China's modern stationery industry started late, in the 1980s, but has developed rapidly and achieved remarkable results. Data shows that in 2022, China's stationery imports amounted to 2.81 billion yuan, while exports amounted to 40.98 billion yuan. With the improvement of the stationery industry chain and the innovative development of traditional culture in recent years, China's stationery exports are expected to continue to rise.

South Korea is one of the key export markets for my country's stationery products. Consumers have high requirements for the quality and design of stationery. China's creative stationery, notebook peripherals and other products are very popular in South Korea. In addition, stationery with traditional cultural elements is also loved by some Korean consumers. So, how can Chinese stationery knock on the door of the Korean market? The following is a practical guide to the whole process of exporting stationery products to South Korea.

Preparation before export

1. Confirm qualifications and documents
Make sure you or the agency you entrust has the legal right to import and export, and prepare relevant business documents, such as trade contracts, cargo invoices, packing lists, etc.

2. Determine product standards and certification
Understand Korea's quality standards and certification requirements for stationery products. Generally speaking, stationery products must comply with Korea's relevant safety, environmental protection and other standards. Electronic stationery with batteries may require KC certification.

3. Apply for a certificate of origin
According to the China-Korea Free Trade Agreement, stationery products exported to Korea can apply for a certificate of origin to enjoy tariff preferences. Usually, you can choose to apply for a China-Korea FTA certificate of origin, which is issued by the China Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau or the local Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

2. Choose a freight forwarder and book a space

1. Choose a freight forwarding company
It is very important to choose an experienced and reputable freight forwarding company. You can evaluate the freight forwarding company's qualifications, reputation, service scope, transportation prices, and whether it is familiar with the Korean market.

2. Booking
Provide detailed information of the goods to the freight forwarding company, including the volume, weight, quantity, packaging form, etc., so that the freight forwarding company can choose the appropriate shipping date and space. The freight forwarding company will select the appropriate shipping company or flight according to the goods and customer requirements, and book the corresponding space. During the booking process, the company needs to confirm important information such as the shipping date, freight, bill of lading type, etc., and sign a booking agreement with the freight forwarding company.

3. Cargo Packaging and Transportation

According to the characteristics and transportation requirements of stationery products, choose appropriate packaging materials and packaging methods to prevent the goods from being damaged during transportation. According to the requirements of the freight forwarding company, transport the packaged stationery products to the designated warehouse or yard for collection. At the same time, it is necessary to maintain communication with the freight forwarding company to keep abreast of the collection and transportation progress of the goods.

IV. Customs declaration and inspection

1 Customs report
Prepare the documents required for customs declaration, including export goods declaration form, consignment note, invoice, trade contract, export exchange verification form and various certificates related to customs supervision conditions, and entrust a freight forwarding company or a professional customs broker to handle export customs declaration procedures with the customs. When declaring customs, you must ensure that the documents provided are true, accurate and complete. The customs will review and inspect the declared goods and release them if there are no problems.

2. Inspection
If stationery products are subject to statutory inspection and quarantine, or if Korean importers require inspection and quarantine certificates, you need to go through the inspection and quarantine procedures with the entry-exit inspection and quarantine agency. When reporting for inspection, you need to provide relevant documents and samples. The inspection and quarantine agency will issue relevant certificates after the goods have passed the inspection and quarantine.

V. Shipping and Tracking

?Sea or air transport:After the goods have completed the customs declaration and inspection procedures, they will be shipped by sea or air according to the selected mode of transportation. During the transportation process, the transportation status and location of the goods can be checked in real time through the logistics tracking system provided by the freight forwarding company.
? Arrival and customs clearance:After the goods arrive at the Korean port, the freight forwarding company's agent in Korea will be responsible for handling the import customs clearance procedures. Korea implements a pre-declaration system. After the goods are shipped from China, they need to submit relevant information to the Korean Customs for customs clearance. Similarly, the customs clearance documents submitted must be complete and accurate to avoid customs clearance delays or unnecessary costs.

