1. Your category in Mainland China
2. Entry gate
China's gate is well documented and predictable once you know the sequence. The two things exporters most often get wrong are the CCC catalogue — assuming a product is exempt when it is listed — and the GACC registration of the Chinese consignee, which is a precondition of the customs declaration rather than a step within it.
| Requirement | Status | What it involves | Lead time | Cost | Last verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCC certification | Mandatory (catalogue products) | China Compulsory Certification for products in the catalogue, applied for through a Chinese agent or the importer, with type testing at a designated laboratory. Check the catalogue by HS line — exemptions are narrow. | 6–16 weeks | Pending | Pending |
| SRRC / CTA (radio and telecom) | Mandatory (radio equipment) | Radio transmission equipment needs an SRRC type approval, and network-connected telecom equipment needs a CTA network access licence. Both are separate from CCC. | 8–20 weeks | Pending | Pending |
| GACC consignee registration | Always applies | The Chinese importer (consignee) must be registered with the General Administration of Customs. Overseas manufacturers of food and some other categories must also register. The customs declaration cannot be filed without it. | 1–3 weeks | Pending | Pending |
| Tariff (MFN) | Always applies | Average applied MFN tariff around 5.4%; the rate depends on the HS line and must be confirmed line by line at HS-code level. | — | On customs value | Pending |
| Tariff (FTA / RCEP) | For partner-country origin | China applies MFN rates to goods of non-partner origin. Goods originating in an FTA partner — ASEAN, RCEP members and others — can claim a preferential rate with a valid certificate of origin. Note that China also applies anti-dumping duties to a number of lines; check yours before quoting. | 3–5 days | — | Pending |
| VAT | Always applies | 13% standard rate for goods, charged on the customs value plus duty. Recoverable as input VAT by a general VAT taxpayer; the importer must hold a valid special VAT invoice. | — | 13% | Pending |
| Labelling | Mandatory | Chinese-language label with product name, manufacturer and importer, specification, country of origin and any mandatory warnings. Electrical goods must also show the CCC mark where applicable. | 1–3 weeks | — | Pending |
Certification, tariff and clearance figures change. Every row above carries a verification date, and the current requirement is confirmed with your nominated local agent before each shipment.
3. Buyers and channel partners
Leading buyers and channel partners
Every company below is a real business in China taken from our own buyer research, and we have verified that its website is reachable. Names and business types are public; decision-makers, direct emails and phone numbers are reserved for members of the Buyer Directory.
How to use this list: do not mass-mail. Chinese procurement is fast, price-aware and reference-driven — a case study with a certification number and a Chinese-speaking contact opens more doors than a brochure. Budget for local support from day one.
4. Demand and import profile
Select your HS code and this block shows the import performance of your own category in Mainland China — not the country's macro numbers.
Import size & growth
Example: imports of this category run at a double-digit share of the market's total and are growing faster than overall imports.
Example values · to be replaced with OEC / WITS data for your HS line
Source-country mix
Example: China is the largest source, ahead of regional and EU suppliers.
Example values · to be replaced with OEC / WITS data for your HS line
Price band
Example: the mid price band is where Chinese supply competes; the low band is held by regional producers.
Example values · to be replaced with customs / trade data
What we can supply to this market
These are the lines we have found the strongest fit for Mainland China. Specifications are on the product pages; tell us your application and we will confirm the model.
5. Landed-cost calculator
A static table cannot persuade anyone. Enter your own numbers and see the landed cost. Duty rate and freight are editable so you can test scenarios.
Your shipment
Estimated landed cost
Illustrative calculation only. It excludes anti-dumping duty, excise, port storage and any category-specific surcharge. Confirm the duty rate and local charges with your forwarder before making a commitment.
6. Logistics and customs
Clearance-day figures change with congestion and policy; treat as indicative and confirm before quoting.
7. Payment, currency and tax
8. Localisation and communication
These are the details nobody tells you, and one mistake can cost you a customer.
9. Risks and timing
Frequently asked questions
How do I know whether my product needs CCC?
Check the CCC catalogue against your HS line. Exemptions exist but are narrow, and a product that is exempt from CCC may still need SRRC, CTA or another approval.
What is GACC registration?
Registration of the Chinese importer — and, for food and some other categories, the overseas manufacturer — with the General Administration of Customs. The customs declaration cannot be filed without it.
What is the import VAT rate?
13% for goods, charged on the customs value plus duty, and recoverable as input VAT by a general VAT taxpayer holding a valid special invoice.
Can I get a preferential tariff rate?
Only if the goods originate in an FTA partner country and you hold a valid certificate of origin. Goods of non-partner origin pay the MFN rate, and some lines carry anti-dumping duty.
Do labels have to be in Chinese?
Yes. The label must be in Chinese and show the manufacturer and importer, specification, origin and mandatory warnings, plus the CCC mark where applicable.
Which port should I use?
Shanghai and Ningbo-Zhoushan for the Yangtze delta, Shenzhen for the south, Qingdao and Tianjin for the north. Choose based on where the buyer's warehouse is, not on the cheapest sailing.