# Find the 1688 source of an AliExpress product

**Use case:** 

Runs an AliExpress product photo through 1688.com image search to find the same item at Chinese wholesale prices. Compare the 1688 price with the AliExpress price to see the markup, or source directly from the supplier.

## Input

```json
{
  "imageUrls": [
    "https://ae-pic-a1.aliexpress-media.com/kf/Sbf5a5b9337a442c99336f7e29821977fx.jpg"
  ],
  "maxResultsPerImage": 60,
  "excludeSponsored": false,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true
  }
}
```

## Output

```json
{
  "imageUrl": {
    "label": "Photo",
    "format": "image"
  },
  "rank": {
    "label": "#",
    "format": "number"
  },
  "title": {
    "label": "Title",
    "format": "text"
  },
  "price": {
    "label": "Price (CNY)",
    "format": "number"
  },
  "similarityScore": {
    "label": "Visual distance (lower = closer)",
    "format": "number"
  },
  "ordersCount": {
    "label": "Orders",
    "format": "number"
  },
  "repurchaseRatePercent": {
    "label": "Repurchase %",
    "format": "number"
  },
  "companyName": {
    "label": "Supplier",
    "format": "text"
  },
  "yearsOnPlatform": {
    "label": "Years",
    "format": "number"
  },
  "city": {
    "label": "City",
    "format": "text"
  },
  "isSponsored": {
    "label": "Sponsored",
    "format": "boolean"
  },
  "url": {
    "label": "Offer",
    "format": "link"
  },
  "queryImage": {
    "label": "Query image",
    "format": "link"
  }
}
```

## How it works

### 1. Sign up on Apify or log in

The 1688 Image Search Scraper | Find Factory Suppliers by Photo Actor is ready to run with the inputs already set for "Find the 1688 source of an AliExpress product". [Sign up or log in](https://console.apify.com/create-task-from-example/eewk87HVfbiZjnrIO) and you'll land in Apify Console with a copy of this exact task.

### 2. Start the "Find the 1688 source of an AliExpress product" task

The 1688 Image Search Scraper | Find Factory Suppliers by Photo Actor will start running based on the input automatically. You can also change all the input fields, like image urls, max matches per image, and more, to match your specific use case.

### 3. Receive the "Find the 1688 source of an AliExpress product" output

Monitor the progress in real time. You will be notified as soon as your dataset is complete and ready for review. Each result includes data such as photo, #, title, and more.

### 4. Integrate into your workflow

The final output is delivered in JSON, CSV, or Excel format, ready to be plugged into your workflow. You can also [run the "Find the 1688 source of an AliExpress product" task via API](https://apify.com/piotrv1001/1688-image-search-scraper.md).

## FAQ

### How do I find the 1688 source of an AliExpress product?

The AliExpress to 1688 source finder task takes the AliExpress product photo URL, runs it through 1688 image search and returns matching offers with wholesale price in CNY, supplier, orders and offer link.

### How do I work out the AliExpress markup?

The AliExpress to 1688 source finder task prices matches in CNY. Convert the closest match's price and compare it with the AliExpress price; the markup is the gap between the two.

### Why does the first result look unrelated to my product?

The AliExpress to 1688 source finder task keeps sponsored offers, which 1688 mixes into image results. Turn on Exclude sponsored offers, or skip rows with a high similarity score, since lower scores mean closer matches.

### What supplier details does each 1688 match include?

The AliExpress to 1688 source finder task shows each supplier's company name, years on 1688, shop link and score, province and city, factory and business inspection flags, repurchase rate and listing tags.

### Can I check many AliExpress products at once?

The AliExpress to 1688 source finder task accepts a list of image URLs and searches each separately; every row keeps the query image. Export the results to CSV, Excel or Google Sheets to compare.

### What does the AliExpress to 1688 search cost?

The AliExpress to 1688 source finder task charges per image that returns matches (first 60 offers) plus a tiny start fee per run. Keep Max matches per image at 60 to cap cost; rates are on the Actor's Pricing tab.

## About this Actor

This example demonstrates how to use [1688 Image Search Scraper | Find Factory Suppliers by Photo](https://apify.com/piotrv1001/1688-image-search-scraper.md) with a specific input configuration. Visit the [Actor detail page](https://apify.com/piotrv1001/1688-image-search-scraper.md) to learn more, explore other use cases, and run it yourself.


## How to integrate an Actor?

This Task's input is already configured above. Use it as-is rather than inventing a new one.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For full API examples (JavaScript, Python, CLI, MCP, OpenAPI), see this Task's Actor page: https://apify.com/piotrv1001/1688-image-search-scraper.md

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).