If you are buying from China from Bangladesh, the factory price you see on 1688 or Alibaba is rarely the price you actually pay — and the supplier you are talking to is often not the factory at all. DE International is a China sourcing agent with our own team on the ground in Shenzhen, so we deal with Chinese manufacturers in their language, in their market, on your behalf. You tell us what you want; we find it, verify it, negotiate it, check it, and ship it to Bangladesh.
What a China sourcing agent actually does
A sourcing agent is your buying office in China. For a Bangladeshi importer that means we do the parts of the job that are hard to do from Dhaka: identify real manufacturers (not trading companies pretending to be factories), compare quotes on a like-for-like specification, negotiate in Chinese, arrange samples, inspect the goods before they ship, consolidate orders from several suppliers into one shipment, and hand everything over cleared and delivered. You keep control of the decisions; we handle the ground work.
Why buy through an agent instead of ordering direct
Ordering direct looks cheaper until something goes wrong — and from 4,000 km away, a lot can. Three problems we see constantly from importers who bought direct:
- The “factory” was a middleman. Many Alibaba storefronts are trading companies adding 10–20% and passing your spec to a factory they don’t control. We buy from the actual manufacturer.
- The sample was perfect, the bulk order was not. Without a pre-shipment check, quality drifts once the deposit is paid. We inspect before the balance is released.
- The quoted price wasn’t the landed price. FOB looks low; add freight, duty, VAT and bank charges and the real cost is 30–60% higher. We quote you the number that matters.
How our sourcing process works
Our Shenzhen base puts us next to the manufacturing clusters that matter — electronics and hardware around Shenzhen and Dongguan, machinery in the Pearl River Delta, and the wholesale markets of Guangzhou and Yiwu for consumer goods and packaging.
- Requirement. You send a product link (1688, Alibaba, Taobao), a photo, or a sample, with your target quantity and spec.
- Supplier search. We shortlist real manufacturers, usually including 1688 factory-direct options a Bangladeshi buyer can’t reach without Chinese and a local account.
- Quotation & negotiation. We negotiate unit price, MOQ, lead time and payment terms — and translate it into a landed BDT cost so you can decide.
- Samples & verification. Samples and, where it matters, a factory verification before you commit.
- Order & QC. We place the order, monitor production, and run a pre-shipment inspection.
- Ship & deliver. Consolidation, freight and customs — delivered to your door, including our door-to-door, no-license route if you don’t hold an IRC.
What we source
Our strongest area is machinery and industrial equipment — packaging machines, food processing lines, industrial machinery and agro machinery — because it needs on-the-ground negotiation, technical checking and after-sales follow-up that a remote buyer can’t manage. We also source packaging materials, raw materials, and general consumer goods.
How pricing works
Sourcing is quoted either as a transparent commission on the order value or built into an all-in delivered price — you choose, and you see the breakdown. There are no hidden margins on the factory price; our incentive is to get you the right factory at the right price, not to mark up the goods.
Why DE International
The difference is presence. Most “sourcing agents” serving Bangladesh operate entirely from Dhaka and email Chinese suppliers just like you would. We have a real team in Shenzhen and a partner base in Bangladesh, so you get Chinese-market access on one side and local accountability — someone you can actually reach — on the other. New to importing? Start with our step-by-step guide to importing from China to Bangladesh.
Sourcing Through DE International vs Buying Direct
| Buying Direct on Alibaba | DE International Sourcing Agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Factory access | Whoever responds to your enquiry – often a reseller | Real 1688 factories our Shenzhen team already deals with |
| Price | Export price, often with a reseller margin built in | Negotiated in Chinese, factory-direct where possible |
| Verification | You judge from photos and chat alone | Business licence + factory checked in person |
| Quality control | Your responsibility, from Bangladesh | Pre-shipment inspection before you pay the balance |
| Payment | International wire, no local recourse | Pay in BDT, we hold the relationship in China |
Frequently asked questions
What does a China sourcing agent cost in Bangladesh?
Usually a commission on order value (commonly in the single-digit percentages, depending on product and volume) or an all-in delivered price. With DE International you see the breakdown either way, and there is no hidden markup on the factory price.
Can you buy from 1688 and Taobao for me?
Yes. 1688 and Taobao are Chinese-language, China-payment platforms most Bangladeshi buyers can’t use directly. Our Shenzhen team buys on them for you and consolidates everything into one shipment.
Do I need a trade license to source through you?
No. If you don’t hold a Trade License or IRC, we can import on your behalf on a door-to-door basis and you pay in BDT.
What if the supplier turns out to be unreliable?
That’s exactly what our factory verification and pre-shipment inspection prevent — we check the supplier and the goods before your money is committed.