How to verify a supplier in China before you pay

Establish the legal identity

Ask for the supplier’s registered Chinese company name, business licence and Unified Social Credit Code. Use the registered details to check the company in China’s official enterprise registration system. An English trading name may be different from the legal name, so it is not enough on its own.

Compare the entity on the licence with the quotation, contract and proposed invoice. Ask the supplier to explain differences in names or addresses. Registration information helps establish identity and status; it does not certify product quality, financial strength or ownership of a factory.

Check who will actually make the product

Confirm whether you are dealing with a manufacturer, trading company or sourcing intermediary. Ask which facility will produce the goods, which processes are done there and which are subcontracted. The right answer depends on your order, but the responsibilities should be clear.

A factory visit or independent audit can help assess equipment, processes, capacity and quality records relevant to your product. Give the reviewer a specific brief. A general tour or a video call cannot replace product testing or establish compliance with the rules in your destination market.

• Relevant production equipment and a realistic capacity estimate.
• Quality checks at incoming material, production and finished-goods stages.
• Traceability of materials and control of subcontracted processes.
• A named person responsible for technical questions and corrective action.

Verify the evidence for your exact product

Review samples against a written specification. If a supplier presents test reports or certificates, check the issuing organisation, model number, applicant, standards and scope. A genuine report for a different product does not establish that your product meets the required standard.

For regulated products, identify the requirements with a qualified specialist in the destination market before ordering. You may need additional testing, registration, documentation or labelling. Leave enough time for those steps before the planned shipping date.

Confirm the contract and payment details

Compare the account beneficiary with the contracting entity. If another company will collect payment, request an explanation and supporting documentation before proceeding. Treat an unexpected change of bank details as a reason to pause and verify through a previously established contact channel.

Agree payment milestones, inspection arrangements and a remedy for nonconforming goods in writing. Keep the signed agreement, approved sample record and payment confirmation together. Verification reduces uncertainty, but it does not remove all commercial risk or replace a clear purchase agreement.