Supplymo research edition

A living statistics index from the supply side

12 measured figuresPublished 31 August 2026

Statistics index

1688 statistics 2026, measured rather than estimated

Almost every published figure about Chinese wholesale marketplaces is an estimate of size. These are not. Each number below is a count from a sample we read through the platform’s own read-only API, and each one links to the study that produced it, the evidence file behind it and the limits that apply to it.

12 studies · 1432 published evidence rows · most recent collection 31 August 2026 · last updated 31 August 2026. Free to cite with attribution.

Citing this page

Supplymo, "1688 statistics 2026", https://supplymo.com/research/1688-statistics, updated 31 August 2026.

Liam Cai · Founder, Supplymo

Maintained from Yiwu, China · Updated as each study publishes

The figures, with their denominators attached

A number without its sample size is not a statistic. Every line below carries both, plus the date it was collected.

Concentration in API-returned 1688 monthSold values

In a Supplymo non-random sample of 120 first-page API result rows across 12 selected English searches on 1688, the 12 rows in the top monthSold decile accounted for 85.97% of the sample's platform-reported monthSold total; the first returned row was not the keyword's monthSold leader in 11 of 12 searches.

Published 2026-09-08 · collected 2026-08-04 · 120 first-page keyword-search API result rows · 8 stated limits. monthSold is platform-reported and unaudited. This is not a measure of verified sales and does not reveal the ranking algorithm.

Method and evidence CSV

Evidence figure · Reported-sales concentration

Rows inside and outside the monthSold top decile among 120 API result rows

of 120

monthSold top decile

Remaining rows: 108

n = 120 API result rows. Collected 2026-08-04. Non-random sample: 12 selected searches and 120 first-page API result rows. monthSold is platform-reported and unaudited.

Supplymo 1688 Shelf Index — Issue 1

In a fixed, non-random Supplymo panel of 120 1688 product-detail records observed once daily from 2026-08-06 to 2026-08-31, the composite-service median across 3,119 returned score observations was 4.5/5; 1,291 of 3,119 logistics-score observations and 500 of 3,119 after-sales-score observations were below 3.5, while 0 of 3,120 daily observations were explicitly marked offer_not_returned by the collection contract.

Published 2026-09-02 · collected 2026-08-31 · 26 daily aggregate rows from one fixed 120-item panel · 10 stated limits. These are repeated platform-returned score fields from a fixed panel. They are not audited supplier performance, order outcomes or a representative sample of 1688.

Method and evidence CSV

Evidence figure · Fixed-panel monthly reading

Logistics-score observations below 3.5 across Issue 1

1291

of 3119

Below 3.5

At or above 3.5: 1828

n = 3119 score observations. 2026-08-06 to 2026-08-31. One daily read-only detail call for each item in the fixed 120-item panel; numeric score rows only.

Repeated tokens in API-returned 1688 subjectTrans title fields

In a Supplymo non-random sample of 120 first-page API result rows from 12 selected English searches on 1688, 72 subjectTrans title fields repeated the same English token at least three times; all 120 returned zero CJK characters, a character-residue check that does not assess translation accuracy or fluency.

Published 2026-09-01 · collected 2026-08-12 · 120 first-page API result rows · 9 stated limits. The study measures subjectTrans fields returned by one read-only API. It cannot establish rendered-page copy, authorship, translation quality, intent or search-ranking effects.

Method and evidence CSV

Evidence figure · Measured field return

Repeated-token threshold across 120 API-returned subjectTrans fields

of 120

Repeated one token at least three times

Below that threshold: 48

n = 120 API result rows. Collected 2026-08-12. Non-random sample: 12 selected English searches and 120 first-page API result rows.

shippingTimeGuarantee field returns in 1688 baby-product API responses

In a Supplymo sample of 118 successful product-detail API responses from 12 baby-product searches on 1688, 49 responses omitted productShippingInfo.shippingTimeGuarantee; 7 of 10 baby bottle responses omitted it, compared with 2 of 10 responses in each of the teether and baby car seat searches.

Published 2026-08-24 · collected 2026-08-13 · 238 rows across two separate cohorts · 13 stated limits. The two cohorts are separate. This measures fields returned by read-only API responses, not rendered-page content, actual refunds, physical safety, legal compliance or supplier performance.

