As one of the largest online shopping platforms in China, Taobao has also attracted a large number of international buyers. So can Taobao ship to the USA? The answer is yes.

Introduction to Taobao

What is Taobao?

Taobao is China’s largest online shopping platform, founded by Alibaba Group in 2003. It is similar to eBay and Amazon, allowing individuals and small businesses to sell goods on the platform. Taobao offers a wide variety of products, from electronics, clothing to household goods, covering almost all categories.

Taobao has hundreds of millions of products and tens of millions of registered users. Whether it is daily necessities, electronics or fashion clothing, you can find it on Taobao. Its convenient shopping experience and rich product selection make Taobao one of the first choices for consumers around the world.

Taobao’s international influence

Although Taobao is mainly aimed at the Chinese market, it also attracts a large number of international buyers. Taobao’s international version (Taobao Global Shopping) and other Alibaba-owned platforms (such as AliExpress) enable global buyers to purchase Chinese-made goods.

Can Taobao ship to the USA?

Yes, Taobao can ship to the USA. With the rapid development of cross-border e-commerce, more and more Taobao sellers have begun to provide international logistics services, and many countries and regions including the United States can purchase and receive goods directly from Taobao.

Taobao ships goods to the United States through international logistics partners such as Cainiao Logistics, SF Express, EMS, DHL, Chinese freight forwarding companies, etc.

In addition to the United States, which countries can also be shipped to?

Taobao supports delivery services in most countries around the world, including but not limited to:

Taobao’s international logistics network covers more than 200 countries and regions around the world.

How to buy goods from Taobao?

Register and Login

Register a Taobao account: Visit Taobao’s official website (www.taobao.com), click Register and fill in the necessary information.
Login: Log in with your registered account and password.

Browse and Select Products

Search for Products: Use the search bar to enter keywords and browse search results.
For English speakers, sifting through Taobao’s vast marketplace becomes more intuitive with the help of the image search function. Although you can use Google Translate to convert search terms into Chinese, this may lead to occasional errors. The most reliable way to find products on Taobao is to use the image search function. Simply click the camera icon in the search bar and upload a picture of the desired product.

After submission, Taobao will display the products that are closest to the uploaded image. Impressively, Taobao also provides the option to crop the uploaded image to optimize the search, which is very useful when dealing with images containing multiple products.

Select Products: Click on the product of interest to view detailed information and seller reviews.

Communicate with Sellers:

If you have any questions or need customized services, you can communicate with the seller through Taobao’s chat tool.

Add to Cart and Pay

Add to Cart: Select the product specifications and quantity, and click “Add to Cart”.
Payment: Go to the shopping cart, confirm the order information, select the payment method and complete the payment.

What are the ways to ship from Taobao to the United States?

There are three main ways to ship from Taobao to the United States, and you can compare and choose the most suitable one.

Taobao Official Logistics

Taobao’s official logistics is widely regarded as the safest way to get goods from the platform, although it may not be the easiest. Taobao limits its delivery options to air and sea freight. To use Taobao’s official dispatch service, you must enter your US shipping details in your account settings. Navigate to the “Shipping Address” option on the sidebar of the Taobao homepage, enter your information, and confirm by saving. Once you have your address recorded, it’s time to select the items you want and add them to your shopping cart. When you are ready to complete your purchase, Taobao will direct you to the installment system for checkout. The first payment includes the cost of the goods and the domestic shipping fee to the warehouse. This initial transaction only covers the first leg of the delivery journey.

Once your goods arrive at the warehouse, the system will send a confirmation message to your mobile phone. You can then arrange international shipping from the warehouse. Remember that your goods can be stored in the warehouse for up to 20 days for free. After that, the system will prompt you to pay for international shipping, and payment will begin after payment verification. The last step is to wait for your order to arrive.

China Freight Forwarder to USA

For an alternative shipping route, consider using a China freight forwarder. These entities are known for their reliability and expertise in managing shipping from China to the United States. To use their services, register on their platform to obtain a designated address. This address will replace your personal address on Taobao for shipping purposes. Although similar to Taobao’s internal services, this option involves external handlers and additional service fees.

