Three China sourcing markup layers you're currently paying — and don't need to.
When an Irish retailer buys Chinese goods through an Irish wholesaler, they're paying for the Chinese factory, plus a trading company margin, plus a Chinese export agent, plus an Irish importer's margin. Factory-direct removes all but the first.
What the supply chain actually costs
Take a product that costs €10 at the Chinese factory gate. Here's what typically happens to that price before it reaches an Irish retailer:
This is why Irish businesses buying through Ériu Sourcing typically save 35–60% against what they were previously paying through wholesalers. The factory price is what it is — the question is how many layers you pay to access it.
The problem with Alibaba
Alibaba is a marketplace, not a factory directory. The majority of sellers listed as "manufacturers" are trading companies — they buy from the actual factory and add their margin before selling to you.
Hidden trading company layers
Verified manufacturer badges on Alibaba don't guarantee factory-direct pricing. Most "Gold Suppliers" are intermediaries. The actual factory isn't on the platform at all.
Fake CE certifications
CE marking documents on Alibaba are frequently falsified or outdated. The NSAI has formally warned Irish importers about non-compliant products entering Ireland through unvetted Chinese suppliers — particularly in construction materials.
No QC before shipping
When you buy on Alibaba, goods are shipped without independent inspection. By the time you discover a quality problem, you've paid freight on a container of sub-standard goods.
Language and communication barriers
Nuances in spec, packaging, labelling requirements, and delivery schedules are frequently lost in translation — even when English is used. Problems compound over time and across orders.
CE compliance is not optional
The NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland) issued a formal warning in 2024–2025 about non-compliant Chinese plywood entering Irish construction sites. Products were sold as meeting structural grades but failed EU standards.
For electronics, toys, construction materials, and children's clothing — CE marking is a legal requirement. Importing non-compliant products exposes Irish businesses to product liability, customs seizure, and reputational damage.
Ériu Sourcing verifies certifications at the factory, cross-references against current EN/EU standards, and uses accredited testing labs where required. Compliance is not checked at the Irish port — it's confirmed in China before the goods move.
"The NSAI is warning consumers and businesses to be vigilant about the quality of imported construction products, particularly those sourced online from outside the EU."
— National Standards Authority of Ireland, 2024–2025
China sourcing — questions answered
Last reviewed: May 2026
Why not just buy from Alibaba instead of using a sourcing agent?
Most suppliers on Alibaba are trading companies, not factories. They present themselves as manufacturers but buy from factories and add 20–40% margin. There is no way to verify this from Ireland. A sourcing agent with physical presence in China can visit facilities, verify they are actual factories, negotiate factory-gate prices, and conduct pre-shipment QC — none of which is possible through Alibaba alone.
How do Alibaba trading companies affect the price Irish businesses pay?
A typical Alibaba order passes through two or three markup layers: the actual factory sets a price, a Chinese trading company adds 20–40%, an Alibaba reseller or agent may add another 10–20%, and then customs and shipping are added on top. Factory-direct sourcing eliminates the trading company and reseller layers entirely — which is where the 35–60% saving comes from.
Is it risky to import directly from Chinese factories?
The risk in China sourcing comes from not knowing who you are buying from — not from buying direct in principle. With on-the-ground factory vetting, pre-shipment QC inspection, and CE compliance verification, the risks are substantially lower than ordering through an unknown Alibaba supplier. The risk is in the unknown — not in direct factory purchasing itself.
What markups do Irish wholesalers add to Chinese goods?
Irish wholesalers typically mark up Chinese goods 40–80% over their landed cost. When you buy from an Irish wholesaler, you are paying their purchase price from a European importer (who has also marked up), plus warehousing, distribution, and profit margin. The same goods purchased factory-direct from China and shipped to Ireland typically cost 35–60% less than the Irish wholesale price.
Stop paying wholesale margins on factory-priced goods.
Send us what you're importing. We'll show you what it actually costs at factory gate.