Method and evidence CSV

Evidence figure · Baby-product field visibility

shippingTimeGuarantee field return across 118 baby-product detail API responses

of 118

shippingTimeGuarantee omitted

Returned shipIn48Hours: 67
Returned shipIn24Hours: 2

n = 118 product-detail API responses. Collected 2026-08-13. Non-random after-sales cohort: 12 deliberately selected baby-product searches with 118 successful product-detail API responses.

shippingTimeGuarantee field return across 1688 toy API responses

In a Supplymo non-random sample of 120 first-page toy results from 1688's English cross-border keyword API, 61 product-detail API responses omitted productShippingInfo.shippingTimeGuarantee; the water gun and slime kit searches each had nine omissions among ten sampled responses.

Published 2026-08-18 · collected 2026-08-12 · 120 product-detail API responses · 11 stated limits. This measures whether one product-detail API response returned a named field. It does not establish rendered-page content, supplier intent or performance, dispatch outcome, or toy safety.

Method and evidence CSV

Evidence figure · Toy listing field visibility

shippingTimeGuarantee field return across 120 sampled 1688 toy product-detail API responses

of 120

shippingTimeGuarantee omitted

Returned shipIn48Hours: 54
Returned shipIn24Hours: 5

n = 120 product-detail API responses. Collected 2026-08-12. Non-random sample: 12 toy keyword searches, 10 first-page results and product-detail API responses each. API field omission says nothing about other surfaces or supplier conduct.

Listed MOQ and displayed price tiers across 1688 result/detail rows

In a Supplymo snapshot of 120 non-deduplicated result/detail rows from 12 selected English searches on 1688, 102 returned a listed minimum order quantity of two units or fewer and 84 returned one displayed price tier; neither field confirms checkout acceptance, a negotiated production MOQ or a final supplier quote.

Published 2026-08-18 · collected 2026-08-02 · 120 non-deduplicated result/detail rows · 10 stated limits. A returned listed MOQ or price tier is not checkout acceptance, a negotiated production MOQ, a supplier quote or a landed-cost result.

Method and evidence CSV

Evidence figure · MOQ and price-tier structure

Listed MOQ returned across 120 non-deduplicated 1688 result/detail rows

102

of 120

Listed MOQ of two or fewer

Listed MOQ above two: 18

n = 120 non-deduplicated result/detail rows. Collected 2026-08-02. Twelve deliberately selected English searches, ten retained result/detail rows each. Rows were not de-duplicated by offer or seller.

Where the shipping weight on a 1688 listing comes from

117 of 120 top-ranked 1688 listings source their shipping weight from the merchant's own entry, and only 3 carry a weight measured by a fulfilment centre.

Published 2026-08-15 · collected 2026-08-12 · 120 listings · 8 stated limits. This records the provenance a listing labels for its own weight figure. It does not verify whether any weight is accurate, and it is not a claim that any seller misstated anything.

Method and evidence CSV

Evidence figure · Shipping-weight provenance

Where the shipping weight comes from on 120 top-ranked 1688 listings

117

of 120

Merchant typed it in

Measured by a fulfilment centre: 3
No source label shown: 1

n = 120 listings. Collected 2026-08-12. Non-random sample: 12 keyword searches, 10 platform-ranked rows each. All 120 listings displayed a shipping block.

shippingTimeGuarantee field returns in 1688 product-detail API responses

In a Supplymo sample of 120 first-page results from 1688's English cross-border keyword API, the detail response omitted the shippingTimeGuarantee field for 55 rows; of the 65 rows that returned it, 64 used shipIn48Hours.

Published 2026-08-12 · collected 2026-08-11 · 120 product-detail API responses · 10 stated limits. This measures fields returned by one product-detail API response, not rendered-page content, whether a seller would accept a return, or whether an order would dispatch on time.

Method and evidence CSV

Evidence figure · Measured field return

shippingTimeGuarantee field return across 120 sampled product-detail API responses

of 120

shippingTimeGuarantee omitted

Returned shipIn48Hours: 64
Returned shipIn24Hours: 1

n = 120 product-detail API responses. Collected 2026-08-11. Non-random sample: first page of 12 keyword searches, 10 platform-ranked result/detail rows each. API field state does not establish rendered presentation or performance.

