DHgate

Cross-border B2B E-commerce Marketplacedhgate.com

DHgate is a privately held Beijing-based cross-border B2B and B2C wholesale e-commerce marketplace founded in 2004, connecting over 100 million registered buyers across 225 countries with more than 1.7 million Chinese suppliers offering 30 million+ products.

Company typePrivate
Founded2004
HeadquartersBeijing, China
Headcount501–1,000
GTM typeB2B
OfferingDigital Commerce or Content

What DHgate does

DHgate is a privately held cross-border B2B and B2C wholesale e-commerce marketplace founded in 2004 and headquartered in Beijing, China. The platform connects international buyers — primarily small and medium businesses, drop shippers, and individual resellers — directly with Chinese manufacturers and suppliers, offering more than 30 million products across 26 categories including electronics, apparel, home and garden, sports, and renewable energy. As of 2026, DHgate reports over 100 million registered buyers across 225 countries and regions, supplied by a network of more than 1.7 million registered Chinese suppliers (2017 disclosure). The company monetizes through marketplace commissions on buyer-seller transactions, annual seller service and platform fees, and affiliate program revenue share, with wholesale entry pricing from US$0.1.

The underlying platform rests on a proprietary technology stack including the Digital Trade Intelligence Ecosystem (DTIS) for buyer-seller matching and transaction processing, the DHport integrated foreign trade services platform (covering finance, logistics, payment, customs, inspection, and credit insurance), a Big Data Center for global operations and supplier management, and dedicated buyer and seller mobile applications. Cross-border fulfillment is supported by partnerships with DHL, UPS, FedEx, and 30+ international logistics providers, supplemented by overseas local warehouse services. DHgate also operates buyer protection, dispute resolution, an IP Protection Portal, and content sub-brands including football.dhgate.com for World Cup 2026 fan engagement.

Go-to-market is product-led and multi-channel: the marketplace is self-serve, augmented by seasonal promotional campaigns (up to 90% off), an affiliate program with GMV-linked bonuses, social media influencer partnerships across English, Spanish, and Russian-speaking geographies, a Discord community, and seven overseas DTC operations. Strategic positioning is reinforced by endorsement from China's Ministry of Commerce as a recommended third-party e-commerce platform for foreign trade and GS1 certification as the first cross-border B2B trading platform in Asia. The company has not disclosed revenue, GMV, or funding beyond a $16 million Series 3 round in 2014.

DHgate firmographics

Firmographics

Name: DHgate
Legal name: DHgate
Website: https://dhgate.com
Company type: Private
Founded year: 2004
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 501–1,000 employees
Short description: DHgate is a privately held Beijing-based cross-border B2B and B2C wholesale e-commerce marketplace founded in 2004, connecting over 100 million registered buyers across 225 countries with more than 1.7 million Chinese suppliers offering 30 million+ products.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

DHgate industry classification

Industry

Product category: Cross-border B2B E-commerce Marketplace
NAICS: Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers (42512)
akta.pro primary industry: Cross-border B2B/Wholesale Trade Marketplaces (CRAFAJAC)
akta.pro secondary industries: International DTC & Brand.com (Global Shipping) (CRAFAJAB), International Fulfillment, Forwarding & Consolidation Services (CRAFAJAE)

Keywords

Cross-border wholesale
B2B e-commerce
China sourcing
Drop shipping
Online marketplace

Where DHgate is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Beijing
HQ country: China
HQ region: Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

DHgate business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B
Offering type: Digital Commerce or Content
Cost components: Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

Marketplace Transaction Commission: DHgate earns commissions on transactions between buyers and sellers on its B2B wholesale marketplace. Sellers pay platform fees for listing products and commissions on successful sales. The platform facilitates cross-border trade between international buyers and Chinese manufacturers.
Seller Services and Fees: Sellers pay annual fees for technical services and platform access. The platform also charges commission on export tax rebate services and provides value-added seller services.
Affiliate Program Revenue Share: DHgate operates an affiliate program where participants earn bonuses by boosting GMV, generating revenue through increased transaction volume from affiliate-driven sales.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Unit Pricing	Pay-as-you-go	Wholesale pricing from certified sellers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

DHgate product offering

Product offering

Core offering

DHgate operates a cross-border B2B e-commerce wholesale marketplace that connects international buyers with Chinese manufacturers and suppliers. The platform lists over 30 million products across 26 categories (electronics, apparel, home goods, sports equipment, etc.) at wholesale prices starting from US $0.1, with shipping to 200+ countries through partnerships with DHL, UPS, FedEx and 30+ logistics providers. It also enables drop shipping and cross-border trade for SMEs and individual buyers worldwide.

