Incoterms are standardized three-letter shipping terms that define who is responsible for costs, risk, and logistics at each stage of an international shipment. Published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the current Incoterms 2020 include 11 terms ranging from EXW (seller does the bare minimum) to DDP (seller handles everything). EXW and FOB are by far the most common terms you will encounter when sourcing products from Asia.

If you have ever received a supplier quote ending in three mysterious letters, this guide breaks down exactly what each term means, who pays for what, and which terms actually matter when you are sourcing products overseas.

Don’t know what to ask suppliers? What should you know from suppliers before you buy from them? If you’re reading this, we assume you have found suppliers on Alibaba or another website like Global Sources and are now ready to reach out to them. By this point, you should have an extensive list of suppliers. Once you have the suppliers, Now comes the hard part-- talking to them. You must be polite, professional, thorough, and assertive when asking suppliers questions.

Are you looking to source products from Vietnam? Not sure who you can trust? Need a Vietnam Sourcing Company to help you out? Please read our guide to learn how!
Vietnam Manufacturing is booming, and finding the right supplier is getting more accessible, but it's not as easy as in China, and there are still several challenges.

Vietnam manufactures clothing, footwear, furniture, electronics, plastics, steel, bamboo products, coffee, packaging, and dozens of other product categories. The country is the world's third-largest garment exporter, second-largest footwear exporter, and second-largest furniture exporter. If your product can be made in Vietnam, it will likely be cheaper or of higher quality than the identical product from China. Often both.

I've been sourcing products from Vietnam since 2014. Over that time, I've visited hundreds of factories, worked with over 4,000 clients, and helped source more than 10,000 products. This guide covers every major product category manufactured in Vietnam based on what I've seen on the ground.

Are you tired of Sourcing from Alibaba for your FBA Business? If you're sourcing products for Amazon, use this guide to find alternatives to Alibaba for FBA product Sourcing.
Sourcing Alibaba has long been the standard for finding suppliers in China, but that doesn't mean it's the only resource for sourcing products for FBA. When sourcing products, dozens of other websites provide a searchable database of manufacturers and suppliers worldwide.

Vietnam is one of the best countries in the world to source manufactured products outside of China. It exported over $405 billion in goods in 2024, has 15+ active free trade agreements, and is home to production for brands like Nike, Samsung, IKEA, and Patagonia. If you are looking for a reliable, cost-competitive manufacturing base, Vietnam should be near the top of your list.

I have been sourcing products from Vietnam since 2014, when we opened Cosmo Sourcing's first office in Ho Chi Minh City. Since then, we have helped thousands of clients source products across dozens of categories. This guide covers what I have learned about what works, what does not, and how to get started.

If you've been looking at starting an FBA business, you almost certainly have come across Alibaba. Alibaba is a massive Chinese marketplace with millions of sellers and millions of products for sale in any quantity. Sourcing a product on Alibaba and selling it on Amazon is one of the most popular methods to do FBA, and it's a great place to start as a beginner. Check out our low-risk, step-by-step guide to help you get started and save time and money.

So you’ve found a supplier–now how will you pay them?
Sending thousands of dollars overseas to someone you’ve probably never met can be a scary, if not downright, sketchy step. Though most suppliers in China prefer direct transfers, this is not the safest way. Not to mention, even if you have a trustworthy supplier, you’re likely to drown in fees. Lucky for you, we’ve made hundreds of transactions and tested a dozen different services to determine the best way to save you thousands of dollars on your next purchase.

A Sourcing Company or a sourcing agent helps a company find sources for products and supplies at a low cost and of a certain quality or attributes. Some may represent a few select factories or serve multiple companies. For example, at Cosmo, we have no exclusive contracts and search for the best factories for a company.