1. Check what sits behind the storefront
- A “factory” name: match the display name to the full registered Chinese name and 18-character code.
- Photos or videos: ask when and where they were made, who runs the site and whether your goods will be made there.
- Badges: Alibaba’s buyer guide explains the checks attached to each tier. Read the actual assessment report, including the entity, site, date and limits. See the badge guide.
A trading company can arrange supply and combine orders. What you need is a clear account of who makes the goods and who answers for quality.
2. Read the whole business scope
The 经营范围 is a list of registered activities. Check terms such as 生产 (production), 制造 (manufacturing), 加工 (processing) and 销售 (sales). Read limits and exclusions alongside them.
- Production terms: ask which site and process carry out that activity for your product.
- Sales terms only: ask for the maker’s legal name and its relationship with the seller. Do not decide the factory question from a keyword search.
- Both: the wording covers making and selling. It does not establish whether this order will be made in-house.
In 46 selected platform records queried on 28 August 2026, 39 of 46 (84.8%) matched both production and trade terms. Another 6 of 46 (13.0%) matched trade terms only; none matched production terms alone. One matched neither. See the sample and method. We did not verify the actual factory or trader role of each entry.
Read the business-scope guide or paste supplied text into the free in-browser wording check. The tool does not query or verify a company.
3. Use the name to identify the entity
Get the full Chinese legal name and registration code. Words such as 科技 (technology), 实业 (industrial) or 贸易 (trade) do not prove who makes your goods.
Compare the name on the licence, contract and invoice. A place name is not evidence of where production happens. Check the link between the registered address and factory site.
4. Records do not provide a factory benchmark
On 21–22 August 2026, we queried these fields through one commercial source for 45 selected company codes. They came from a 106-name China-labelled trailer frame in NHTSA data. The selection did not independently verify identity. NHTSA describes its catalogue as manufacturer-reported data. Listing does not show that their products are on US roads or prove factory capacity.
| Dimension | Of 45 | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Import/export credit record | 41 | 91% |
| Change records | 41 | 91% |
| Tender participation | 27 | 60% |
| Outbound investments | 18 | 40% |
| Registered branches | 8 | 18% |
We did not compare a matched group of traders or visit factories. These counts therefore cannot tell you whether a supplier is a manufacturer.
Four entities returned no import/export credit record. The data does not explain why or show who exports for them. See the selection method and limits.
5. OEM and ODM: put the terms in writing
OEM (original equipment manufacturer) often describes production to a buyer’s design. ODM (original design manufacturer) often involves a supplier’s existing design. The labels alone do not assign ownership or identify the actual maker.
- Design: specify who supplies the drawings, who owns them and what each party may use or change.
- Tooling: record who pays for and owns each mould, where it is kept and how it can be returned.
- Production: name the maker and site. Set measurable specifications and responsibility for defects.
A trader can arrange either service. Confirm the parties and terms rather than assuming the seller owns a design or factory.
6. Check the proposed site and order
Ask for evidence that addresses three things:
- Who runs the site and which goods are made there.
- Which equipment, staff and process will handle your order.
- How the supplier will meet and check your product specifications.
Use the factory-capability checklist to review the evidence. An on-site inspection may be needed to assess the claimed process and capacity.
Start with the company-registration steps. The 18-character code checker checks code structure; it does not verify the company. If you need a dated record check, review the factory-or-trader report scope and prices.
Sources and limits
Official explanations checked on 5 September 2026. This guide does not audit your supplier or assess a particular product.
- China’s market-entity registration regulation: registered activities and change filing.
- Alibaba’s buyer guide and Verified Supplier assessment scope and disclaimer.
- NHTSA’s manufacturer-data explanation.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell whether a Chinese supplier is a manufacturer or a trading company?
Check the full registered business scope, then link the legal entity to the proposed factory. Ask for site and process evidence for your order. Wording alone cannot confirm who makes the goods.
Can I trust the word factory in the storefront name, or workshop videos?
They can help you ask questions, but do not establish site ownership or control. Match the seller to the legal entity and ask for dated evidence tied to the claimed site.
Do platform badges prove I am buying from a factory?
Gold Supplier is a paid membership in which the business is verified as legally registered by a third-party institution. Verified Supplier adds broader third-party assessment of company and production facts. Neither proves the company's role in your product or guarantees your specific order.
Is buying from a trading company a mistake?
No. A trader may help with sourcing, order consolidation and communication. Confirm the maker, the service you are paying for and who is responsible for quality and delivery.
How we checked
Field counts came from 46 selected commercial platform records. They do not verify identity, cash in the bank or what a factory can make. Fill rates come from dated checks of chosen company codes through one paid data source. A hit is a returned record; it may be incomplete or mislinked. Last date marked for the checks: 28 August 2026. Use the date shown with each finding. A page update does not mean all checks were run again.
Use the source links. Check the dates and limits stated for each finding.
Paste the supplier’s business scope for a free reading of its wording. Use the result to ask about the maker and site; it does not verify a factory or licence.
PRIMARY SOURCES / 01
Official sources this page relies on
The scope wording this page reads is produced by published registration rules. Links were checked on 6 September 2026.
- SAMR: Regulation on market-entity registrationArticles 14, 17 and 19 cover licensed activities, applicant responsibility and formal review of filing documents.
- SAMR: Detailed rules for market-entity registrationHow scope wording is formed and amended.
- NPC Standing Committee: Foreign Trade Law amendmentThe former foreign trade operator filing ended in 2022. Other requirements still apply; see the current export guide.
Scope wording helps frame questions. Assess the claimed site, process and capacity with dated evidence for your order. Read the current export rules and scope limits.