How to Dropship on Alibaba: The Complete Guide 2025
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2025 5:26 am
When it comes to wanting to get started in the world of dropshipping , Alibaba is undoubtedly one of the main platforms that comes to mind for those interested in this business model. However, there are many doubts about whether the Chinese platform works for this type of business.
Interest in Alibaba has grown over time as more and more buyers and entrepreneurs trust the platform and use it constantly.
However, despite being one of the most visited number library sites with the highest number of transactions in the world, it is not so user-friendly to start in this digital business model, although it is possible to do so with certain restrictions.
Therefore, in this article, we will explain how it is possible to do dropshipping with Alibaba , the advantages and disadvantages as well as the difference between AliExpress vs Alibaba in dropshipping .
Let's get started!
What is Alibaba?
Alibaba is part of the Chinese business conglomerate Alibaba Group. It was founded by Jack Ma in 1999 and has since dominated e-commerce in Asia and various parts of the world.
Currently, this conglomerate, in addition to developing e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba and AliExpress, offers other technological platforms and services such as software and cloud infrastructure, financial services, entertainment, artificial intelligence, etc.
The main platform of this conglomerate is Alibaba, specialized in international trade between companies, or Business to Business (B2B), although it also has the AliExpress platform, specialized in Business to Consumer (B2C) trade. This is an important feature that we should not forget, as we will mention it later.
Alibaba home page.
Alibaba works by connecting buyers with sellers around the world. It helps businesses find products or suppliers of all kinds, from raw materials to industrial components and specialized products.
In addition, the platform has developed an easy and efficient purchasing process that ensures that every transaction is carried out. It has a mechanism that holds the buyers' funds and does not release them to the supplier until the products reach their destination.
In turn, it is not only possible to find already made products, but also manufacturers to create them from scratch or customize some that are already sold, so the range of possibilities offered is very wide.
Learn more about this business model:
Article
Dropshipping Complete Guide: What It Is and How It Works
Image from: Dropshipping complete guide: what it is and how it works
Is it possible to do dropshipping on Alibaba?
The short answer is yes, it is possible to do dropshipping on Alibaba . However, it is very different from doing it with AliExpress or other retail platforms.
To clarify this point, we must first remember what dropshipping is. In short, it is: selling online without having inventory, in which there is an intermediary or dropshipper between a buyer and a supplier.
As we mentioned, Alibaba is a B2B platform, so suppliers and buyers are wholesalers, selling or purchasing products in bulk, talking about tens to hundreds of thousands of pieces.
In your case, it is not so convenient to sell only one piece of a product, although there are some who do so.
Therefore, to do dropshipping with Alibaba you have to resort to other strategies and do it manually, since unlike AliExpress, there are not many integrations with Alibaba and those that exist present certain problems.
Interest in Alibaba has grown over time as more and more buyers and entrepreneurs trust the platform and use it constantly.
However, despite being one of the most visited number library sites with the highest number of transactions in the world, it is not so user-friendly to start in this digital business model, although it is possible to do so with certain restrictions.
Therefore, in this article, we will explain how it is possible to do dropshipping with Alibaba , the advantages and disadvantages as well as the difference between AliExpress vs Alibaba in dropshipping .
Let's get started!
What is Alibaba?
Alibaba is part of the Chinese business conglomerate Alibaba Group. It was founded by Jack Ma in 1999 and has since dominated e-commerce in Asia and various parts of the world.
Currently, this conglomerate, in addition to developing e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba and AliExpress, offers other technological platforms and services such as software and cloud infrastructure, financial services, entertainment, artificial intelligence, etc.
The main platform of this conglomerate is Alibaba, specialized in international trade between companies, or Business to Business (B2B), although it also has the AliExpress platform, specialized in Business to Consumer (B2C) trade. This is an important feature that we should not forget, as we will mention it later.
Alibaba home page.
Alibaba works by connecting buyers with sellers around the world. It helps businesses find products or suppliers of all kinds, from raw materials to industrial components and specialized products.
In addition, the platform has developed an easy and efficient purchasing process that ensures that every transaction is carried out. It has a mechanism that holds the buyers' funds and does not release them to the supplier until the products reach their destination.
In turn, it is not only possible to find already made products, but also manufacturers to create them from scratch or customize some that are already sold, so the range of possibilities offered is very wide.
Learn more about this business model:
Article
Dropshipping Complete Guide: What It Is and How It Works
Image from: Dropshipping complete guide: what it is and how it works
Is it possible to do dropshipping on Alibaba?
The short answer is yes, it is possible to do dropshipping on Alibaba . However, it is very different from doing it with AliExpress or other retail platforms.
To clarify this point, we must first remember what dropshipping is. In short, it is: selling online without having inventory, in which there is an intermediary or dropshipper between a buyer and a supplier.
As we mentioned, Alibaba is a B2B platform, so suppliers and buyers are wholesalers, selling or purchasing products in bulk, talking about tens to hundreds of thousands of pieces.
In your case, it is not so convenient to sell only one piece of a product, although there are some who do so.
Therefore, to do dropshipping with Alibaba you have to resort to other strategies and do it manually, since unlike AliExpress, there are not many integrations with Alibaba and those that exist present certain problems.