Chapter 69 covers ceramic products, including ceramic articles of various materials, such as porcelain, pottery, stoneware, etc. This chapter is divided into two subchapters: Subchapter I (6901-6914) covers ceramic articles of siliceous fossil meals or similar siliceous earths and refractory ceramic products; Subchapter II (6915-6914) covers other ceramic articles. Ceramic articles of this chapter must be fired at high temperature and have characteristics such as hardness and brittleness. This chapter does not include glassware (Chapter 70), cermets (8113), or ceramic machine parts (Chapter 84), etc. Heading 6912 covers ceramic tableware, kitchenware, other household or toilet articles of ceramic, but excludes porcelain tableware (6911) and ceramic sanitary ware (6910). This heading mainly includes non-porcelain tableware and kitchenware such as pottery and stoneware, e.g., ceramic bowls, ceramic plates, casseroles, ceramic cups, etc., as well as household or toilet articles of ceramic, such as soap dishes, toothbrush holders, etc. Note that this heading does not include ceramic decorative articles (6913) or ceramic building materials (6907-6908). The first 2 digits 69 represent Chapter 69 ceramic products; digits 3-4, 12, represent heading 6912, i.e., ceramic tableware, kitchenware, other household or toilet articles of ceramic (other than porcelain); digits 5-6, 00, indicate that there is no further subdivision under this heading, and all goods meeting the heading description are classified under this code. Therefore, 691200 is a complete 6-digit subheading code applicable to non-porcelain ceramic tableware, kitchenware, and household toilet articles. The goods are ceramic tableware, but the material is not porcelain (such as pottery or stoneware), so they are classified under 6912 rather than 6911 (porcelain tableware). At the same time, their use is tableware rather than sanitary ware (6910) or decorative articles (6913), so they are classified under 6912. If they were porcelain tableware, they should be classified under 6911; if they were ceramic sanitary ware, they should be classified under 6910.
Chapter
Chapter 69 covers ceramic products, including ceramic articles of various materials, such as porcelain, pottery, stoneware, etc. This chapter is divided into two subchapters: Subchapter I (6901-6914) covers ceramic articles of siliceous fossil meals or similar siliceous earths and refractory ceramic products; Subchapter II (6915-6914) covers other ceramic articles. Ceramic articles of this chapter must be fired at high temperature and have characteristics such as hardness and brittleness. This chapter does not include glassware (Chapter 70), cermets (8113), or ceramic machine parts (Chapter 84), etc.
Heading
Heading 6912 covers ceramic tableware, kitchenware, other household or toilet articles of ceramic, but excludes porcelain tableware (6911) and ceramic sanitary ware (6910). This heading mainly includes non-porcelain tableware and kitchenware such as pottery and stoneware, e.g., ceramic bowls, ceramic plates, casseroles, ceramic cups, etc., as well as household or toilet articles of ceramic, such as soap dishes, toothbrush holders, etc. Note that this heading does not include ceramic decorative articles (6913) or ceramic building materials (6907-6908).
Digit Breakdown
The first 2 digits 69 represent Chapter 69 ceramic products; digits 3-4, 12, represent heading 6912, i.e., ceramic tableware, kitchenware, other household or toilet articles of ceramic (other than porcelain); digits 5-6, 00, indicate that there is no further subdivision under this heading, and all goods meeting the heading description are classified under this code. Therefore, 691200 is a complete 6-digit subheading code applicable to non-porcelain ceramic tableware, kitchenware, and household toilet articles.
Classification Basis
The goods are ceramic tableware, but the material is not porcelain (such as pottery or stoneware), so they are classified under 6912 rather than 6911 (porcelain tableware). At the same time, their use is tableware rather than sanitary ware (6910) or decorative articles (6913), so they are classified under 6912. If they were porcelain tableware, they should be classified under 6911; if they were ceramic sanitary ware, they should be classified under 6910.
📝 Declaration Elements
Product name: The specific name of the declared goods, such as ceramic bowl, ceramic plate, etc. The goods should be accurately described, and vague descriptions such as 'ceramic articles' should be avoided. Material: Specify the specific type of ceramic, such as pottery, stoneware, porcelain, etc. It is necessary to indicate whether it is glazed, whether it is bone china, etc. Use: Clarify the use of the goods, such as for dining table, kitchen, toilet, etc. Brand: If there is a brand, declare the brand name; if there is no brand, declare as 'unbranded'. Model: Declare the model or item number of the goods for easy identification. Packaging specifications: Declare the packaging method of the goods, such as number of pieces per set, quantity per carton, etc. Whether in sets: Indicate whether the goods are in sets; for example, tableware in sets must be declared as a set. Customs declaration example:
Product name: Ceramic bowl
Material: Stoneware (non-porcelain)
Use: For dining table
Brand: Unbranded
Model: CW-001
Packaging specifications: 24 pieces per carton
Whether in sets: Not in sets
HS code: 69120000
Declaration elements: 1. Product name: Ceramic bowl; 2. Material: Stoneware; 3. Use: For dining table; 4. Brand: Unbranded; 5. Model: CW-001; 6. Packaging specifications: 24 pieces per carton; 7. Whether in sets: Not in sets. Misclassifying porcelain tableware under 6912, when it should actually be classified under 6911. Misclassifying ceramic sanitary ware under 6912, when it should actually be classified under 6910. Failure to distinguish ceramic decorative articles from tableware; decorative articles should be classified under 6913.
