How to export seating from the UK to China

Start with the seat's function and materials

For seating and upholstered chairs, distinguish complete seats from parts, identify frame materials and check whether the product is a vehicle child restraint. Confirm any applicable CCC certification requirements and their timing with the Chinese authority or the importer's customs broker. The UK export totals below are under HS 9401-9401 (14 subheadings); they cover these headings together, rather than upholstered chairs alone.

HMRC recorded £22.5m of UK goods exports to mainland China under 14 HS6 subheadings in 2025 (2024: £9.9m, +127%). Exports to Hong Kong under the same codes were £8.5m. January to July 2026: £5.7m against £13.5m in the same months of 2025 (-57.8%). These are UK exports under HS 9401-9401 (14 subheadings).

The largest UK export line was 94019910, parts of seats used for aircraft, n.e.s., at £18.4m. That concentration matters when assessing the market: the combined total is not a measure of Chinese demand for your finished chairs.

Price against the Chinese tariff line

The verified Chinese tariff lines have the MFN rates below. Distinguish China's 94019910 from 94019990 before costing parts. Import VAT normally applies at 13%, calculated on customs value plus customs duty plus consumption tax. The importer's customs adviser confirms whether consumption tax applies to your product. Border taxes add to landed cost and shape the price an importer can offer.

Resolve child-restraint certification and furniture standards

The CCC reference table matches motor-vehicle child restraint systems to 9401809091 and 9401809099 and specifies third-party certification. Have the product's scope resolved before committing stock; a commodity-code match alone should not be your certification decision. For required approval, plan in months, not weeks; the Chinese authority decides.

GB 28007-2024 is the mandatory safety technical specification for infant and children's furniture, effective from 2026-01-01. If you make children's seating, establish its applicability and prepare the product evidence with your Chinese compliance partner before agreeing the order.

Prepare the UK export declaration

For exports from England, Scotland or Wales, classify the seats or parts and arrange a GB EORI. The online export declaration needs the commodity code, value, weight, packaging, destination, transport and invoice and packing-list references. Give the carrier the invoice and any required export licences or certificates. Keep model descriptions and materials consistent with the classification agreed for the Chinese shipment.

Use retail e-commerce only for eligible lines

The retail import list partly covers seating: 94016190, 94016900, 94017190, 94017900, 94018090 and 94019990. For 94016190, 94016900 and 94018090, goods listed in the import/export wild fauna and flora catalogue are excluded unless the specified certificate confirming species outside that catalogue can be supplied. Check the materials and exact line before offering a chair through this route.

Listed goods through bonded 1210 or direct 9610 channels receive personal-use supervision, with the stated first-import licence, registration and filing exemptions subject to epidemic and emergency-risk exceptions. The overseas seller must appoint a mainland-registered company for customs registration, truthful declarations and shared civil liability. Consumers must accept the risk notice and cannot resell the goods. Limits are RMB 5,000 per transaction and RMB 26,000 annually per person.

Find and check a Chinese importer

Choose a buyer whose proposed channel fits the seat: wholesale distribution and personal-use retail imports need different planning. Our own staff in China find and check Chinese importers and distributors for UK brands. If an importer has already approached you, our staff in China check that company before stock is sent or anything is signed.

Through our export-to-China service, we prepare registration and label work with licensed partners in China. The importer of record and any required cross-border e-commerce agent remain with licensed partners in China; the brand's own filings remain the brand's. We check with licensed partners.