How to pay Chinese suppliers from West Africa
The legal, documented way to settle supplier invoices in China from Nigeria and the wider region, which methods factories accept, and how to avoid losing money to fraud.
To pay a Chinese supplier from West Africa, use a legal channel to send a bank transfer to the supplier’s verified company account, backed by a signed proforma invoice and your country’s import paperwork. The supplier is paid in RMB. Never pay a personal account, and never try to work around your central bank’s rules.
Key takeaways
- Pay only the supplier’s registered company account, matching your proforma invoice and contract.
- Factories usually accept bank wires; Alibaba Trade Assurance adds protection for orders placed on Alibaba.
- Suppliers are paid in RMB; your local currency is converted through the channel you use.
- Keep documents clean: a payment with no matching invoice or contract is a payment at risk.
- Use only legal channels. Do not try to bypass central bank or foreign-exchange rules.
Rayex Trade Desk
Rayex Global Enterprise, Guangzhou and Lagos
What payment methods do Chinese suppliers accept?
Most factories accept a bank wire to their company account, and many accept Alibaba Trade Assurance for orders placed on Alibaba. Larger orders sometimes use a letter of credit. Chinese suppliers generally prefer to be paid in RMB into their onshore company account, which keeps their own tax and export paperwork clean.
| Method | Best for | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Bank wire (T/T) | Most orders, direct to factory | Verify the company account; no platform dispute cover |
| Alibaba Trade Assurance | Orders placed on Alibaba | Only covers orders paid through the platform |
| Letter of credit | Large, established orders | Slower and more paperwork; bank fees apply |
What documents keep a payment compliant?
A compliant payment is one you can explain on paper. Keep a signed and stamped proforma invoice or purchase contract that states the price, quantity and the supplier's company bank details, and tie the payment to your country's import declaration. In Nigeria that means your Form M, processed through your bank.
Good documentation does two jobs: it satisfies your bank and customs, and it gives you something to stand on if the supplier under-delivers. Payments with no matching paperwork are the ones that go wrong.
A compliant payment, step by step
- 1Agree the order in writing: a signed proforma invoice or contract with price, quantity, bank details and terms.
- 2Verify the supplier’s company bank account against the company name on the invoice.
- 3Open your import paperwork (in Nigeria, your Form M) through your bank before shipment.
- 4Pay the agreed deposit to the verified company account to start production.
- 5Inspect the goods, or have them inspected, before releasing the balance.
- 6Release the balance and keep every record for your bank and customs file.
How do I avoid supplier payment scams?
Most supplier fraud comes down to paying the wrong account. Pay only the registered company account that matches your contract. Treat a request to switch to a personal account, a third-party account, or a brand-new account at the last minute as a red flag and confirm it on a channel you trust before sending anything.
The other common loss is paying in full before you have any proof of quality. Hold part of the payment until the goods are made and checked. A coordinator on the ground in China can verify the supplier and the goods before your balance is released.
Frequently asked questions
How do I pay a Chinese supplier from Nigeria?+
You pay through a legal, documented channel into the supplier’s verified company bank account, backed by a signed proforma invoice and your country’s import paperwork. In Nigeria this ties to your Form M. Many importers use a trade coordinator to handle the RMB payment to China on their behalf.
What payment methods do Chinese suppliers accept?+
Most factories accept a bank wire (telegraphic transfer) to their company account, and many accept Alibaba Trade Assurance for orders placed on Alibaba. Letters of credit are used for larger orders. Chinese suppliers generally prefer payment in RMB to their onshore company account.
Is Alibaba Trade Assurance safer than a bank transfer?+
Trade Assurance adds a layer of protection for orders placed and paid through Alibaba, because the order terms are recorded and disputes can be raised on the platform. A direct bank transfer has no such platform protection, so it relies entirely on your own supplier checks and contract.
Should I ever pay into a supplier’s personal account?+
No. Pay only into the supplier’s registered company account, matching the name on your proforma invoice and contract. Requests to pay a personal account, a third-party account or a sudden new account are common signs of fraud or an account takeover.
Can I pay my Chinese supplier in naira or CFA francs?+
You pay in your local currency on your side, but the supplier is paid in RMB (or sometimes US dollars) on their side. The conversion happens through the banking or trade channel you use. Your local central bank and foreign-exchange rules govern how that transfer is done.
What is a typical deposit and balance arrangement?+
A common commercial arrangement is a deposit to start production and the balance before shipment, often after a quality inspection. The exact split is negotiated between you and the supplier; it is a business term, not a legal requirement, so agree it in writing.
Sources
Official sources, last checked October 8, 2026. Rules, rates and timelines change, so confirm against the source before you act.
Want supplier payments handled for you?
Rayex coordinates compliant supplier payments and verifies factories and goods in China before your balance is released, so your supply chain keeps moving.