Product overview

DHgate is a cross-border B2B and B2C e-commerce wholesale marketplace founded in 2004, connecting international buyers with Chinese suppliers. The platform offers over 30 million products across 26 categories including electronics, home and toys, outdoors, renewable energy, and custom products, serving buyers in 220+ countries and regions. The core offering is the DHgate Marketplace supplemented by buyer protection services, mobile commerce capabilities, and affiliate programs. DHgate also operates a dedicated football content hub (football.dhgate.com) for World Cup coverage and maintains an IP Protection Portal for brand protection. Shipping is facilitated through partnerships with DHL, UPS, FedEx, and 30+ logistics providers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

DHgate Football Hub: Official football content channel operated by DHgate.com covering World Cup 2026, featuring team/player profiles, match schedules, host city guides, and fan gear content

Products and services

DHgate Marketplace Premier B2B cross-border e-commerce wholesale marketplace connecting international buyers with Chinese suppliers, offering over 30 million products across 26 categories including electronics, home and toys, outdoors, and renewable energy items.
DHgate Football Hub (football.dhgate.com) Dedicated football content channel and fan hub covering the 2026 World Cup, featuring team profiles, player information, match schedules, host city guides, and lifestyle content. Includes links to football merchandise on DHgate.com.
Local Warehouse Service Overseas warehouse service reducing shipping times and costs for international buyers by holding inventory closer to destination markets.

Quantifiable outcome

Serving over 100 million registered buyers across 225 countries and regions
+2 more outcomes

Companies that use DHgate

Customer profile

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

DHgate technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

DHgate partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

DHL, UPS, FedExcoreTechnology or IntegrationDHgate partners with leading international shipping couriers including DHL, UPS, and FedEx to guarantee prompt and cost-effective delivery services to buyers in 200+ countries worldwide.
30+ International Logistics ProviderscoreTechnology or IntegrationCo-operated with more than 30 logistics providers around the world, providing multiple overseas shipping lines for cross-border trade facilitation.
Global Banks and Financial InstitutionscoreTechnology or IntegrationCooperated with banks to launch Internet financial services for SMEs, supporting multiple payment channels worldwide to achieve localized real-time online acquiring.
Ministry of Commerce (China)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDHgate is one of the third-party e-commerce platforms recommended by the Ministry of Commerce for foreign trade. The E-Commerce Management and Certification Center of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has listed it as a demonstration and promotion unit.
Sellers from 34 Provinces in ChinacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDHgate's seller network includes suppliers from 190 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China, providing products for international buyers.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

DHgate competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

ECVV: International B2B marketplace connecting global buyers with Chinese manufacturers, with overlapping supplier base, commission model, and buyer protection services — a direct DHgate competitor.
Alibaba.com: Alibaba's flagship cross-border B2B wholesale marketplace, connecting global buyers to Chinese and Asian manufacturers. Most direct competitor to DHgate with overlapping supplier base, buyer segment (international SMEs), and commission-based marketplace model.
HKTDC: Hong Kong Trade Development Council's sourcing platform for cross-border wholesale buyers, with overlap in international trade fair integration and Asian supplier network.
Global Sources: Hong Kong-based B2B cross-border sourcing platform serving international wholesale buyers with verified Asian suppliers. Direct competitor in the same cross-border B2B wholesale segment.
1688.com: Alibaba's domestic Chinese wholesale platform increasingly accessed by international buyers via agent services. Direct overlap with DHgate in serving cross-border wholesale buyers seeking Chinese manufacturers at low prices.
Made-in-China: Established Chinese B2B cross-border wholesale marketplace competing directly with DHgate for international SME buyers, offering similar category breadth and supplier verification services.

Emerging players

Faire: B2B wholesale marketplace connecting independent retailers with brands, primarily in Western markets. Different vertical focus (retail inventory) but shares the online B2B wholesale marketplace business model.
Temu: Pinduoduo's cross-border platform leveraging Chinese manufacturer supply for ultra-low-cost direct-to-consumer shipping. Operates in adjacent space and could disintermediate DHgate's drop-shipper and B2B buyer base over time.

Broad incumbents

eBay Business Supply: eBay's broader marketplace has historically supported B2B and bulk-purchase flows. While not focused purely on Chinese cross-border wholesale, eBay competes for international drop-shippers and SMB buyers.
Amazon Business: Amazon's B2B procurement platform offering broad product range to business buyers globally. Competes with DHgate for SME procurement dollars, but lacks DHgate's China manufacturer-discovery positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

DHgate financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

DHgate leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

DHgate subsidiaries and ownership

Company hierarchy

Subsidiaries1 record

DHgate funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

DHgate M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DHgate

What does DHgate do?

Is DHgate a public or private company?

DHgate is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.

When was DHgate founded?

DHgate was founded in 2004. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.

Where is DHgate based?

DHgate is headquartered in Beijing, China, in the Asia region.

How does DHgate make money?

Three revenue lines are on record. Marketplace Transaction Commission is the primary driver. The others are seller Services and Fees and affiliate Program Revenue Share.

Who are DHgate's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are ECVV, Alibaba.com, HKTDC, Global Sources, 1688.com and Made-in-China. Emerging players are Faire and Temu. Broad incumbents are eBay Business Supply and Amazon Business.

Does DHgate have an API?

No public API is recorded for DHgate.

What industry is DHgate in?

DHgate's product category is Cross-border B2B E-commerce Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAFAJAC, Cross-border B2B/Wholesale Trade Marketplaces, with a secondary code of CRAFAJAB, International DTC & Brand.com (Global Shipping). Its NAICS code is 42512.