By Chen Tianwen and Geng Zhe
Chinese ceramic tableware has established itself as a major player on the international stage, backed by its competitive edge in quality, pricing, and technological innovation. When completing export declarations for ceramic tableware, enterprises should pay particular attention to the following aspects, based on key classification principles and export regulatory requirements.
Key Classification Principles for Ceramic Tableware
The classification of ceramic tableware by customs authorities is based on material composition and intended use. Consequently, it is imperative that during the declaration process, exporters first correctly identify their goods as either “pottery” or “porcelain” in compliance with the stipulations set forth below.
As stipulated in the Explanatory Notes to the Commodities and Headings of the Customs Import and Export Tariff Schedule, the term “porcelain” refers primarily to hard-paste porcelain, soft-paste porcelain, biscuit porcelain (including white porcelain), and bone china. Porcelain is characterized by a high degree of vitrification, rendering it hard and impermeable to liquids even in its unglazed state. It is typically white or may be artificially colored, exhibits translucency (except where thick), and produces a distinct, resonant ring when struck. Hard-paste porcelain is composed of kaolin (or kaolinitic clay), quartz, feldspar (or dense feldspar), or calcium carbonate. It bears a colorless transparent glaze that is fired simultaneously with the ceramic body. Soft-paste porcelain is characterized by a reduced alumina content relative to hard-paste porcelain, alongside elevated levels of silica and fluxing agents, notably feldspar. Bone china features an even lower alumina content and a body predominantly composed of calcium phosphate. It is fired at temperatures below those required for hard-paste porcelain, yielding a translucent body. The glaze is then fired separately at a still lower temperature, a practice which allows for broader underglaze decoration. Biscuit porcelain denotes unglazed porcelain. A distinctive variety within this category isParian ware (also known as Carrara porcelain), a fine‑grained, light‑yellow ceramic body distinguished by its high feldspar content.
In addition to porcelain, ceramic products also include porous ceramics, stoneware, and articles marketed as “semi-porcelain” or “imitation porcelain”. Notably, porous ceramics are distinguished from porcelain by being opaque, permeable to liquids, and susceptible to scratching by ferrous metal. Stoneware is characterized by a dense and hard body, resistance to scratching, and a vitreous (impermeable) or semi-vitreous constitution. It is typically grey or light brown in color and is usually glazed. Products marketed as “semi-porcelain” or “imitation porcelain” may be finished and glazed to approximate the appearance of porcelain. However, they lack the true translucency of porcelain while not being fully opaque like pottery. These products may exhibit slight translucency only at their thinnest areas, such as the base of a cup. They can be definitively distinguished from true porcelain by their fracture surface, which is characteristically coarse, dull, and non-vitrified. A key identifying trait is the porous body beneath the glaze, which is easily marked by a steel blade. Consequently, such “imitation porcelain” is not classified as porcelain and must be declared as pottery.
In accordance with the above provisions, ceramic tableware - including but not limited to tea or coffee sets, plates, soup bowls, salad bowls, dishes, coffee pots, teapots, sugar bowls, beer mugs, cups, sauce dishes, fruit plates, condiment bottles, salt shakers, mustard pots, egg cups, teapot stands, table mats, knife rests, spoons, and napkin rings -shall be classified under Heading 69.11 as porcelain, or under Heading 69.12 as pottery (such as stoneware, fine earthenware, or imitation porcelain). In exceptional cases, items whose ornamental value surpasses their practical utility, or which are less functional than their undecorated counterparts, shall be classified under Heading 69.13. Furthermore, antique ceramic tableware over one hundred years old falls under Heading 97.06 and may be subject to regulations on the protection of cultural heritage.
Export Regulations and Declaration Requirements for Ceramic Tableware
Ceramic tableware classified under Headings 69.11 and 69.12 is exempt from mandatory inspection and export duties in China, and qualifies for a 13 percent export tax rebate. For ceramic products, however, exporters must ensure compliance with the specific certification requirements of each destination country or region. For example, food-contact ceramics such as tableware and kitchenware destined for the U.S. market must obtain certification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This requires passing the FDA's food-grade testing to ensure the materials comply with the relevant standards.
Pursuant to the Directory of Tax-Related Declarations for Imported and Exported Goods of the People’s Republic of China, the following items are subject to accurate declaration for the export of ceramic tableware: product name; material (specify as porcelain or pottery); category (e.g., Tableware, Kitchenware); Bone China Status (state whether applicable); Brand Name (in Chinese or foreign language).
(The authors are affiliated with Shenzhen Customs)
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of China Inspection and Quarantine Times. The China Inspection and Quarantine Times version shall prevail.
