What does it actually cost to land a wholesale order in Dhaka?

For a 200 kg mixed air shipment: product cost of roughly ৳150,000 to ৳300,000, air freight of 200 kg at ৳750 per kg, and customs duty typically 15 to 25 percent of declared value — about 1.6 to 2.0 times the 1688 sticker price all in.

What is the minimum order quantity on 1688?

Usually 1 to 50 pieces per SKU, far lower than Alibaba.com or a direct factory deal. Where a listing states a higher minimum the supplier will often accept less if asked over Wangwang chat, and single-piece cross-border listings have become common since 2024.

What is the import duty from China to Bangladesh?

It varies by HS code: mobile accessories 5 to 15 percent, apparel 15 to 25 percent plus supplementary duty, cosmetics 25 to 35 percent plus BSTI, furniture 25 to 35 percent, assembled electronics 15 to 25 percent, industrial components 5 to 15 percent.

Is it worth going to Yiwu or Shenzhen in person?

Only when you are committing to large repeat orders and want to inspect samples physically. For about 90 percent of BD wholesalers buying online, 1688 covers everything, because the Yiwu and Shenzhen market sellers list there too.

When is sea freight the right choice?

For furniture, appliances and low-density goods. Sea LCL starts around ৳280 per kg with a ৳1,000 minimum and takes 30 to 35 days, but can cost roughly 70 percent less than air.

China wholesale to Dhaka: the 2026 buyer guide

Where to source, what MOQs actually look like, and how Bangladesh wholesalers structure import from 1688 / Yiwu / Shenzhen in 2026. Real costs, customs, and the BSTI question answered.

Short answer

Bangladeshi wholesalers buy from China three ways: direct factory contracting, which is cheapest per unit but needs deposits of ¥30,000 to ¥200,000 and a Chinese-speaking partner; sourcing on 1688, which is the common 2026 route with minimums of 1 to 50 pieces per SKU; and sea LCL from about ৳280 per kg for bulky goods. On the 1688 route the all-in landed cost typically lands at 1.6 to 2.0 times the sticker price once freight and duty are counted.

"China wholesale BD" gets ~600 monthly searches in Bangladesh, but most of the results are either Chinese suppliers' English ads or recycled blog content with stale 2018 numbers. Here's the actual 2026 picture for BD wholesalers sourcing from China.

The 3 wholesale models BD businesses use

1) Direct factory contracting (high commitment)

You fly to Yiwu / Shenzhen, meet a factory, sign a contract for ≥ 1,000 units/month, pay 30–50% deposit. Cheapest per-unit price but you need:

Working capital (deposits typically ¥30k–200k)
A Chinese-speaking partner or agent
Reliable customs broker in BD
A real warehouse to receive container shipments

Best for: garment manufacturers, electronics resellers with established channels.

2) Wholesale via 1688 (most common in 2026)

You source from 1688 (Alibaba's domestic B2B platform). MOQs are typically 1–50 pcs per SKU — much lower than Alibaba.com or direct factory. Mix and match SKUs from different suppliers, consolidate at a CN warehouse, ship as one container or air shipment.

Cost example for a 200 kg air shipment of mixed home goods:

Product: ~৳150,000–300,000 depending on category
Air freight: 200 × ৳750 = ৳150,000
Customs duty: 15–25% of declared value typical
All-in landed cost: 1.6–2.0× the 1688 sticker price (assuming honest declaration)

Best for: BD wholesalers selling to small retailers, Daraz sellers, Facebook live-sell pages.

3) Sea freight LCL for bulky items

For furniture, appliances, low-density goods. Sea LCL (Less-than-Container-Load) starts at ~৳280/kg with ৳1,000 minimum. Transit 30–35 days but cost drop is dramatic — sometimes 70% less than air.

