If your supplier or freight forwarder mentions shipping your goods under “9610” or “9710”, they are talking about which China customs declaration mode your export uses. The mode decides how the goods are declared, what paperwork is needed, how duties are handled at destination, and even which sellers are allowed to use it. Getting it wrong means delays, extra costs, or a shipment that cannot clear.
This guide decodes the two main cross-border e-commerce modes and compares them with ordinary general trade, so you can tell your forwarder exactly what you want.
9610: cross-border e-commerce retail export
Customs code 9610 is the mode for B2C retail export — individual parcels sent directly to overseas consumers, such as orders placed on a cross-border platform. It is the “small parcel, many orders” lane.
- Goods are declared consolidated and in batches, which is faster than item-by-item formal entry.
- It suits direct-to-consumer sellers, dropshippers and small parcels going out via dedicated cross-border logistics channels.
- The buyer at the other end is an individual consumer, and the goods usually enter under the destination country’s small-parcel / low-value threshold.
9610 is not for bulk containers destined for a warehouse — that is a different lane.
9710: cross-border e-commerce B2B direct export
9710 is the mode for B2B export of goods sold through cross-border e-commerce channels — bulk shipments sent by a Chinese seller to an overseas business buyer (like you), ordered online but shipped in commercial quantities.
- It bridges the old gap between “retail parcel” and “formal general trade”, letting B2B e-commerce orders use the streamlined cross-border declaration process.
- A related code, 9810, covers goods shipped to overseas warehouses for later fulfillment (the overseas-warehouse export mode).
For an overseas business buyer importing pallets or containers, 9710 (or 9810 if using an overseas warehouse) is the relevant e-commerce mode — not 9610.
How they compare with general trade and 1039
- General trade (0110) — the traditional, fully formal export declaration. Full commercial invoice, packing list, customs declaration, and usually the full VAT rebate process. Best for high-value, repeat B2B shipments where you want clean import documentation.
- Market procurement trade (1039) — a simplified mode for small, mixed lots bought through designated market clusters (like Yiwu), designed for small-vendor goods. It uses a consolidated declaration and simplified tax treatment.
- 9610 / 9710 / 9810 — the e-commerce-specific modes, optimized for online orders and streamlined clearance, with documentation tied to the e-commerce transaction.
Who each mode suits
- 9610 suits cross-border retail sellers and dropshippers shipping many small parcels to consumers.
- 9710 suits online-sourced B2B orders shipped in commercial quantities to an overseas business.
- 9810 suits sellers stocking overseas warehouses for local fulfillment.
- General trade 0110 suits established importers who want full, clean import documentation and predictable duty treatment.
Match the mode to how the goods actually move — not to whichever is cheapest at the booking desk.
What documents are involved
Depending on the mode, expect the seller to provide an order/transaction list (for the e-commerce declaration), plus the standard commercial invoice, packing list and logistics waybill. For 9710/9810 B2B shipments the documentation is closer to general trade; for 9610 retail it is batch-consolidated.
What it means for you as the overseas buyer
The declaration mode affects how your goods arrive and how you clear them. If you are a business importing for resale or manufacturing, confirm with your forwarder whether the shipment goes out under 9710/9810 or ordinary general trade — and that the destination-side entry matches. Mixing a streamlined e-commerce export with a formal import on your side can cause a paperwork mismatch. Ask up front, and keep the declared value consistent across export and import.
Choosing the right mode — and common mistakes
The practical rule of thumb: if you are shipping consolidated individual parcels straight to end consumers, your supplier will likely use 9610. If you are a business buying pallets or containers, push for 9710 or 9810 (or plain general trade 0110). The most common mistake business buyers make is letting their goods leave under a retail 9610 lane just because it is cheaper and faster — then hitting a wall at destination customs, because a commercial import needs commercial documentation, not a batch of consumer parcels. Another common error is mismatched declared values between the Chinese export entry and your import entry, which raises red flags on both sides. Always confirm the mode and the declared value with your forwarder before the cargo is booked.
The bottom line
9610 is for retail parcels to consumers; 9710 (and 9810 for overseas warehouses) is for e-commerce B2B shipments to business buyers; general trade 0110 is the formal lane for serious bulk. Tell your supplier or agent which mode fits your order, keep the documentation consistent, and avoid shipping business cargo under a retail mode it was never designed for. A quick written confirmation of the mode before booking prevents most customs headaches later.