How to pay a Chinese supplier is the question that comes up as soon as you've found the product and agreed on a price. Chinese sellers price in yuan and use Alipay and WeChat Pay; factories want a transfer to a company account against a proforma invoice. A buyer in Kazakhstan, Russia or elsewhere in the CIS has constraints of their own: cards aren't accepted everywhere, not every bank sends CNY, and currency control asks for documents. Below: which methods work, how deposit and balance are split, what to check on the invoice and when it's simpler to pay through a sourcing agent.
Why paying into China is a task of its own
Inside China almost everything is paid through Alipay and WeChat Pay, and companies settle by CNY transfer. 1688, Taobao and Pinduoduo are built for domestic buyers: a foreign card isn't accepted everywhere, and a foreign account has lower limits. Export factories take dollars, but small producers without foreign-trade rights often ask you to pay another company or a manager's personal card.
- Currency. The supplier prices in yuan. If you pay in dollars or tenge, someone converts the money, and the rate is a hidden part of the product's cost.
- Banks. An international transfer from Kazakhstan usually takes one to three business days, and the bank may ask for the contract and invoice. Cards from Russian banks generally don't work abroad.
- Trust. The supplier rarely ships without a deposit, and you don't want to pay an unfamiliar factory 100% up front; the payment scheme is the compromise between the two.
- Language. Bank details, the invoice and the contract are usually in Chinese. One wrong character in the company name and the bank bounces the payment.
How to pay a Chinese supplier: three methods that work
Bank transfer in CNY or USD
The standard route for factories and wholesalers: the supplier issues a proforma invoice with its company bank details, and you transfer from your business account. Many banks in Kazakhstan send CNY transfers directly: the supplier gets the currency it priced in and doesn't build exchange-rate risk into the quote. USD via SWIFT also works, but not for every factory — a Chinese company generally needs export rights to receive foreign currency, so small producers sometimes route payment through an export agent or a Hong Kong company.
- A company account, not a personal one. The beneficiary name must match the business license and the invoice; a transfer to an employee's personal account is a red flag.
- Bank fees. On a SWIFT transfer the sender's bank, correspondents and the receiving bank each take a cut; a CNY transfer has a shorter chain. Agree who pays the fees (OUR, SHA or BEN) and fix it in the invoice.
- Currency control. Your bank will ask for the contract or invoice and may require larger contracts to be registered. Prepare the documents in advance.
- Timing. Usually one to three business days, longer around Chinese holidays; production starts only once the money has arrived.
Alipay and WeChat Pay
For retail and small wholesale on Taobao, Pinduoduo and some 1688 sellers, Chinese payment apps are the easiest route. Since 2023 Alipay and WeChat Pay let foreigners link a Visa or Mastercard in the international version of the app after passport verification; Kazakhstani cards generally work, Russian ones don't. The limitations:
- Limits per transaction and per year; a purchase of several thousand dollars may not fit. The figures change — check them in the app.
- Fees. Above a small amount the service usually charges a conversion percentage, and the card issuer adds its own rate.
- Not every seller. Some 1688 sellers don't accept foreign accounts or don't ship outside China.
- A personal account. The payment comes from an individual, so there are no documents for your company's books.
Alipay and WeChat Pay suit buying samples or a small batch, not settling with a factory for a container. Placing an order on the platform is covered in how to order on 1688.
Paying through a sourcing agent
The third option is an intermediary in China. You transfer money to the agent, who pays the seller in yuan from a Chinese account or via Alipay, receives the goods at a warehouse, checks them and ships them to you. That's how the buying service at ChinaGoGlobal works: you send a manager links or factory contacts on WhatsApp, the manager confirms price and availability, agrees the total with you and settles with the supplier. One payment instead of ten, the balance held until the goods are received and photographed, bank details checked by someone who knows a genuine business license, no Alipay or Chinese correspondence on your side — handiest when you buy from several suppliers and consolidate at one warehouse.
| Method | Best for | Pros | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer in CNY (yuan) | Factories, wholesalers, OEM orders | Supplier gets its own currency; proper documents for your books | Business account and bank paperwork; 1–3 days |
| Transfer in USD (SWIFT) | Export factories, Alibaba.com | Familiar to most banks | Correspondent fees; not every factory can receive it |
| Alipay / WeChat Pay | Samples, small wholesale on Taobao, Pinduoduo, 1688 | Fast, no bank involved | Limits and conversion fees; no documents; Russian cards can't be linked |
| Through a sourcing agent | Any order, especially from several suppliers | One payment, inspection before the balance, no Chinese account needed | Agent's commission; you have to trust the intermediary |
Deposit and balance: how the scheme usually works
Almost every deal with a Chinese supplier is split into a deposit (定金) and a balance (尾款): the deposit confirms the order and covers raw materials, the balance is expected before shipment. Typical arrangements:
| Order type | Usual payment | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| In-stock goods on 1688, Taobao | 100% at order | The platform holds the money until you confirm receipt |
| Made-to-order batch from a wholesaler | 30–50% deposit, balance before shipment | Pay the balance after the batch is inspected |
| OEM / private-label production | 30% deposit, 70% before shipment | The most common scheme; sometimes 30/40/30 for large volumes |
| Samples | 100% plus shipping | Often credited against the main order |
The key rule: the balance is paid after inspection, not after a message saying “everything's ready”. A factory holding 100% before shipment has no incentive to fix defects, so the contract should say: balance on inspection results, shipment after the balance. The inspection — AQL sampling with a photo and video report — can be ordered as a quality control service.
