Alibaba Supplier Scraper & Product Finder | Reverse Image Search

Turn Alibaba search results into a clean, deduplicated supplier shortlist.

This Alibaba scraper finds products and manufacturers using product keywords, product images, or Alibaba's dedicated supplier search. Instead of filling your dataset with repeated listings from the same company, it groups matches by supplier and preserves every product, keyword, and image that led to that supplier.

Use it for supplier discovery, product sourcing, procurement, private-label research, Amazon FBA, Shopify, dropshipping, and competitor research. Export results to the Apify Dataset, JSON, CSV, Excel, API workflows, or MCP-connected AI clients.

Why choose this Actor?

Many Alibaba tools are built around individual product pages. This Actor is built for the earlier sourcing stage: finding promising suppliers and understanding why they matched your search.

Sourcing need	How this Actor helps
Find companies, not duplicate listings	Returns one primary row per unique supplier and retains all matched products
Start with only a product photo	Runs Alibaba reverse image search from uploads or public image URLs
Search manufacturers directly	Searches Alibaba's Manufacturers section with dedicated supplier keywords
Compare several sourcing ideas	Applies separate supplier and page limits to every keyword or image
Trace every result	Preserves matched keywords, images, products, ranks, and source links
Build a usable shortlist quickly	Normalizes prices and MOQs and exposes supplier verification, ratings, location, and factory signals when displayed
Automate the workflow	Provides structured schemas for Apify API, tasks, webhooks, and MCP clients

Best fit: supplier discovery and shortlisting from Alibaba search results. The Actor extracts publicly displayed product and supplier-card data; it does not claim to provide a full paid verification report or every field from every product detail page.

Key features

• Three discovery modes — keyword product search, image product search, and supplier search
• Unique supplier results — reduce repeated companies across multiple product listings
• Reverse image search — upload files or use public product image URLs
• Manufacturer search — query Alibaba's supplier directory directly
• Batch inputs — process up to 20 keywords, supplier queries, or images in one run
• Per-input limits — each keyword or image receives its own supplier and page target
• Cross-input matching — retain every search input and product connected to a supplier
• Normalized sourcing fields — parse displayed price ranges, currencies, and MOQs
• Supplier signals — capture verification, factory status, ratings, location, years, staff, factory area, response time, and capabilities when available
• Flexible exports — Apify Dataset plus optional combined or per-input CSV files
• Failure diagnostics — save HTML and screenshots when Alibaba returns an unusable page

Quick start

1. Open the Actor in Apify Console.
2. Choose Keyword product search, Image product search, or Supplier search.
3. Add the matching keywords, images, or supplier queries.
4. Start with 10 suppliers and 1 page per input.
5. Keep Use Apify Proxy enabled for more reliable access.
6. Run the Actor and open Supplier results in the Output tab.

For larger batches, increase the Actor Timeout under Run options, or enable No timeout.

Search modes

1. Keyword product search

Search ordinary Alibaba product listings and return the unique suppliers behind them.

{
  "searchMode": "keyword",
  "searchTerms": [
    "portable blender USB rechargeable",
    "stainless steel glass shower hinge"
  ],
  "maxUniqueSuppliersPerKeyword": 10,
  "maxPagesText": 1,
  "useApifyProxy": true
}

Use specific phrases containing the product, material, feature, or intended use. Each keyword is processed independently, so the first keyword cannot consume the limit for later searches.

2. Image product search

Use Alibaba reverse image search when the product name is unknown or visual similarity matters.

In Apify Console, upload local images under Product images. API and MCP clients can provide direct public image URLs:

{
  "searchMode": "image",
  "imageUrls": [
    "https://example.com/reference-product-1.jpg",
    "https://example.com/reference-product-2.jpg"
  ],
  "maxUniqueSuppliersPerImage": 10,
  "maxPagesImage": 1,
  "skipFailedImages": true,
  "useApifyProxy": true
}

Uploaded files and public URLs share a combined limit of 20 images per run. Every image is searched separately and receives its own supplier limit.

For better matches:

• Center one product in the image.
• Crop out large text, borders, and unrelated objects.
• Avoid collages, blurry images, and busy lifestyle scenes.
• Use image URLs that open without a login, cookies, or expiring authorization.

