out on CFS fees, customs fees, and inland transport costs. Always compare on a total (all-in) cost basis.
4. Tosome Logis: From Factory Pickup to Your Front Door
Just give us the factory location — we handle the rest.
Tosome Logis's Core Import Forwarding Terms
📦All-in quote — freight, warehousing, customs, and inland transport all included. No extra costs mid-shipment
🏭Free warehousing in China — no separate fee for the wait between pickup and loading
🚢7 days free bonded warehousing in Korea — no fee if cleared within 7 days of arrival
📊HS code and customs feasibility checked before departure — eliminates the risk of a customs block on arrival
📘FTA Certificate of Origin issuance handled — applies Korea-China FTA duty benefits
🚚LCL/FCL comparison and recommendation — optimizes cost for your volume
5. Real Lead Times (as of 2026)
Here's the actual time each leg takes for a direct freight forwarding import, assuming no documentation issues.
| Leg | Time Required |
|---|---|
| Factory pickup → Chinese port intake | 1–3 days (varies by factory location) |
| Chinese port → arrival at Incheon Port | ~3–4 days from Shanghai / ~5–6 days from Guangzhou or Shenzhen |
| Arrival → customs clearance complete | 1–2 days (assuming no documentation issues) |
| Clearance → final delivery | 1 day |
| Total | ~7–12 days (ocean LCL) |
✅ If you need air freight forwarding for urgent cargo, just ask — we'll quote it separately.
Just send us the factory location and we'll walk you through everything from process to cost.
Just send us the factory location and we'll walk you through everything from process to cost.
6. New to This? That's Completely Fine
Plenty of first-time Alibaba B2B importers reach out to us. Just send your cargo details — factory location, item, and quantity or box size — and we'll walk you through everything from process to cost.
1
Confirm the factory location
Just give us the city and industrial park name. Your forwarder handles pickup directly from there.
2
Item and quantity
Tell us what it is and how many units/boxes/CBM, and we'll give you an immediate rundown of LCL vs FCL and cost.
3
Pre-check customs feasibility
KC certification and import requirements vary by item — we confirm these before you ship.
4
Check FTA duty eligibility
If your item qualifies under the Korea-China FTA, a CO can lower your duty rate — we check eligibility for free.
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