Product name
The specific name of the declared goods, such as ceramic bowl, ceramic plate, etc. The goods should be accurately described, and vague descriptions such as 'ceramic articles' should be avoided.
⚠️ Declaring only as 'ceramic articles' without specifying the type of tableware.
Material
Specify the specific type of ceramic, such as pottery, stoneware, porcelain, etc. It is necessary to indicate whether it is glazed, whether it is bone china, etc.
⚠️ Misreporting stoneware as porcelain, resulting in incorrect classification.
Use
Clarify the use of the goods, such as for dining table, kitchen, toilet, etc.
⚠️ Misreporting decorative ceramics as tableware.
Brand
If there is a brand, declare the brand name; if there is no brand, declare as 'unbranded'.
⚠️ Omitting the brand or incorrectly declaring as 'other'.
Model
Declare the model or item number of the goods for easy identification.
⚠️ Incomplete model declaration or inconsistency with the actual goods.
Packaging specifications
Declare the packaging method of the goods, such as number of pieces per set, quantity per carton, etc.
⚠️ Incorrect declaration of packaging specifications, affecting quantity statistics.
Whether in sets
Indicate whether the goods are in sets; for example, tableware in sets must be declared as a set.
⚠️ Failure to declare set goods as sets, leading to classification or valuation issues.
Example： Customs declaration example:
Product name: Ceramic bowl
Material: Stoneware (non-porcelain)
Use: For dining table
Brand: Unbranded
Model: CW-001
Packaging specifications: 24 pieces per carton
Whether in sets: Not in sets
HS code: 69120000
Declaration elements: 1. Product name: Ceramic bowl; 2. Material: Stoneware; 3. Use: For dining table; 4. Brand: Unbranded; 5. Model: CW-001; 6. Packaging specifications: 24 pieces per carton; 7. Whether in sets: Not in sets.
Common Mistakes：
Misclassifying porcelain tableware under 6912, when it should actually be classified under 6911.
Misclassifying ceramic sanitary ware under 6912, when it should actually be classified under 6910.
Failure to distinguish ceramic decorative articles from tableware; decorative articles should be classified under 6913.
🎯 Classification Logic
The core criteria for classification are: 1. Whether the material is porcelain; porcelain tableware is classified under 6911, and non-porcelain under 6912; 2. Whether the use is tableware, kitchenware, or household toilet articles; sanitary ware is classified under 6910, and decorative articles under 6913; 3. Whether it has been fired at high temperature and meets the definition of ceramic. It is necessary to refer to the Import and Export Tariff and its notes to ensure accurate classification. 6911 Porcelain tableware: 6911 covers porcelain tableware and kitchenware, while 6912 covers non-porcelain ceramic tableware. The core difference is whether the material is porcelain. 6910 Ceramic sanitary ware: 6910 covers ceramic sanitary ware, such as toilets, washbasins, etc., while 6912 covers tableware and household toilet articles, with different uses. 6913 Ceramic decorative articles: 6913 covers ceramic decorative articles, such as vases, ornaments, etc., while 6912 covers practical tableware and kitchenware. 6914 Other ceramic articles: 6914 covers other ceramic articles not elsewhere specified, while 6912 already explicitly covers tableware and kitchenware, so they are not classified under 6914. Is the material non-porcelain ceramic? Is the use tableware or kitchenware? Does it not belong to sanitary ware or decorative articles? Has it been fired at high temperature? Is it consistent with the declaration elements?
Basis
The core criteria for classification are: 1. Whether the material is porcelain; porcelain tableware is classified under 6911, and non-porcelain under 6912; 2. Whether the use is tableware, kitchenware, or household toilet articles; sanitary ware is classified under 6910, and decorative articles under 6913; 3. Whether it has been fired at high temperature and meets the definition of ceramic. It is necessary to refer to the Import and Export Tariff and its notes to ensure accurate classification.
Confused Codes：
6911 - Porcelain tableware
6911 covers porcelain tableware and kitchenware, while 6912 covers non-porcelain ceramic tableware. The core difference is whether the material is porcelain.
