# Alibaba Product Search Scraper (`fetch_cat/alibaba-runtime-spike`) Actor Extract product search results from Alibaba, including product titles, prices, MOQ text, supplier signals, images, and source URLs. - **URL**: https://apify.com/fetch\_cat/alibaba-runtime-spike.md - **Developed by:** [Hanna Nosova](https://apify.com/fetch_cat) (community) - **Categories:** E-commerce, Marketing, Automation - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $1.10 / 1,000 product results This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## Alibaba Product Search Scraper Alibaba Product Search Scraper extracts Alibaba.com product search results for e-commerce sourcing, supplier discovery, price/MOQ research, and product lead exports. ### Value proposition Get structured Alibaba product search data without manually copying result cards. ### What does this actor do? Alibaba Product Search Scraper exports product results from Alibaba.com for sourcing, supplier discovery, and product research. Each dataset row contains product titles, Alibaba product URLs, price text, MOQ/minimum order text, supplier signals, images, and the source query. ### Who is it for and use cases - **Sourcing teams:** build a shortlist of products and suppliers for buyer outreach. - **E-commerce researchers:** compare visible price ranges, MOQ text, and product positioning. - **Market analysts:** monitor Alibaba search results for recurring product categories. - **Lead generation teams:** collect product URLs and supplier names for follow-up workflows. ### Input example ```json { "queries": ["solar panel", "yoga mat"], "maxItemsPerQuery": 10, "maxRetriesPerQuery": 1 } ```` ### Verified public examples Ready-to-run Apify Store examples verified in post-publish QA: - [Alibaba solar panel products](https://apify.com/fetch_cat/alibaba-runtime-spike/examples/alibaba-solar-panel-products) - [Alibaba yoga mat products](https://apify.com/fetch_cat/alibaba-runtime-spike/examples/alibaba-yoga-mat-products) ### Input settings | Field | Type | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | `queries` | string\[] | Alibaba search phrases to run. | | `maxItemsPerQuery` | integer | Maximum product rows to save per query. | | `navigationTimeoutMs` | integer | Bounded timeout for fallback browser navigation. | | `maxRetriesPerQuery` | integer | Retries for transient empty or blocked browser pages. | | `proxyConfiguration` | object | Apify Proxy settings. Residential proxy is recommended when the browser fallback is needed. | ### Output example ```json { "query": "solar panel", "rank": 1, "title": "Bluesun Solar Panel 700w 710w 720w Best Panel Bifacial Solar Panel", "url": "https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/example_1600000000000.html", "priceText": "$61.2 - $63.36", "moqText": null, "supplierName": "Bluesun Solar Co., Ltd.", "supplierLocation": "China", "verifiedSupplier": true, "tradeAssurance": false, "imageUrl": "https://s.alicdn.com/example.jpg", "sourceUrl": "https://open-s.alibaba.com/openservice/...", "scrapedAt": "2026-07-24T21:55:08.000Z" } ``` ### Output fields | Field | Description | | --- | --- | | `query` | Input search phrase that produced the row. | | `rank` | Rank within the extracted results for that query. | | `title` | Product title. | | `url` | Alibaba product detail URL when available. | | `priceText` | Visible price or price range text when available. | | `moqText` | MOQ/minimum order text when available. | | `supplierName` | Supplier name when available. | | `supplierLocation` | Supplier country/location signal when available. | | `verifiedSupplier` | Whether the record contains verified supplier signals. | | `tradeAssurance` | Whether trade assurance is detected. | | `imageUrl` | Product image URL when available. | | `sourceUrl` | Source URL or service endpoint used for extraction. | | `scrapedAt` | ISO timestamp when the row was saved. | ### API usage #### Node.js ```js import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; const client = new ApifyClient({ token: process.env.APIFY_TOKEN }); const run = await client.actor('fetch_cat/alibaba-runtime-spike').call({ queries: ['solar panel'], maxItemsPerQuery: 10, }); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); console.log(items); ``` #### Python ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient import os client = ApifyClient(os.environ['APIFY_TOKEN']) run = client.actor('fetch_cat/alibaba-runtime-spike').call(run_input={ 'queries': ['solar panel'], 'maxItemsPerQuery': 10, }) items = client.dataset(run['defaultDatasetId']).list_items().items print(items) ``` #### cURL ```bash curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/fetch_cat~alibaba-runtime-spike/runs?token=$APIFY_TOKEN" \ -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \ -d '{"queries":["solar panel"],"maxItemsPerQuery":10}' ``` ### MCP and AI agents Use this actor from Apify MCP-compatible tools to give AI agents Alibaba product search data. Start with narrow queries and low `maxItemsPerQuery` values, then increase limits after checking result quality. Claude CLI setup example: ```bash claude mcp add apify -- npx -y @apify/actors-mcp-server --actors fetch_cat/alibaba-runtime-spike ``` MCP JSON config example: ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "@apify/actors-mcp-server", "--actors", "fetch_cat/alibaba-runtime-spike"], "env": { "APIFY_TOKEN": "YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN" } } } } ``` Example prompts: - "Find 10 Alibaba solar panel product results and summarize common supplier signals." - "Export Alibaba yoga mat product URLs with price and MOQ text." - "Compare visible Alibaba search results for phone cases and screen protectors." ### Pricing This actor uses pay-per-event pricing: | Event | Price | | --- | --- | | Actor start | $0.005 per run | | Product result Free tier | $0.00150 per saved product result | | Product result Bronze tier | $0.00130 per saved product result | | Product result Silver tier | $0.00120 per saved product result | | Product result Gold tier | $0.00110 per saved product result | | Product result Platinum tier | $0.00100 per saved product result | | Product result Diamond tier | $0.00090 per saved product result | ### FAQ **Can it scrape product detail pages?