Is my Chinese supplier a real factory or a trading company? How to tell in detail
Use 
China's official register to identify the legal company, then check who operates the production site. A business licence, company name or registered address alone cannot prove that a supplier makes your product. Many companies both manufacture and trade, or subcontract. A trading company is not bad in itself; the risk is not knowing who really makes your goods.
- Applies to
- Buyers who found a supplier online and want to know whether they deal with the maker or a middleman.
Dear friend,
Welcome! This letter sets out what you need to know, plainly and in order.
Clues from the register
China's National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System is at gsxt.gov.cn. You need the company's legal Chinese name or its 18-character unified social credit code. Treat what you find as clues, not proof:
- Business scope (经营范围): 生产 (production) or 制造 (manufacturing) suggests making; 销售 (sales), 批发 (wholesale), 贸易 (trade) suggests trading. Many companies list both.
- Registered address: an industrial zone (工业区 / 工业园) or an office tower. The registered address and the factory are often in different places.
- Company name: 贸易 ("Trading") or 进出口 ("Import & Export") in the name tells you how it registered, not what it actually does.
Questions both a factory and a trader should answer
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Who signs the contract? | That is who you can claim against |
| Who makes the product, and where? | Quality and delivery depend on them |
| Who controls quality, and how? | Who you hold responsible for defects |
| Who exports and who receives payment? | Must match what you verified |
| Who fixes problems if goods fail? | Write it into the contract |
A good trading company can be the right choice for small mixed orders. Ask openly: "Which company makes this, and can we see that production site?"
Ways to confirm
- A live video walk-through of the production line can help, but it can be staged. Check that the site, the equipment and the process match your actual product; for larger orders, consider an independent check.
- Certificates and test reports: look at who is named as applicant, manufacturer and factory, plus the model, product scope and whether it is still valid. A matching name is not enough on its own; a different name is not automatically invalid.
- Make sure the company on the contract, invoice and payee is the same, or that any difference is explained and verified.
Still uncertain
- The gsxt site returned an access error during our check, so we have not confirmed the full search steps from overseas.
- Business scope wording varies by region; it is a hint, not proof.
Sources for this letter
Wishing you good business,
The mouwise team
Checked 2026-10-27
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