3. Supplier search

Search Alibaba's Manufacturers section directly when you already know the factory or supplier type you need.

{
  "searchMode": "supplier",
  "supplierSearchTerms": [
    "shower hardware manufacturer",
    "portable blender factory"
  ],
  "maxUniqueSuppliersPerSupplierKeyword": 10,
  "maxPagesSupplier": 1,
  "useApifyProxy": true
}

Alibaba may display company names, profile links, factory status, supplier type, ratings, location, years on Alibaba, staff count, factory area, response time, capabilities, and product previews.

Input reference

Input	Default	Description
searchMode	keyword	Choose keyword, image, or supplier
searchTerms	glass shower hinge	Product keywords, up to 20
maxUniqueSuppliersPerKeyword	10	Unique suppliers retained separately for each product keyword
maxPagesText	1	Product-result pages processed per keyword
supplierSearchTerms	—	Manufacturer or supplier queries, up to 20
maxUniqueSuppliersPerSupplierKeyword	10	Supplier cards retained separately for each supplier query
maxPagesSupplier	1	Manufacturer-result pages processed per supplier query
uploadedImages	—	Product images uploaded in Apify Console
imageUrls	—	Direct public HTTP or HTTPS image URLs
maxUniqueSuppliersPerImage	10	Unique suppliers retained separately for each image
maxPagesImage	1	Image-result pages processed per image
useApifyProxy	true	Use Apify Proxy for more reliable Alibaba access
skipFailedImages	true	Continue when one image cannot be downloaded or searched
failOnNoResults	false	Fail instead of finishing with diagnostics when no rows are produced
saveCsvFile	false	Save named CSV files in the default key-value store
csvOutputMode	combined	Choose combined, separate, or both
csvFilename	alibaba_results.csv	Filename for the combined CSV export

What data you get

Each dataset row represents one unique Alibaba supplier. If several searches find the same supplier, matched_search_inputs and matched_products preserve the full relationship.

Product and offer fields

• Product title, ID, canonical URL, and primary image
• Displayed price plus normalized minimum price, maximum price, and currency
• Displayed MOQ plus normalized quantity and unit
• Sold count, selling points, reorder rate, sponsored status, and match rank when shown

Supplier and factory fields

• Company name, company ID, profile URL, logo, and contact link
• Verified Supplier and factory/manufacturer flags
• Supplier type, rating, review count, country or region, and years on Alibaba
• Staff count, factory area, response time, online revenue, and factory capabilities when displayed

Search attribution

• First matching keyword, supplier query, or image filename
• Search type: keyword, image, or supplier
• Every input that matched the supplier
• Every retained product match, including its source input and rank

Example result

{
  "search_input": "portable blender",
  "search_type": "keyword",
  "matched_search_inputs": ["portable blender", "blender-reference.jpg"],
  "vendor_name": "Shenzhen Example Appliance Co., Ltd.",
  "vendor_profile_url": "https://example.en.alibaba.com/",
  "verified_supplier": true,
  "is_factory": true,
  "supplier_type": "Custom Manufacturer",
  "supplier_rating": 4.8,
  "supplier_from": "CN",
  "years_in_business": "6 YRS",
  "name": "Portable USB Rechargeable Blender",
  "product_url": "https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/example_1600000000000.html",
  "product_image_url": "https://s.alicdn.com/example.jpg",
  "price": "US$3.80-6.50",
  "price_min": 3.8,
  "price_max": 6.5,
  "currency": "USD",
  "min_order": "100 pieces",
  "moq_quantity": 100,
  "moq_unit": "pieces",
  "matched_products": [
    {
      "search_input": "portable blender",
      "search_type": "keyword",
      "match_rank": 1,
      "name": "Portable USB Rechargeable Blender",
      "product_url": "https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/example_1600000000000.html"
    }
  ]
}

The Actor reports what Alibaba publicly displays during the run. Missing values remain empty rather than being guessed.

Dataset and CSV exports

The default Apify Dataset is always available and can be downloaded as JSON, CSV, Excel, XML, and other supported formats.