Basenton Logistics is a leading freight forwarding company in China. If your goods are larger than 45kg or larger than 1 cubic meter, Basenton can help you transport your goods from China to the USA. If the quantity is too small, Basenton will not transport it.

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International Express Service

EMS: China Post International Express, with lower shipping costs and longer shipping time.
DHL: Internationally renowned express company, with higher shipping costs but shorter shipping time.
FedEx: Global express service, with higher shipping costs and shorter shipping time.
UPS: Global express and logistics company, providing fast and reliable services.

How much is Taobao shipping to USA

Shipping Calculation
Shipping costs depend on a variety of factors, including product weight, volume, shipping method, and destination. Here are approximate shipping cost ranges:

In 2024, the sea freight from major ports in China (such as Shanghai and Tianjin) to the West Coast of the United States (such as Los Angeles) will be approximately US$100 to US$250/ton. For specific prices, please consult the Chinese freight forwarder Basenton Logistics.

As a rough estimate, shipping a 40-foot container from China to the U.S. West Coast costs between $2,500 and $4,000. For the U.S. East Coast, costs may increase by $3,000 to $4,500 due to longer shipping distances.

Express delivery service: about $30-60 per kilogram.

Air freight: about $6 to $12 per kilogram.

Sea freight: about $50-200 per cubic meter (for bulk goods).

For more detailed information on the cost of shipping from China to the United States, please click on the link:

How long does Taobao shipping take to US

Shipping time will also be affected by many factors, including the mode of transportation, international transportation conditions, customs clearance procedures, and destination address. Generally, it takes 15-30 days for standard express delivery from Taobao to the United States, 5-10 days for express delivery services, and 30-60 days for sea transportation. But please note that this is only a rough estimate and the specific time may vary.

Express	Cost level	Timing
	(from 1-10)	(working days)
FedEX (IP)	7.5	2-3 (Good timing)
FedEx (IE)	6	4-5 (Balance on cost and time)
UPS	8	2-3 (Expensive)
DHL	5	3-5 (Timing not as good as FedEx)
SF-express	4.5	5-7 (Newbie, May delay)
China Post: Air	3.5	7-15 (Faster than surface one)
China Post: SAL	3	10-20 (Between Air and Surface)
China Post: Surface	2	40-70 (Very slow)
China Post: EMS	4	5-7 (Fast and safe)
China (ePacket/EUB)	1	7-30 (Very cheap)

Learn more: Shipping from China to USA Time

What products cannot be purchased from Taobao?

Prohibited goods
Some products cannot be shipped from Taobao to the United States due to international transportation and legal restrictions, including but not limited to:

• Flammable and explosive items: such as chemicals and gunpowder.
• Perishable items: such as fresh food.
• Controlled drugs: such as prescription drugs.
• Counterfeit goods: infringing goods.

Legal restrictions
The U.S. Customs has strict import restrictions on certain products, such as:

• Weapons and ammunition
• Wild animals and their products
• Specific cultural artworks

Comparison and Differences between Taobao and AliExpress

• Market
  Taobao: Mainly for the Chinese domestic market, but also supports international buyers.
  AliExpress: Designed for the international market, providing global delivery services.
• Product Variety
  Taobao: Richer product variety, including more small brands and individual sellers.
  AliExpress: Relatively concentrated product variety, more wholesale and bulk commodities.
• User Experience
  Taobao: More diverse interface and functions, but requires a certain level of Chinese foundation.
  AliExpress: Simple interface, multi-language support, suitable for international buyers.

Conclusion: It is completely feasible to buy goods from Taobao and ship to the United States. By choosing the right logistics service, buyers can enjoy the rich products and price advantages provided by Taobao. Understanding different shipping methods and costs can help buyers make the best choice.
At the same time, understand the embargoed goods and legal restrictions to ensure that the purchase process is smooth and error-free. For international buyers, AliExpress is also an alternative platform worth considering, and choose the most suitable shopping platform according to their own needs.