Manufacturer Identification (MID) is a code generated from the name and address of a manufacturer, invoicing party, seller or exporter. When transmitted to Customs at cargo release, it contains the full name and address.

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US Customs to Require Postal Codes on Shipments Sold from China Mainland to US

Q: What is the MF party?

The MF party is the manufacturing party; however, Customs has ruled the invoicing party, shipper, exporter or manufacturer can be submitted as the MF party.

Q: What do valid Chinese postal codes look like?

Postal codes from China Mainland are six numerical digits. They do not include letters or any additional numbers or letters beyond six. Examples are 853012, 448331 and 663312.

Q: Has Customs released a list of valid postal codes from China?

They have not; however, CBP has shared a link to an online searchable list of postal codes from China Mainland: https://worldpostalcode.com/china/

Q: What does invoicing party mean?

The invoicing party is the party indicated on the invoice as the seller, shipper and/or exporter. Customs regulations allow the MF party to be reported as the invoicing party at the time of cargo release (except in the case of textile goods, for which the actual manufacturer is required).

Q: If a shipment exports from a country other than China Mainland, but contains a product made in China Mainland, is the China Mainland postal code required?

No, if the shipper/seller/exporter party is not in China Mainland, a China Mainland postal code is not required.

Q: If a shipment exports from China Mainland, but contains a product made in a country other than China Mainland, is the China Mainland postal code required?

Yes, if the shipper/seller/exporter party is in China Mainland, a China Mainland postal code is required.

Q: Is the MID or MF party always based on the shipper/seller/exporter?

No, for textiles and apparel shipping to the US, the actual manufacturer of the goods must be reported as the MID or MF party.

February 22, 2023

Effective March 18, 2023, US Customs will require postal codes on all shipments sold from China Mainland to the US.

What is changing for customers shipping from China Mainland to the US?

A valid postal code will be required at cargo release when the manufacturing (MF) party* is reported as a Chinese entity.
A valid postal code will be required for all new and updated manufacturer identification (MID) codes where the country is China Mainland.

*Note, there has been NO change to who can be reported as the MF party. Customs has ruled the invoicing party, shipper, exporter or manufacturer can be reported as the MF party. MF party is often referred to as MID.

What does this mean for UPS Brokerage customers?

If you import goods into the US for which the invoicing party, shipper, exporter, etc. indicates the country is China Mainland, then a postal code will need to be included in the invoicing party address on the documents.
If you have a list of your shippers, suppliers and/or vendors, review to ensure a valid postal code is present for any address for which the country is China Mainland.
You may see delays with shipments for which the invoicing party has China Mainland as the country and a valid postal code is not present on the import documents.