China's customs codes, simply
Every cross-border trade flow in China carries a four-digit customs supervision code. Three come up constantly when overseas brands plan entry:
- 1210 — bonded import of cross-border e-commerce retail goods (into China).
- 9610 — cross-border e-commerce export (Chinese goods to overseas buyers).
- 0110 — general trade import/export (the classic full-shipment model).
(You will also see 1239, a related bonded-import code we cover below.)
1210 — bonded import (into China)
Goods are moved into a mainland bonded zone first, then declared and taxed per individual consumer order. Duty/VAT are deferred until a sale happens. This is the backbone of Tmall Global, JD Worldwide and Douyin cross-border stores.
- Tax paid: per order, after sale.
- Best for: cross-border retail with repeat demand.
- Entity: HK entity or import agent can be importer of record.
9610 — cross-border e-commerce export (out of China)
This is the mirror image: Chinese goods sold to overseas consumers, usually via direct mail / consolidated export declaration. If you are a foreign brand selling into China, 9610 is not your model — it is for Chinese sellers going out.
- Tax paid: at export declaration / per parcel.
- Best for: Chinese SMEs shipping abroad.
- Entity: China-based exporter.
0110 — general trade (the classic model)
Full shipment imported, duty and VAT paid up front, product registered under a local licence holder. Used for domestic Tmall/JD stores, offline retail and wholesale.
- Tax paid: up front, on the whole shipment.
- Best for: domestic-store distribution, B2B.
- Entity: WFOE or local distributor usually required.
1239 — bonded import (non-pilot)
1239 is bonded import under the non-pilot cross-border e-commerce framework. Like 1210 it defers tax until sale, but 1210 is the pilot model used in designated cross-border zones and is the more common retail route. Functionally close; 1210 is what most platforms run.
Side-by-side
| Code | Direction | Tax timing | Typical use | Local entity? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1210 | Into China | Per order, after sale | Cross-border retail stores | No (HK/agent OK) |
| 9610 | Out of China | At export / per parcel | Chinese goods abroad | Yes (CN exporter) |
| 0110 | Into China | Up front, full shipment | Domestic store / wholesale | Yes (WFOE/distributor) |
| 1239 | Into China | Per order, after sale | Bonded import (non-pilot) | No (HK/agent OK) |
Which one fits your product
- Selling to Chinese consumers from overseas → 1210. Lowest tax and entity risk; start with a bonded test.
- Domestic Tmall/JD store or wholesale → 0110. Requires a local entity and up-front tax.
- You are a Chinese seller exporting → 9610. Not relevant to importers.
- Uncertain which zone framework → 1210 vs 1239 depends on the bonded zone; we help pick.
How GOODSINFINITE handles the codes
We run 1210 bonded import as the default for overseas brands: HK entity as importer of record, bonded fulfilment in Tianjin, Shanghai, Ningbo, Guangzhou and Qingdao, per-order clearance and 1–3 day domestic delivery. When you scale into a domestic store, we transition you to 0110 general trade with the right licence holder. You never touch the codes alone.
The code is not trivia — it determines your tax timing, entity need and delivery speed. Most brands should start on 1210.
FAQ
Which code sells into China? 1210 bonded import for cross-border retail; 0110 general trade once you run a domestic store or wholesale.
Is 9610 for importers? No — 9610 is the export side (Chinese goods abroad). Importers use 1210 or 0110.
1210 or 1239? Both defer tax to sale; 1210 is the pilot retail model used in cross-border zones and is the common choice. The right one depends on the bonded zone.