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How it worksHow to buy
Buyer Guide

How to buy on Silk Road Africa

Place your first B2B order in minutes. We source from verified Chinese factories and handle logistics, customs, and last-mile delivery to your door — so you only pay for what actually arrives.

Step by Step

From browsing to doorstep — six steps

You place one order with Silk Road Africa. We handle sourcing, shipping, and customs as a single party so you never coordinate multiple factories yourself.

01

Browse or search the marketplace

Find products across Home, Hotels, Consumer Electronics, Beauty, Groceries, and Baby categories. Filter by MOQ, destination country, and delivery window.

  • 12,000+ SKUs curated from verified Chinese manufacturers
  • Every listing shows a landed price for your country
  • Save items to your shortlist without an account
02

Add items to your cart or submit an RFQ

For listed SKUs, add to cart with your required quantity. For custom specs, packaging, or volumes above listing MOQ, submit a Request for Quotation.

  • Mix multiple items in a single consolidated shipment
  • Specify delivery country, incoterm, and target date
  • Receive a binding platform quote within 24 hours
03

Place your order

Submit the order from your buyer dashboard. Silk Road Africa takes ownership end-to-end — you deal with one party, not a list of factories.

  • One contract, one invoice, one point of contact
  • Supplier identities are handled by the platform
  • Order status visible in real time from your dashboard
04

Pay the way your business already pays

Funds are held in Trade Assurance escrow — released to us only after you confirm the goods arrived in the state you ordered.

  • MTN MoMo, Airtel Money, M-Pesa, Orange Money
  • USD / EUR / CNY bank transfer and SWIFT
  • LC and open-account terms for qualifying buyers
05

We source, ship, and clear customs

Our own logistics network moves your order from the factory gate to a bonded warehouse near you. Track every leg of the journey inside your dashboard.

  • Door-to-door across 27+ African countries
  • Customs documentation and duties handled for you
  • Cargo insurance included on every order
06

Receive, inspect, and confirm

Sign for the delivery, inspect the goods, and confirm in your dashboard. Only then is escrow released. Raise a dispute in one click if anything is wrong.

  • 7-day inspection window on every order
  • Mediated dispute resolution with full refund protection
  • Re-order from your history with a single click
Buyer Protection

Your money is safe until the goods are in your hands

Trade Assurance on every order

Payments are held in escrow until you confirm delivery and quality. Mediated dispute resolution within 72 hours.

No direct supplier payment

You pay Silk Road Africa, not the factory. One invoice, one party accountable for the whole order.

Platform-owned last mile

Our own drivers and bonded warehouses deliver across Africa. No third-party handoffs between port and your door.

Frequently Asked

Common buyer questions

Do I need an account to browse?

No. You can browse the full marketplace, compare products, and build a shortlist without signing up. You only need an account to place an order or submit an RFQ.

Can I talk to the supplier directly?

No — Silk Road Africa is the single party on every order. This keeps pricing consistent, protects you from supplier disputes, and makes us accountable for the whole delivery.

What currencies can I pay in?

You can pay in your local currency (KES, NGN, GHS, ZAR, RWF, UGX, TZS and more) via mobile money and bank transfer, or in USD / EUR / CNY via SWIFT.

What happens if the goods arrive damaged?

Raise a dispute from your dashboard within 7 days of delivery. Escrow stays frozen until resolution. Most disputes close within 72 hours with a full or partial refund.

What's the minimum order?

MOQ is set per listing — many products start at 10 units. Consolidate multiple SKUs into one shipment to hit MOQ thresholds without over-ordering.

How long does delivery take?

Typically 18–35 days door-to-door depending on destination country and whether the order ships by sea or air. Every quote includes a delivery window.

Ready to place your first order?

Create a buyer account in under a minute. No listing fees, no subscription — you only pay for the goods you order.