6. Delivery and After-sales Service

1. Delivery of goods
After customs clearance is completed, the freight forwarding company will arrange the delivery of the goods and deliver the stationery products to the Korean importer on time and safely. During the delivery process, it is necessary to maintain communication with the importer to ensure that the goods are successfully signed for and to deal with any problems that may arise in a timely manner.

2. After-sales service
Providing good after-sales service is essential to maintaining customer relationships and expanding markets. Keep abreast of Korean importers' feedback on stationery products and handle possible quality issues or customer complaints to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty.

VII. Key requirements and precautions for exporting stationery products to South Korea

1. Import document requirements
?Commercial Invoice: The original and two copies are required, including the total price of the goods, unit price, quantity, product description and shipping information.
?Packing list: Provide detailed information about the shipment, including volume and weight.
?Bill of Lading (B/L): It serves as a receipt for the goods and also a contract between the shipper and the carrier.
?Certificate of Origin (C/?): Required for some products to verify the origin of the goods.

2. Comply with Korean standards and certifications
Ensure that stationery products comply with Korean safety standards and regulations to protect public health and safety. In particular, stationery with electronic functions needs to apply for KC certification.

3. Customs clearance procedures
?Import Declaration: Importers can make online declarations through the Korean Customs’ Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system, ensuring a paperless process.
? Duties and Value Added Tax (VAT): Understand and ensure that applicable duties and VAT are paid on imported stationery products.

4. Labeling requirements
?Language: Product labels should contain Korean information such as product name, manufacturer details and instructions for use.
? Compliance marking: Ensure necessary compliance marking and certifications are included on the label according to Korean regulations.

5. Environmental regulations
Packaging materials: Ensure that packaging materials comply with Korean environmental regulations, including recycling and waste management standards.

6. Cooperate with local importers
Authorized Importers: Work with licensed importers who are familiar with Korean import procedures and regulations to facilitate smooth market entry of goods.

7. Pay attention to regulatory updates regularly
Regular Monitoring: Pay close attention to changes in Korean import regulations and standards to maintain compliance.

8. Common certification and precautions

1. ISO certification
?ISO9001 is a quality management system certification that can prove that a company complies with international standards in product design, production, sales and service.
?ISO14001 is an environmental management system certification that can prove that the company has taken effective measures in environmental protection.

2. KC certification
South Korea's KC certification is a safety certification system for electronic and electrical products in South Korea. For stationery products involving electronic products, such as pencil cases with electronic functions, electronic pencil sharpeners, etc., it is necessary to apply for KC certification according to requirements.

3. Label identification
When exporting stationery products to South Korea, all finished goods must be labeled "MADE IN CHINA", which is one of the requirements for customs clearance in South Korea. Customs will determine whether the label is qualified based on the product.

4. Other special cargo requirements
Different types of goods have different requirements. For example, agricultural products and other food products require animal and plant quarantine certificates, etc.; products that come into direct contact with the oral cavity, such as water cups and dinner plates, are classified as food grade and also require corresponding certificates; toys and school-age children's clothing also have similar requirements; wooden products require fumigation certificates and food quarantine, etc.

IX. Conclusion: Strictly abide by regulations and steadily expand the Korean market

In short, in the process of exporting stationery products to South Korea, exporters need to fully understand and strictly abide by South Korea's various regulations and requirements, especially for the handling of special circumstances, and go through the relevant procedures in accordance with the relevant regulations to ensure the smooth export and customs clearance of goods. At the same time, choosing a suitable freight forwarding company, preparing complete documents, complying with customs clearance and inspection procedures, and providing high-quality after-sales service are all key to ensuring that stationery products can smoothly enter the Korean market and maintain their competitiveness in the long term. I hope this practical guide can help Chinese stationery export companies and lay a solid foundation for expanding the Korean market.