The Exporter‘s Guide: Certificate of Origin for Injection Molds & Plastic Molds

If you are in the business of exporting injection molds or plastic molds, you’ve likely encountered a common request from your overseas buyers: "Please provide the Certificate of Origin."

But here’s the challenge: Not all Certificates of Origin are the same. Issuing the wrong one could mean your customer pays unnecessary import duties—or worse, their goods get held up at customs.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about securing the right CO for your mold exports.

What is a Certificate of Origin (CO)?

A Certificate of Origin is a vital international trade document that certifies that the goods in a particular export shipment are wholly obtained, produced, manufactured, or processed in a specific country.

There are two main categories:

Why Molds Are "Special" for CO Applications

Injection molds and plastic molds are complex manufactured goods. They often involve:

• Imported steel (e.g., from Germany or Japan)

• Imported standard parts (e.g., hot runners, ejector pins)

• Local design and machining in China

This means molds are typically "non-wholly obtained" products. To determine if they qualify for preferential origin, you must prove that they have undergone "substantial transformation" in China.

Step 1: Check Your Destination Country

Your choice of CO depends entirely on where your buyer is located.

Pro Tip: Always confirm with your buyer: "Do you need a preferential CO to save on duties, or just a standard CO for clearance?"

Step 2: Determine the Origin Criteria for Molds

For injection molds, the most common origin criteria used in FTAs are:

1. CTC (Change in Tariff Classification)

• The mold's HS code (usually 8480.xx) must be different from the HS codes of any imported materials at the 4-digit level after processing.

2. RVC (Regional Value Content)

• The value added in China must meet a certain percentage (e.g., ≥40% in RCEP). You'll need to show costs like labor, electricity, and domestic materials.

3. PSR (Product Specific Rules)

• Some agreements may require specific manufacturing processes (e.g., "manufacture from materials of any heading, except that of the product").

What to Prepare:

• BOM (Bill of Materials) of the mold

• Invoices for imported raw materials

• Production flow chart

• Invoices for domestic processing

Step 3: Apply for the CO

Where to Apply?

• China Customs 

• CCPIT (China Council for the Promotion of International Trade)

Application Process:

1. Register your company on the "China International Single Window" system.

2. Pre-declare your product (upload BOM, material invoices, process description).

3. Submit the application online with your commercial invoice and packing list.

4. Issuance: Once approved, you can either:

• Print it yourself if eligible

• Collect it from the issuing authority

⏱ Timeline: Typically 1-2 working days for review.

Special Case: Exporting Molds to India

Based on your previous inquiries, here's a specific note on India:

• ❌ India is NOT a member of RCEP.

• ❌ India withdrew from the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) in 2017.

• ✅ Therefore, the only option for mold exports to India is the Non-Preferential CO (C/O) .

This document will satisfy Indian customs clearance but will not provide any tariff reduction.

Advanced Tip: Become an "Approved Exporter"

If your company is an AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) and exports molds frequently, you may qualify as an "Approved Exporter" under certain FTAs (like RCEP).

Benefits:

• You can issue origin declarations yourself without applying for a certificate each time.

• Faster clearance and lower administrative costs.