If they ask for 100% up front
Full prepayment is normal for in-stock goods and small platform orders where the marketplace protects the money. If a factory wants 100% for a production order, propose the standard 30/70 or partial shipments; a refusal to discuss terms is a reason to check the supplier.
Proforma invoice: what to check before transferring
A proforma invoice (PI, 形式发票) is the document you pay against: the supplier's offer with the price, terms and bank details, which you'll show the bank for currency control and refer to in a dispute. Make sure it contains:
- The supplier's full company name and address, in English and Chinese, matching the business license.
- Bank details: bank, SWIFT/BIC, account number, beneficiary — the seller itself, not an “affiliated firm”.
- Product description: SKU, material, color, size, packaging, quantity, unit price and total — the more detail, the less room for a dispute.
- Delivery terms under Incoterms: EXW, FOB or delivery to the agent's warehouse in China — this decides what the price includes.
- Payment terms: deposit size, when the balance is due and what follows — inspection, then shipment.
- Lead time, price validity, your order number, date, signature and company chop (红章).
If the invoice comes from a company with a different name or you're asked to pay an individual, stop and ask why. Sometimes it's legitimate — a small factory without export rights works through an agent — but then it must be in the documents. A full supplier check is described in how to verify a factory in China.
Payment risks and how to reduce them
Money that has gone to China is hard to get back, so it's better to know the main risks in advance.
- Switched bank details. The classic scheme: the email thread is hacked and the “supplier” asks you to pay a new account because “the old one is under review”. Confirm any change on a video call, never by email.
- Disappearing after the deposit. A new company, no track record, the lowest price on the market, a personal account — with that combination, start with samples or order a factory verification first.
- Goods don't match. The balance is paid and the batch turns out wrong; the only protection is an inspection before the balance and a detailed specification.
- Exchange-rate losses. Tenge to dollars to yuan: double conversion eats a noticeable share. A direct CNY transfer or an agent is usually cheaper — compare your bank's terms.
- Payment delays. Document requests, compliance checks and Chinese holidays all push the shipment date back. Build in a buffer.
Never pay to new bank details without confirmation
If the supplier suddenly sends different bank details — even from the same email and with a chop — call them on video and check the details against the business license. Forged invoices look convincing, and a transfer to the wrong account is almost impossible to recover.
How payment works through ChinaGoGlobal
If you'd rather not deal with payment apps, currency control and bank-detail checks, that part of the job can be delegated. ChinaGoGlobal is a sourcing agent in China for Kaspi, Wildberries, Ozon and Amazon sellers, wholesalers and manufacturers; the company has been working since 2024 and ships to Kazakhstan, Russia and the CIS constantly. The process:
- You send the task on WhatsApp: product links or factory contacts, quantity, quality requirements, delivery city — Almaty, Astana or any other.
- The manager confirms price and terms with the supplier, arranges a factory check if needed and agrees the total with you.
- You pay the agent, and ChinaGoGlobal settles with the supplier in yuan — through the platform, Alipay or a transfer to the company account.
- The goods arrive at the nearest ChinaGoGlobal warehouse in China, where they're received, checked and photographed; any balance due to the factory can be paid after that.
- The cargo is consolidated and shipped by air, road, truck, rail or sea, with paperwork handled and, if you wish, insurance at 2% of the goods' value. See delivery from China.
You make one clear payment, while negotiations, paying in yuan and checking the goods stay with the buying agent. Terms and commission are on request, once a manager has seen the task.
Checklist before paying a supplier
- The beneficiary name matches the company name on the business license and the invoice.
- The invoice lists the goods, quantity, price, delivery and payment terms and lead time, and carries a chop.
- Terms are fixed: deposit, balance after inspection, shipment after the balance.
- Bank details are confirmed on a video call, not just by email or chat.
- Contract and invoice are ready for the bank; it's clear who pays the fees and at what rate the money is converted.
- For a new supplier, samples come first, and the inspection before the balance is agreed.
Common questions about paying into China
Can I pay a Chinese supplier with a Kaspi card?
Not a factory directly: factories take transfers to a company account. A Kazakhstani card can be linked to the international version of Alipay or WeChat Pay to pay on Taobao and with some 1688 sellers, but with limits, conversion fees and no documents for your books. For business purchases, a company-account transfer or an agent is more practical.
Which currency is better — CNY or USD?
If your bank sends CNY transfers, paying in yuan is usually better: the supplier doesn't build in exchange-rate risk and the chain of banks is shorter. USD remains the option for export factories and Alibaba.com. Either way, compare the final amount in tenge including your bank's rate and fees.
Can I get my money back if the goods never arrive?
On platforms (1688, Taobao, Alibaba.com) — yes, through a dispute while the marketplace holds the money. With a direct transfer to a factory, a refund depends on the contract and the supplier's good faith, and forcing a Chinese company to pay from Kazakhstan is very hard in practice. Hence the main protection: a check before paying and the balance after acceptance.
Payment is one of the most common points where a purchase in China goes off plan; other typical slip-ups are in mistakes when buying in China. To hand payment, inspection and delivery to an agent, message a ChinaGoGlobal manager on WhatsApp, and estimate shipping in the calculator.