Where to source (real options)

Source	What it's for
1688.com	The default — broadest catalog, lowest MOQs
Yiwu Market (in person)	Small-goods specialty — accessories, fashion, gifts
Shenzhen electronics market	Mobile accessories, audio, consumer electronics
Guangzhou wholesale markets	Apparel, shoes, kids items
Alibaba.com	Larger MOQ deals, English contracts, Trade Assurance
AliExpress (don't)	2–4× the wholesale price, retail-priced

For 90% of BD wholesalers buying online, 1688 covers everything — Yiwu / Shenzhen markets list there too. Going in person makes sense only when you're committing to large repeat orders and want to inspect samples physically.

The customs reality

Customs duty in BD varies wildly by HS code. The number that matters is NBR's Total Tax Incidence (TTI) — the compounded all-in rate, not just the base Customs Duty. Official FY2024-25 figures for the categories wholesalers actually import:

Category	Official TTI (FY2024-25)	Notes
Electronics (phones, earbuds, power banks)	37–58.6%	Battery items also ship on the sensitive freight lane
Machinery & appliances	~26.2% median	The tariff's friendliest big category
Plastic goods (incl. phone cases)	37–127.72%	Inputs cheap, finished articles dear
Apparel (finished)	100%+	Protective duty for the local garment industry
Footwear	up to 127.72%	Same protective logic
Cosmetics	131–183%	Plus mandatory BSTI clearance
Furniture & lighting	~106.84% median	LED luminaires reach 150.76%
Bags & luggage	89.32%	Uniform across materials
Industrial components	26.2–37%	Easy customs

Full line-by-line rates: our official Bangladesh import duty lookup — all 7,542 NBR tariff lines, searchable.

CIEF Source handles customs declaration and broker fee within our price on most categories. Cosmetics get our dedicated BSTI lane (see BSTI clearance guide).

MOQ reality check

What "MOQ 100 pcs" usually means on 1688:

For most SKUs, the supplier will accept smaller quantities if you ask via 旺旺 chat. We negotiate this for you on request.
"MOQ 1 pc" is increasingly common on cross-border listings since 2024.
Pure factory deals (not on 1688) usually need 500–5,000 MOQ.

What CIEF adds vs DIY wholesale

	DIY wholesale	CIEF
Language	Need Chinese / Google Translate	We chat in CN on your behalf
Pay	Alipay / Chinese bank wire	BDT via bKash / Nagad / wallet
Consolidate	You arrange CN warehouse	Auto, same shipping window
Customs	Broker fee + your time	Bundled in our price
BSTI cosmetics	6–18 months solo	Our shared lane: 18–25 days
Risk on rogue suppliers	Yours	We escrow + dispute

Browse 1688 wholesale catalog → · Get quote for 100+ unit order →

Frequently asked questions

What does it actually cost to land a wholesale order in Dhaka?: For a 200 kg mixed air shipment: product cost of roughly ৳150,000 to ৳300,000, air freight of 200 kg at ৳750 per kg, and customs duty typically 15 to 25 percent of declared value — about 1.6 to 2.0 times the 1688 sticker price all in.
What is the minimum order quantity on 1688?: Usually 1 to 50 pieces per SKU, far lower than Alibaba.com or a direct factory deal. Where a listing states a higher minimum the supplier will often accept less if asked over Wangwang chat, and single-piece cross-border listings have become common since 2024.
What is the import duty from China to Bangladesh?: It varies by HS code: mobile accessories 5 to 15 percent, apparel 15 to 25 percent plus supplementary duty, cosmetics 25 to 35 percent plus BSTI, furniture 25 to 35 percent, assembled electronics 15 to 25 percent, industrial components 5 to 15 percent.
Is it worth going to Yiwu or Shenzhen in person?: Only when you are committing to large repeat orders and want to inspect samples physically. For about 90 percent of BD wholesalers buying online, 1688 covers everything, because the Yiwu and Shenzhen market sellers list there too.
When is sea freight the right choice?: For furniture, appliances and low-density goods. Sea LCL starts around ৳280 per kg with a ৳1,000 minimum and takes 30 to 35 days, but can cost roughly 70 percent less than air.