2025 Bonded Zone Policy Update: Cross-Border E-Commerce

In early 2025, China's General Administration of Customs issued new management regulations for comprehensive bonded zones, further optimizing customs supervision for cross-border e-commerce retail imports, in-zone value-added processing, and bonded transfers. For importers building a China business on bonded warehousing, these adjustments carry real strategic significance — and they arrive at a time when the sector is already expanding fast.

Policy Background

Comprehensive bonded zones are China's most trade-intensive customs special supervision areas. In 2024, they handled a combined RMB 6.7 trillion of import and export, up 4.7% year on year (GACC, January 2025). Cross-border e-commerce, the engine behind much of this volume, grew to RMB 2.63 trillion of import and export in 2024, up 10.8% (GACC, January 2025), and continued expanding through 2025 with first-half import and export of about RMB 1.32 trillion, up 5.7% (GACC, July 2025).

The 2025 regulations respond to this growth by simplifying how bonded zone operators handle routine operations. The three changes with the widest impact are the 1210 stocking quota adjustment, the shift to record-filing for value-added processing, and more flexible bonded/non-bonded status switching. As with all customs matters, the specific provisions prevail as officially published by the General Administration of Customs.

Three Key Policy Benefits

1. 1210 Bonded Stocking Quota Optimization

The 1210 model is the main channel for bonded cross-border e-commerce retail imports: goods are shipped into a domestic bonded warehouse in bulk, and import duties, VAT and consumption tax are collected — at a preferential rate — only when a consumer order is placed. Per the policy adjustments covered in this article, the annual personal purchase quota under the 1210 model was raised from RMB 26,000 to RMB 30,000, an increase of about 15%, while the single-transaction limit remains RMB 5,000.

The effect is direct: consumers can buy more cross-border categories within the year, which lifts the order volume leaving bonded warehouses. In parallel, the tax framework established under MOF/GACC/STA Notice Cai Guan Shui 2018 No. 49 continues to apply — goods within the limits are exempt from tariff, and import VAT and consumption tax are levied at 70% of the statutory rate. For reference, customs Q&As published during 2025 confirmed that the single-transaction limit stays at RMB 5,000, so the quota change affects annual, not per-order, purchasing power (Guangzhou Customs Q&A, March 2025).

2. Simplified Value-Added Processing Filing

Previously, value-added operations inside bonded zones — labeling, sorting, kitting, gift-box assembly and similar — had to be reported to customs on a per-batch basis. Under the new rules, most routine operations are brought under a simplified record-filing system: enterprises list the operation types once in an annual filing and can continue running them without per-batch approval.

For import brands, the practical gain is a much shorter lead time to market. A labeling or gift-box assembly program that once required separate approval per shipment can now be planned as a continuous operation, which matters particularly for seasonal launches and promotional campaigns.

3. Flexible Bonded/Non-Bonded Status Switching

The new regulations allow qualifying in-zone goods to switch flexibly between bonded and non-bonded status, easing operations for companies that mix domestic sales with export business. For warehouse service providers with both bonded and non-bonded facilities — Yunxiu operates a 4,170 m² bonded warehouse and a 1,500 m² non-bonded warehouse in Shanghai — this improves how storage capacity can be allocated between the two regimes.

Impact and Recommendations

• Cross-border e-commerce enterprises: reassess the sales impact of the higher annual quota and secure bonded warehousing capacity early, since quota-driven demand translates directly into outbound order volumes during promotions.
• Import brands: the simplified filing shortens the start-up cycle for labeling, labeling-change and gift-box assembly projects; plan annual filings before peak seasons.
• Warehouse and logistics service providers: WMS systems must now support status-switch management and record-filing workflows; operators still running manual processes should prioritize system upgrades.

How Yunxiu Is Responding

Yunxiu has completed its WMS upgrade to fully support the new value-added processing record-filing and bonded/non-bonded status switching functions. Our customs team has reviewed the full text of the new regulations and can provide free policy impact assessments and operational guidance for importers, brands and sellers using bonded warehousing.

Interested in what the 2025 rules mean for your product mix or inventory plan? Contact us or call +86 18917757529 for a free assessment. You can also read our explainer on the 1210 bonded stocking model and how bonded status switching works in practice.

FAQ

What is the 1210 bonded stocking model?

Under the 1210 model, cross-border goods are imported in bulk into a domestic bonded warehouse and cleared through customs individually as consumer orders arrive, with preferential tax treatment — tariff exemption and VAT/consumption tax at 70% of the statutory rate within the transaction limits.

How does the quota change affect my e-commerce business?

A higher annual personal quota means consumers can spend more per year on cross-border purchases, which typically raises bonded warehouse outbound order volumes and supports broader category expansion.

Which value-added operations are covered by the simplified filing?

Routine operations such as labeling, sorting, kitting and gift-box assembly are brought under the annual record-filing system; enterprises should confirm their specific operation types against the official text.

What does bonded/non-bonded status switching mean for inventory?

It allows goods to move between bonded and non-bonded regimes when qualifying conditions are met, making it easier to serve domestic and export channels from the same facility footprint.

Where can I get help assessing the policy impact?

Yunxiu offers free policy impact assessments; our customs and warehousing teams can review your operation against the new rules. See also our cross-border e-commerce policy outlook for the wider context.

Related reading:

• 1210 bonded stocking model explained
• Cross-border e-commerce policy outlook

This article was written by the Yunxiu Supply Chain Research Center. Data updated to 2026. Policy provisions prevail as officially published by the General Administration of Customs.