6910 - Ceramic sanitary ware
6910 covers ceramic sanitary ware, such as toilets, washbasins, etc., while 6912 covers tableware and household toilet articles, with different uses.
6913 - Ceramic decorative articles
6913 covers ceramic decorative articles, such as vases, ornaments, etc., while 6912 covers practical tableware and kitchenware.
6914 - Other ceramic articles
6914 covers other ceramic articles not elsewhere specified, while 6912 already explicitly covers tableware and kitchenware, so they are not classified under 6914.
Self-Check：
✓ Is the material non-porcelain ceramic?
✓ Is the use tableware or kitchenware?
✓ Does it not belong to sanitary ware or decorative articles?
✓ Has it been fired at high temperature?
✓ Is it consistent with the declaration elements?
❓ FAQ
How to distinguish porcelain tableware from non-porcelain tableware? Porcelain tableware is usually fine-textured, translucent, with low water absorption, and a clear ringing sound when struck; non-porcelain such as pottery and stoneware is coarser, opaque, and has higher water absorption. Based on the material, it can be determined whether to classify under 6911 or 6912. Is the HS code for ceramic tableware always 691200? Not necessarily. Only non-porcelain ceramic tableware is classified under 691200. Porcelain tableware should be classified under 6911, ceramic sanitary ware under 6910, and decorative articles under 6913. How to fill in the material when declaring? The specific type of ceramic should be filled in, such as pottery, stoneware, porcelain, etc., and indicate whether it is glazed, whether it is bone china, etc. Avoid filling in 'ceramic' vaguely. How to classify ceramic tableware in sets? If ceramic tableware in sets is made of non-porcelain material, it is still classified under 691200. However, it must be declared as a set at the time of declaration and may involve valuation. What are included in ceramic kitchenware? Includes ceramic pots, bowls, plates, dishes, cups, kettles, and other utensils used in the kitchen, but they must be non-porcelain. Porcelain kitchenware is classified under 6911. Where are ceramic toilet articles classified? Ceramic toilet articles such as soap dishes, toothbrush holders, etc., if non-porcelain, are classified under 6912; if porcelain, under 6911. However, sanitary ware such as toilets is classified under 6910. How to check the tax rate for this code? The latest tax rate can be checked through the official website of the General Administration of Customs, China International Trade Single Window, or the Import and Export Tariff. Tax rates may change, and it is recommended to rely on the latest official publication. What are the consequences of false declaration? False declaration may lead to supplementary taxes, fines, downgrading, and other penalties, and may even affect corporate credit. It is recommended to declare truthfully and consult a professional customs broker if necessary.
Q: How to distinguish porcelain tableware from non-porcelain tableware?
A: Porcelain tableware is usually fine-textured, translucent, with low water absorption, and a clear ringing sound when struck; non-porcelain such as pottery and stoneware is coarser, opaque, and has higher water absorption. Based on the material, it can be determined whether to classify under 6911 or 6912.
Q: Is the HS code for ceramic tableware always 691200?
A: Not necessarily. Only non-porcelain ceramic tableware is classified under 691200. Porcelain tableware should be classified under 6911, ceramic sanitary ware under 6910, and decorative articles under 6913.
Q: How to fill in the material when declaring?
A: The specific type of ceramic should be filled in, such as pottery, stoneware, porcelain, etc., and indicate whether it is glazed, whether it is bone china, etc. Avoid filling in 'ceramic' vaguely.
Q: How to classify ceramic tableware in sets?
A: If ceramic tableware in sets is made of non-porcelain material, it is still classified under 691200. However, it must be declared as a set at the time of declaration and may involve valuation.
Q: What are included in ceramic kitchenware?
A: Includes ceramic pots, bowls, plates, dishes, cups, kettles, and other utensils used in the kitchen, but they must be non-porcelain. Porcelain kitchenware is classified under 6911.
Q: Where are ceramic toilet articles classified?
A: Ceramic toilet articles such as soap dishes, toothbrush holders, etc., if non-porcelain, are classified under 6912; if porcelain, under 6911. However, sanitary ware such as toilets is classified under 6910.
Q: How to check the tax rate for this code?
A: The latest tax rate can be checked through the official website of the General Administration of Customs, China International Trade Single Window, or the Import and Export Tariff. Tax rates may change, and it is recommended to rely on the latest official publication.
Q: What are the consequences of false declaration?
A: False declaration may lead to supplementary taxes, fines, downgrading, and other penalties, and may even affect corporate credit. It is recommended to declare truthfully and consult a professional customs broker if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: HS code classification, declaration elements, tariff rates and regulatory conditions on this page are for reference only and do not constitute legal advice on customs classification. Tariff rates and regulations are subject to change; the latest announcements from the General Administration of Customs and on-site determinations shall prevail. Please consult professional customs brokers or customs authorities before import/export.