Korean household goods wholesale for retail chains: import guide
For household goods and variety store chains outside Korea that want kitchen, bathroom, storage and cleaning products for a fixed-price assortment. It covers HS headings, duties and FTA rates by country, food-contact and chemical rules, origin marking and how to load bulky low-value goods.
Request a quoteDuties and FTA by countryLast checked: October 2026
How do retail chains source household goods from Korea?
| Typical order | Why direct buying is hard | How consolidation solves it |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen tools, food containers and tableware in plastic, stainless steel, glass and ceramic, a few cartons to a few pallets per item | Dozens of makers, each with its own minimum, carton size and paperwork. Food-contact test reports and origin evidence must be collected maker by maker. | One purchase list, one consolidated packing list with HS code and material per line, and test reports and origin documents gathered per item before packing. |
| Bathroom, laundry and storage items: baskets, bins, hangers, racks, shower accessories | Light, bulky goods fill a container long before they reach its weight limit, so a part order from one supplier wastes paid space. | Lines from several suppliers are combined to fill the container by volume. Nesting items and carton sizes are planned before the order is fixed. |
| Cleaning tools and consumables: brushes, mops, scourers, gloves, plus some detergents | Liquid and chemical items need classification, safety data sheets and destination-language labels. Small suppliers often have Korean-language documents only. | Chemical lines are screened first. Items without a usable SDS or with dangerous-goods classification are quoted separately or left out. |
| Seasonal or trial lines for a few stores | Too small for any factory to export directly, and reorders are irregular. | Trial quantities ride with the regular container and are listed separately on the packing list for store allocation. |
Import duties and FTA benefits by country
The table refers to HS headings 3924 (plastic tableware, kitchenware and household articles), 7323 and 7615 (household articles of steel and of aluminium), 7013 (glassware), 6911 and 6912 (ceramic tableware) and 9603 (brooms, brushes and mops). Preferential rates apply only to goods that qualify as Korean origin under the agreement’s rules and ship with a valid certificate or declaration of origin. Goods bought in Korea but made in another country do not qualify.
| Importing country | General (MFN) duty | Rate for Korean-origin goods and agreement | Other import taxes and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Varies by tariff line. 3924: 3.1% to 6.5%. 7323: free to 8.2%. 7615: 3.1% to 3.8%. 7013: 3% to 38%. 6912: 0.7% to 28%. 9603: free to 32%, with per-piece rates on some brooms and brushes (USITC HTS). | Free under KORUS on the dutiable lines checked in these headings (special rate column lists KR). | An additional Section 301 duty has applied since 24 July 2026. Law-firm summaries describe the Korea rate as set so that the general duty plus the Section 301 duty together generally do not exceed 12.5%, with exemptions that differ by tariff subheading, including articles covered by Section 232. Check each line, and check whether Section 232 applies to steel and aluminium articles, with a US customs broker. |
| European Union | Check the official tariff tool: TARIC. | Free under the Korea-EU FTA. The Commission states that remaining duties were removed by 1 July 2016 except on a limited number of agricultural products. | Import VAT applies at the member state’s rate. Origin is declared by the exporter on the invoice; above EUR 6,000 per shipment the exporter needs approved exporter status. |
| United Kingdom | 3924: 6% (ironing boards 6.5%). 7323: 0% (ironing boards 3.2%). 7615: 6%. 7013: 10%. 6911: 12%. 6912: 4% to 8%. 9603: 2% (UK Trade Tariff). | 0% under the Korea-UK FTA on all lines checked in these headings. | Import VAT applies. Confirm the rate and any measures on the exact commodity code in the UK Trade Tariff. |
| Japan | WTO rates: 3924: 3.9%. 7323 and 7615: free. 7013: 3.1% to 3.9%. 6911 and 6912: 2.3%. 9603.90 household brooms and brushes: 6.6% (Japan Customs tariff schedule, 1 April 2026). | RCEP, Korea column: 3924: 1.8%. 7013: free to 1.8%. 6911.10 and 6912: 1%. 9603.90 other: 4.1%. Steel and aluminium household articles are already free. | Consumption tax applies on import. RCEP rates are set by year, so recheck the schedule for the year of shipment. |
| Malaysia | Check the official tariff tool: JKDM ezHS (Customs Duties Order 2022). The US Commercial Service reports a simple average applied tariff of 6.1% on industrial goods. | Check the AKFTA and RCEP schedules in JKDM ezHS. Both agreements are in force for Malaysia. Korea’s trade ministry lists the bilateral Korea-Malaysia FTA as signed or concluded, not yet in force. | Sales tax applies to imported taxable goods at 5%, 10% or a product-specific rate. Ceramic ware for food use needs documents under the Food Regulations 1985 (see below). |
| Philippines | 3924: 15%. 7323 and 7615: 15%. 7013: 10% to 15%. 6911 and 6912: 15%. 9603 brooms and household brushes: 7% to 10% (Philippine Tariff Finder, 2026). | 3924: 12% under AKFTA and under the Philippines-Korea FTA. Stainless steel and aluminium household articles, ceramics and most glassware: 0%. Cast iron ware (7323.91) and low-expansion glass kitchenware (7013.42): 5% AKFTA, 4% Philippines-Korea FTA. | VAT applies on import. The AKFTA origin rule shown for 3924 is 40% regional value content or a change in tariff heading. |
| Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia | Check the official tariff tool: ASEAN Tariff Finder, Vietnam Customs, Indonesia INSW. Reported average MFN rates on non-agricultural goods: Thailand 7% (2024), Indonesia 8.0%. | AKFTA covers all three. The Korea-Vietnam FTA and the Korea-Indonesia CEPA are also in force; a Korea-Thailand agreement is still under negotiation. Compare the schedules line by line and use the lowest rate the goods qualify for. | VAT applies on import in each country. Confirm the rates with the importer’s broker. |
| United Arab Emirates | 5% of the CIF value for most goods (UAE Government portal). | The Korea-UAE CEPA is listed as in force by Korea’s trade ministry. Check the CEPA schedule for the tariff line with UAE customs or your broker. | VAT is charged in addition to customs duty. |
Rates are for the HS headings named above and were checked in October 2026. Duty rates change and depend on the exact tariff line. Confirm with your customs broker before ordering.
