Global Sources: Considered by Alibaba its closest competitor,Global Sources created an e-exchange that linked Chinese exporters to importers abroad. In mid 2000,Global Sources had built an online marketplace of 80,000 export companies and 195,000 buyers. The company also hosted online catalogues for suppliers and major retailers such as Kmart and Federated Department Stores. With 30 years of offline publishing experience,Global Sources boasted that its exchange was one of the few showing profits, eventhough most company earnings came from its offline business.