Enable saveCsvFile to also create named files in the default key-value store:

• Combined — one CSV for the complete run
• Separate — one CSV per product keyword, supplier keyword, or image
• Both — combined and separate files

{
  "searchMode": "keyword",
  "searchTerms": ["magnetic phone car holder", "foldable phone stand"],
  "maxUniqueSuppliersPerKeyword": 15,
  "saveCsvFile": true,
  "csvOutputMode": "both",
  "csvFilename": "phone-accessory-suppliers.csv"
}

API, automations, and MCP

Use the Actor with:

• Apify API and client libraries
• Scheduled Actor tasks
• Webhooks
• Make and Zapier
• MCP-compatible AI clients

The input and output schemas are machine-readable, making the Actor suitable for repeatable sourcing workflows and AI agents.

Example API input

{
  "searchMode": "keyword",
  "searchTerms": ["USB rechargeable portable blender"],
  "maxUniqueSuppliersPerKeyword": 25,
  "maxPagesText": 2,
  "useApifyProxy": true,
  "saveCsvFile": true
}

Example MCP prompt

Find 10 unique Alibaba suppliers for “USB rechargeable portable blender.” Return supplier names, profile URLs, verification and factory signals, matching products, displayed prices, and MOQs. Preserve source links and mark unavailable values as missing.

Multi-image MCP prompt

Reverse-search these three public product image URLs on Alibaba. Collect up to 10 unique suppliers per image, save separate CSV files, and identify suppliers appearing in more than one search.

An image attached directly to a chat works only when the MCP client exposes it as a public or temporary signed URL. You can always upload the file in Apify Console.

Common use cases

• Build a supplier shortlist for a new private-label product
• Find Alibaba listings and manufacturers from a competitor product photo
• Compare suppliers discovered by several product keywords
• Locate factories in Alibaba's Manufacturers directory
• Prepare sourcing data for procurement review or outreach
• Feed current Alibaba search data into spreadsheets, databases, and AI workflows
• Support Amazon FBA, Shopify, wholesale, and dropshipping research

Runtime and reliability

Alibaba may show traffic challenges, verification pages, or different layouts depending on the session and location.

For more reliable runs:

• Keep Apify Proxy enabled, especially for multi-image searches.
• Test one input before launching a large batch.
• Start with small page and supplier limits.
• Allow roughly 150 seconds per image plus startup and export time as an initial estimate.
• Increase the Apify run timeout for multiple images or larger page limits.
• Review saved diagnostics when a search produces no usable results.

A Timeout of 0 under Apify Run options means no platform time limit for supported run methods.

FAQ

Why can the final row count be lower than all limits added together?

The Actor deduplicates suppliers across inputs. One company found by several keywords or images appears once, with every match retained in matched_search_inputs and matched_products.

Does each image or keyword have its own limit?

Yes. The per-keyword, per-image, and per-supplier-query limits are independent. One input cannot use another input's allocation.

Can I search several images in one run?

Yes. Add up to 20 uploaded images and public image URLs combined. Each image is processed separately.

Why are some fields empty?

Alibaba does not display every field on every result. The Actor preserves available values and does not invent missing data.

Does this replace supplier due diligence?

No. Verification badges and factory signals are useful for discovery, but buyers should independently review company documents, samples, certifications, contracts, and payment protections before purchasing.

Where is the CSV file?

The structured Dataset is always available. If saveCsvFile is enabled, open the run's Storage → Key-value store to download the named CSV files.

Limitations

• Alibaba may show captchas, verification pages, experiments, or incomplete supplier information.
• Not every listing exposes a profile URL, location, MOQ, rating, or factory details.
• The Actor focuses on search-result and supplier-card discovery rather than exhaustive product-page enrichment.
• Website changes may require selector maintenance.
• The Actor does not contact suppliers or verify business claims independently.

Support

For help, include the following in an Apify issue or email jcustombussiness@gmail.com:

• Actor run ID
• Search mode and sanitized input
• Expected and actual behavior
• Relevant log lines or saved diagnostic filenames

Remove private or signed image URLs before sharing input.

Responsible use

Use this Actor in compliance with Alibaba's terms, applicable laws, and Apify platform policies. Respect access controls, personal-data requirements, and reasonable request volumes.