One-Stop Guide to China’s Customs Supervision Codes in Global Trade

If your brand or platform is planning to enter the China market—or ship from China to the world—you’ve probably wondered what those four digits in the ‘Supervision Mode’ field on the customs declaration form actually mean.

If your brand or platform is planning to enter the China market—or ship from China to the world—you’ve probably wondered what those four digits in the ‘Supervision Mode’ field on the customs declaration form actually mean.

Those four digits are China customs supervision codes (also called customs declaration supervision/trade mode codes). Think of them as a shipment’s ID card: they decide how your goods are declared, released, and taxed. Below, Hongda maps the most commonly used codes onto one simple “roadmap” so you can align your operating model with the right compliance pathway.

Section 1: Common Customs Supervision Codes

1. Code 0110 — General Trade

0110 is China’s most common B2B import/export pathway. Companies declare to customs with a full set of documents (contract, commercial invoice, packing list, etc.) and proceed with inspection, release, foreign-exchange settlement, and—on the export side—VAT refund where applicable. For most traditional imports into China and exports out of China, 0110 is the default supervision mode.

If your company settles foreign exchange for the goods and holds valid VAT input invoices in line with policy, you may be eligible to apply for an export VAT refund.

Example: A Shenzhen factory exports a batch of coffee machines to a German distributor under a signed contract. The factory files an 0110 export declaration with the contract, invoice, and packing list. Once the shipment arrives in Germany, the local importer clears customs and pays taxes per EU rules.

2. Code 1039 — Market Procurement Trade

1039 fits scenarios with many product types but small quantities per item. Foreign buyers purchase inside a government-designated market cluster, and a registered market operator files one consolidated export declaration at the place of purchase. The value per customs declaration is capped at USD 150,000. This mode offers simplified declaration and faster clearance. For taxation, it implements VAT exemption without export VAT refund (no separate export VAT invoice or refund process).

Today, there are 39 approved market-procurement pilot markets across China, covering major wholesale hubs in textiles, leather, apparel, bags, and other light industries.

Example: An investor from Kenya wants to open a hardware variety store and buys from the Yiwu market (one of the first 1039 pilots). He selects goods from 20 shops (100+ SKUs) totalling USD 80,000. A registered market operator files one 1039 export at Yiwu and ships to Kenya.

3. Code 1210 — Cross-Border E-Commerce Bonded Import (Bonded Stocking)

1210 is a core cross-border e-commerce retail import model: the seller pre-positions inventory in a bonded warehouse inside China (with an electronic ledger). When a domestic consumer places an order, the warehouse releases the item out of the bonded zone for last-mile delivery. Because stock is already in China, fulfilment is typically faster and less affected by cross-border transit than direct mail, making it ideal for promotions and scalable operations. It does, however, require tighter controls on stock planning, bonded ledgers, and ‘positive list’ compliance.

Example: Ahead of the ‘Double 11’ shopping festival, a French cosmetics brand moves 10,000 lipsticks into a Ningbo bonded warehouse under 1210. When the campaign starts, consumer orders are released from the bonded warehouse and delivered—often next-day or two-day.

4. Code 9610 — Cross-Border E-Commerce Retail (Direct Mail + Consolidated Filing)

9610 is the dedicated supervision mode for cross-border e-commerce retail import & export. Its hallmarks are “list-based release, periodic consolidated declaration” and the “three-document match”—the order, payment, and logistics/waybill data must align via the China International Trade Single Window. This allows small parcels to clear quickly while enabling consolidated declarations later for statistics or tax purposes. 9610 applies to both export and import:

• 9610 (Export): After a foreign consumer places an order, the seller in China ships a small parcel directly overseas. The platform, payment provider, and logistics company push data through the Single Window. Once the three-document match passes, the customs releases the item by list, and the seller later consolidates multiple lists into a customs declaration.
• 9610 (Import): A consumer in China orders on a cross-border platform and the item is mailed directly from overseas (including shipments from overseas warehouses). The shipment is processed under 9610 retail import with the same three-document match and list-based release. Benefits include light inventory and wide SKU coverage, though lead time depends more on cross-border transit and port processing.

Examples:

• 9610 Export: A U.S. shopper buys a phone case. A Hangzhou seller ships the same day. The platform and logistics provider upload order/payment/waybill; after a successful match, the parcel is released under 9610 and flies on a cross-border line to Los Angeles.
• 9610 Import: A Shanghai shopper orders a Japanese skincare set. The overseas seller ships and uploads the tracking number; the platform sends order and payment data to customs. After the match, the parcel is released under 9610 retail import.

5. Code 9710 — B2B Direct Export via Cross-Border E-Commerce

9710 serves B2B e-commerce where a China-based seller transacts online with an overseas enterprise and the goods are exported directly to that enterprise (no overseas warehouse pre-stocking). Data messages are standardized and transmitted via the Single Window/Internet+ Customs, enabling paperless processing and simplified elements. If your customer is a business rather than a consumer, 9710 is a compliant and efficient path.

Example: On Alibaba.com, a Mexican supermarket chain orders 2,000 cookware sets from a Foshan factory. The seller declares under 9710 and ships directly to the chain’s central warehouse in Monterrey—no overseas warehouse involved.

6. Code 9810 — Export to Overseas Warehouse via Cross-Border E-Commerce

9810 applies when goods are shipped to and stored in an overseas warehouse before local fulfilment. It underpins a ‘ship first, distribute later’ strategy: by pre-positioning inventory abroad, brands can improve delivery speed, local customer experience, and handle returns/exchanges more easily—while taking on overseas warehouse compliance and inventory-turn responsibilities.

Example: A Shenzhen electronics accessories brand sends 20 pallets of top-selling headphones to a U.S. overseas warehouse under 9810. U.S. customers ordering on Amazon receive two-day local delivery, returns are processed in-warehouse, and the brand periodically replenishes stock.

Section 2: How to Choose the Right Supervision Code

When selecting the correct supervision mode, answer three questions first:

• Q1: Is your product import or export?
• Q2: Are you selling to a B2C consumer or a B2B enterprise?
• Q3: Will you fulfil via direct shipping from overseas, a bonded warehouse in China, or an overseas warehouse?

Once you have those answers, you can quickly pinpoint the right code.

Turn Compliance into Your Competitive Edge

Cross-border trade isn’t a guessing game. Nail the three-step choice—Import vs. Export → B2B vs. B2C → Direct Shipping / Bonded / Overseas Warehouse—and supervision codes stop being constraints and become lane markers that help you move faster and steadier.

If you want to engage into international trade business in China, you can start your operation by simply following the steps: (1) register a WFOE, (2) apply for import/export license, (3) open bank account, (4) ready to operate! You can also contact Hongda for a free meeting or leave a message to us to discuss your plans and needs!

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