Alibaba has restructured its sourcing platforms by placing both 1688 (domestic Chinese wholesale) and Alibaba.com (cross-border marketplace) under unified leadership. Kuo Zhang, Alibaba.com president and VP, now oversees both operations, while Yu Yong, who managed 1688 since early 2022, has moved to a different role within the group. This consolidation signals a strategic shift in how Alibaba is organizing its supplier-facing business.
What this means for FBA sourcing
- Platform integration: The move suggests potential future feature alignment, standardization of terms, or coordinated policy changes across both platforms that FBA sellers rely on for sourcing
- Supplier ecosystem changes: Unified leadership often precedes policy updates, fee structures, or vetting requirements — sellers should monitor announcements over the coming months
- Operational continuity: While leadership changed, these remain the primary channels for China sourcing; sellers should expect transition periods and potential service fluctuations
How Squatio helps
FBA sellers who source from China need reliable product research and supplier validation to stay competitive. Prospect (Product Database) helps you identify validated products and understand margins before committing to sourcing relationships, reducing the risk of supplier issues mid-way through a partnership. As Alibaba undergoes internal restructuring, having a clear product thesis upfront means you’re less dependent on platform stability or sudden policy shifts affecting your sourcing pipeline.
How has Alibaba’s structure or service affected your sourcing workflow in the past — and do you think consolidation under one leader will make things smoother or create friction during the transition?
Source: Alibaba Just Put 1688 and Alibaba.com Under One Boss