Invoice types declared on 1688 listings

In a Supplymo sample of 120 top-ranked 1688 listings, 72 showed no invoice type in the platform's invoiceInfo field, while 29 showed both 普票 and 专票.

Published 2026-08-12 · collected 2026-08-08 · 120 listings · 11 stated limits. A listing that declares nothing may still issue an invoice on request. This measures the declaration, not the capability.

Method and evidence CSV

Evidence figure · Measured field return

Invoice types declared by 120 top-ranked 1688 listings

of 120

Declared nothing

General invoice only: 19
General plus special VAT: 29

n = 120 listings. Collected 2026-08-08. Non-random sample: 12 categories, 10 platform-ranked rows each.

Certificates displayed on 1688 listings

In a Supplymo sample of 160 top-ranked 1688 listings across 8 compliance-review categories, 156 displayed no certificate through the platform's own certificate field.

Published 2026-08-12 · collected 2026-08-05 · 160 listings · 11 stated limits. A listing that displays no certificate may still hold one. This measures display, not possession, and it is not a safety assessment.

Method and evidence CSV

Evidence figure · Measured field return

Certificates displayed by 160 top-ranked 1688 listings in compliance-review categories

156

of 160

Displayed no certificate

Displayed at least one: 4

n = 160 listings. Collected 2026-08-05. Non-random sample: 8 categories, 20 platform-ranked rows each.

Headline supplier scores versus their components

In a Supplymo sample of 120 top-ranked 1688 listings, 65 showed the maximum 5.0 supplier score and 21 of those carried a component score at or below 2.5.

Published 2026-08-04 · collected 2026-08-04 · 120 listings · 11 stated limits. The component scales are narrower than the headline scale, so the two are not directly comparable. This is a reading of published scores, not an audit of supplier quality.

Method and evidence CSV

Evidence figure · Measured field return

Headline supplier score across 120 top-ranked 1688 listings

of 120

Maximum 5.0

Between 4.5 and 4.9: 44
Below 4.5: 11

n = 120 listings. Collected 2026-08-04. 21 of the 65 maximum-score listings carried a component score at or below 2.5.

Listed-price spread among retained 1688 visual matches

In a Supplymo pilot of 48 top-ranked 1688 listings, 41 had a lower-priced retained visual match on the first image-search page.

Published 2026-08-04 · collected 2026-08-03 · 48 seed listings · 9 stated limits. A visual match is not proof that two listings are the same product. Listed prices are not quoted prices, and they exclude shipping, tooling and terms.

Method and evidence CSV

Evidence figure · Measured field return

Cheaper visual matches for 48 top-ranked 1688 listings

of 48

Had a cheaper visual match

Had none: 7

n = 48 seed listings. Collected 2026-08-03. Median seed-to-cheapest listed-price ratio 2.25×. A visual match is not proof of an identical product.

How these numbers are produced

Every study follows the same shape. A keyword or category frame is fixed first, then rows are read from the platform’s own search and detail endpoints in a stated collection window. Each study defines its own public row unit and field-state limits rather than assuming every row represents a unique listing. Every published figure is recomputed from the evidence data by a checker that runs before the site can be deployed, and each study ships with the file needed to repeat the published arithmetic.

What none of these studies can tell you is what a supplier will actually do after payment. They measure what the stated read-only API response returned before any supplier payment; they do not claim that every rendered buyer interface showed the same thing.

All research, with methods

Questions about using these figures

Where do these 1688 statistics come from?

Each figure comes from a Supplymo sample read through 1688's own read-only marketplace APIs. 12 separate studies, 1432 published evidence rows in total, each published with its evidence file, its row-unit disclosure, its method and its stated limits.

Can I cite these numbers?

Yes, with attribution to Supplymo and a link to the study the figure comes from. The row-level data is downloadable as CSV under CC BY 4.0. If you need a cut we have not published, ask and we will run it.

Are these samples representative of all of 1688?

No. Every sample is drawn from ranked keyword or category search results. The studies describe what the stated read-only API responses returned for sampled result or detail rows, not what every rendered buyer interface showed or an average across the whole marketplace. Each study states this limit and the others in its evidence file.

Do these figures say suppliers are doing anything wrong?

No. Each study defines the exact read-only API surface and field state it observed. A returned or omitted field does not establish what another interface or supplier conversation contained, and it does not establish supplier intent, conduct or performance.