**\ No. This actor focuses on search result rows and product URLs. **Why can some fields be null?**\ Alibaba does not expose every supplier, MOQ, or price signal for every result. **Should I use proxies?**\ The primary bounded route usually does not need a browser. Keep proxy settings available for the browser fallback. ### Related actors - [1688 Wholesale Products Scraper](https://apify.com/fetch_cat/1688-wholesale-products-scraper) - [AliExpress Products Scraper](https://apify.com/fetch_cat/aliexpress-products-scraper) - [Made-in-China Products Suppliers Scraper](https://apify.com/fetch_cat/made-in-china-products-suppliers-scraper) ### Support When opening an issue, include your input JSON, expected output, actual output, and a reproducible public URL for the run, such as an Apify Console run URL or run ID. ### Changelog - 2026-07-28 - Feature: Added ready-to-run Apify Store example tasks - 2026-07-28 - Feature: Launched Alibaba Runtime Spike on Apify Store - This actor is now publicly available in the Apify Store. # Actor input Schema ## `queries` (type: `array`): Alibaba product search phrases, for example 'solar panel' or 'yoga mat'. ## `maxItemsPerQuery` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of product result cards to save for each query. ## `navigationTimeoutMs` (type: `integer`): Per-page navigation timeout. Keep this bounded to avoid expensive stalled runs. ## `maxRetriesPerQuery` (type: `integer`): Retry count for transient navigation failures or blocked empty pages. ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Residential proxies are recommended because Alibaba often blocks datacenter traffic. ## Actor input object example ```json { "queries": [ "solar panel" ], "maxItemsPerQuery": 10, "navigationTimeoutMs": 25000, "maxRetriesPerQuery": 1, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "RESIDENTIAL" ] } } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `products` (type: `string`): No description ## `runSummary` (type: `string`): No description ## `pendingQueries` (type: `string`): No description # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "queries": [ "solar panel" ], "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "RESIDENTIAL" ] } }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("fetch_cat/alibaba-runtime-spike").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "queries": ["solar panel"], "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": True, "apifyProxyGroups": ["RESIDENTIAL"], }, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("fetch_cat/alibaba-runtime-spike").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "queries": [ "solar panel" ], "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "RESIDENTIAL" ] } }' | apify call fetch_cat/alibaba-runtime-spike --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch_cat/alibaba-runtime-spike", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Alibaba Product Search Scraper", "description": "Extract product search results from Alibaba, including product titles, prices, MOQ text, supplier signals, images, and source URLs.", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "ozX3PebCUT2HBE0Jh" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/fetch_cat~alibaba-runtime-spike/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-fetch_cat-alibaba-runtime-spike", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/fetch_cat~alibaba-runtime-spike/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-fetch_cat-alibaba-runtime-spike", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/fetch_cat~alibaba-runtime-spike/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-fetch_cat-alibaba-runtime-spike", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "required": [ "queries" ], "properties": { "queries": { "title": "Search queries", "minItems": 1, "type": "array", "description": "Alibaba product search phrases, for example 'solar panel' or 'yoga mat'.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "maxItemsPerQuery": { "title": "Max products per query", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 100, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of product result cards to save for each query.", "default": 10 }, "navigationTimeoutMs": { "title": "Navigation timeout (ms)", "minimum": 5000, "maximum": 60000, "type": "integer", "description": "Per-page navigation timeout. Keep this bounded to avoid expensive stalled runs.", "default": 25000 }, "maxRetriesPerQuery": { "title": "Retries per query", "minimum": 0, "maximum": 3, "type": "integer", "description": "Retry count for transient navigation failures or blocked empty pages.", "default": 1 }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy configuration", "type": "object", "description": "Residential proxies are recommended because Alibaba often blocks datacenter traffic." } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```