A supplier list is not a supply chain. Before money moves, you need to know that the company exists, that it makes what it sells, and that it has shipped to your market before. The checks differ slightly in mainland China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia — the logic does not.
Layer one: legal existence
Confirm the registered company name in the local language, the registration number, the registered scope of business, the paid-up capital and the legal representative. In Thailand this is the DBD registration; in Vietnam the enterprise registration certificate; in Malaysia the SSM record; in Indonesia the NIB; in Hong Kong the Companies Registry and business registration certificate; in mainland China the unified social credit code. Names on the quotation, the contract, the invoice and the bank account should all match. When they do not, ask why in writing before continuing.
Layer two: production reality
A trading company is not a problem — an undisclosed one is. Ask for the factory address, land or lease documents, a machine list with capacities, headcount by function, and photos or a live video walk of the line making your product type. Cross-check the machine list against your part: a supplier with three 80-tonne presses cannot make your 250-tonne stamping, whatever the quotation says.
Layer three: export and compliance history
Request past export declarations or bills of lading with customer names redacted, plus test reports and management-system certificates such as ISO 9001, IATF 16949, ISO 13485, BSCI or SMETA where relevant. Confirm the certificate number on the issuing body's site — the certificate PDF alone proves nothing. For US, EU, UK and Australian buyers, ask specifically whether the supplier has shipped to your market and which standard the product was tested against.
Red flags that repeatedly precede losses
- Bank account in a different country or a personal name.
- Refusal of an unannounced or third-party audit.
- Pricing 25% below every other credible quote.
- Certificates with mismatched company names or expired dates.
- No willingness to name the actual production site.
- Pressure to pay a larger deposit for a "reserved production slot".
A proportionate process
| Order value | Verification depth |
|---|---|
| Under USD 10k | Registration check, video factory walk, sample |
| USD 10k-100k | Full document set, third-party onsite audit, first-article inspection |
| Above USD 100k | Audit plus financial and capacity review, second supplier qualified in parallel |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Hong Kong company less transparent than a mainland or ASEAN one?
Hong Kong records are easy to search but say little about production, because most Hong Kong entities are trading or holding companies. Always trace through to the producing plant.
Can I rely on B2B platform verification badges?
Treat them as a starting filter only. They confirm payment for a service, not production capability or compliance history.
How much does an independent factory audit cost?
For a one-day audit in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia or Indonesia, typically USD 400-900 including report — far less than one bad container.
What if the supplier refuses to disclose the factory?
Walk away, or accept that you have no recourse on quality, origin or intellectual property.
Next step
Send us your product drawing, photo or a competitor sample with your target price and annual volume. You will get a landed-cost quotation, a written specification, lead time and an inspection plan — with the supplier already verified on the ground by our Bangkok, Hanoi or Jakarta team.
WhatsApp Business @tuskoconsulting or email contact@tuskoconsulting.com — we reply within 12 hours.