The HS code on your commercial invoice decides the duty you pay, the documents your broker needs, and whether your container sits at the port while someone argues about what a "vacuum flask" actually is. For drinkware the codes are few but easy to get wrong, because a steel vacuum bottle is not classified as steel. Below is the reference importers actually use, the rule that decides the code, country-specific notes, and a declaration clause you can paste into the invoice.
Find your product on the left; the international HS (six digits, used everywhere) and the China export code (ten digits, used on the supplier's declaration) are on the right. The "basis" column is the part that decides the code:
| Product | HS (int'l, 6-digit) | China export code (10-digit) | Basis of classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacuum-insulated bottle / flask / tumbler (double wall) | 9617.00 | 9617009000 | Construction: vacuum insulation |
| Single-wall stainless steel bottle / cup / shaker | 7323.93 | 7323930000 | Material: stainless steel |
| Plastic bottle / mug / tumbler | 3924.10 | 3924100000 | Material: plastics |
| Aluminium sports bottle | 7615.19 | 7615190000 | Material: aluminium |
| Glass inner only (imported alone, rare) | 7020.00 | 7020000000 | Material: glass |
The single most common error is declaring a double-wall vacuum bottle under 7323.93 (steel) or 3924.10 (plastic) because the shell happens to be steel or plastic. It is the vacuum function that controls the heading — see the rule below.
Under the General Rules of Interpretation (GRI 1), the wording of the heading wins before the material does. HS 9617 reads "Vacuum flasks and other vacuum vessels, complete with cases", and it names vacuum flasks expressly. That means a stainless steel vacuum bottle is classified under 9617.00 even though its shell is steel — and it beats heading 7323 (articles of stainless steel). The same logic applies to a plastic-bodied vacuum bottle: it still goes to 9617.00, not 3924.
Why this matters to you: a supplier who declares your vacuum bottle under 7323.93 or 3924.10 may be steering toward a lower duty rate. That can save a few points at the border, but if the classification is wrong, the risk lands on the importer of record — you — not the factory. The code should describe the product honestly; the duty is then what it is.
The six-digit HS is shared, but every destination layers its own subheadings, duty and trade measures on top. Treat the following as direction, not a rate sheet — tariffs move, and the live subheading is what your broker files:
The pattern is the same everywhere: get the six-digit HS right first (vacuum = 9617, single-wall steel = 7323.93), then confirm the destination's subheading and rate.
Paste this onto the commercial invoice so the broker classifies without guessing. A vague "bottle" is the number-one cause of a hold at the port:
Goods description: [Quantity] pcs of [single-wall / double-wall vacuum-insulated] [stainless steel / plastic / aluminium] [bottle / tumbler / flask], capacity [ml]. HS code: [9617.00 / 7323.93 / 3924.10 / 7615.19]. Country of origin: China. Declared value basis: FOB [port]. Material composition: [304 stainless steel body, PP lid / etc.]. Intended use: [reusable drinkware].
Match the description to the code. If the description says "vacuum-insulated" but the code is 7323.93, the broker will stop and ask — and that stop is your delay.
Tell us two things and we will return, in writing:
We confirm the exact HS subheading, the China export code for the supplier's declaration, and the declared-value basis your broker needs — so the container clears instead of sitting. Free sample, you pay only the freight, no deposit.
We are a factory-backed supply company in Yongkang, Zhejiang, shipping drinkware to importers and retail buyers worldwide, with production run to your specification at audited partner factories and inspection before the container is sealed. Our OEM and ODM page covers packing, lead times and documentation, and the 2026 catalogue lists every model with carton data so the export declaration starts from a spec rather than a photograph.
What HS code do I use for a vacuum-insulated stainless steel bottle? A double-wall vacuum-insulated bottle is classified under HS 9617.00 (vacuum flasks and other vacuum vessels, complete with cases) regardless of whether the shell is steel, plastic or a mix. In China export declarations it appears as 9617009000. The vacuum function, not the shell material, decides the heading.
Why is my supplier putting a single-wall code on a vacuum bottle? Under the rules of classification, HS 9617 names vacuum flasks expressly and takes priority over the material headings such as 7323 (steel) or 3924 (plastic). If a vacuum bottle is declared under 7323.93 or 3924.10, check why: it may be a single-wall product mislabelled, or a supplier steering to a lower-duty code. The correct code protects you at clearance, not just the supplier.
What is the China export code for a stainless steel water bottle? For a single-wall stainless steel bottle or cup, China uses 7323930000 (heading 7323.93). For a vacuum-insulated bottle, China uses 9617009000 (heading 9617.00). The two are different products with different duty treatment at destination, so the export code and the import HS must match the actual construction.
Do I need a different code for the US versus the EU? The six-digit HS is the same (9617.00, 7323.93, 3924.10, 7615.19), but the destination adds its own subheadings and duty. The US uses an HTS ten-digit code (vacuum bottles fall under 9617.00.xx), the EU uses TARIC, and each applies its own rate and any trade measures. Confirm the live subheading for the specific destination before you quote landed cost.
What should I write on the commercial invoice to avoid clearance delays? State the material (stainless steel / plastic / aluminium), capacity in ml, single or double wall, the HS code, country of origin (China), and the declared value basis (FOB). A clear description that matches the code lets the broker classify without guessing, which is the single biggest cause of hold-ups.