Product rules and cautions for importers
Classify by material first
Household goods are classified mainly by what they are made of, so the same kitchen item can fall under different headings and duty rates. Plastic tableware, kitchenware and other household articles are in 3924; steel articles in 7323; aluminium in 7615; table and kitchen glassware in 7013; porcelain in 6911 and other ceramics in 6912; brooms, brushes and mops in 9603. Bed, table, toilet and kitchen linen is in 6302, and washing and cleaning preparations are in 3402. Ask for the material and HS code of every line on the packing list, because a mixed container can carry rates from free to well over 10% in the same market.
Food-contact materials
- European Union. Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 is the framework: materials must not release constituents into food at harmful levels or change the food unacceptably, and it requires traceability, labelling of intended use and supporting compliance documentation. Plastics fall under Regulation (EU) 10/2011, with a Union list of permitted substances, specific migration limits and an overall migration limit of 10 mg per dm2 of contact surface. Ceramics are covered by Directive 84/500/EEC, good manufacturing practice by Regulation (EC) 2023/2006, and Regulation (EU) 2024/3190, in force since 20 January 2025, restricts bisphenol A and related bisphenols in food-contact materials.
- United States. The FDA regulates food-contact substances through listings in Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations, food contact substance notifications and threshold-of-regulation exemptions. For ceramic ware the FDA applies action levels for extractable lead, and ornamental pieces not meant for food should carry a warning that they are not for food use.
- Japan. Under the Food Sanitation Act, a positive list for synthetic resins has been fully applied since 1 June 2025: plastic utensils, containers and packaging made or imported from that date may use only listed base polymers and additives. Japanese importers will ask the Korean maker to confirm this for each resin item.
- Malaysia. The Ministry of Health enforces Part VI of the Food Regulations 1985 under the Food Act 1983. Regulation 27 prohibits packages that yield toxic or tainting substances, Regulation 27A bans bisphenol A in feeding bottles, and Regulation 28 sets lead and cadmium release limits for ceramic ware, with a certificate confirming compliance required for each imported consignment. The Food (Amendment) Regulations 2026 added ceramic cooking ware from 1 August 2026, with limits of 0.5 mg/l for lead and 0.05 mg/l for cadmium. Plastic feeding bottles need Ministry of Health approval before release.
- Other ASEAN markets. Each country has its own food-contact rules and test standards. Ask your local importer or test laboratory which standard applies before ordering, and request test reports to that standard from the Korean maker.
Detergents and other chemical products
Liquid detergents, cleaners and similar products are chemical mixtures, not ordinary housewares. In the EU, the Detergents Regulation (EC) 648/2004 sets surfactant biodegradability and labelling requirements, including allergenic fragrance substances above 0.01%, and the CLP Regulation (EC) 1272/2008, which is based on the UN Globally Harmonised System (GHS), requires importers to classify, label and package hazardous mixtures before they are placed on the market. In Malaysia, the CLASS Regulations 2013 follow GHS and make the importer, as a principal supplier, responsible for classification, labelling, the safety data sheet and chemical inventory submission. For every chemical line, expect to need a full ingredient-based SDS in English, a destination-language label and a transport classification before booking. Products classed as dangerous goods need separate booking and handling.
Product safety marks and regulated items
Plain housewares usually need no safety mark, but some items in a variety store range do. In the United States, products designed primarily for children aged 12 or younger need third-party testing and a Children’s Product Certificate. Electrical items such as small kitchen appliances, lights and chargers need the destination country’s safety approval and plug type. For children’s products, electrical goods, cosmetics and food, the importer of record is responsible for registration, notification, label approval and licences in the destination country; the exporter supplies the documents needed for those filings, and registration is not guaranteed. Medical devices and prescription products need device or drug licensing in both countries and are outside ordinary consolidation orders.
Country-of-origin marking
Mark each retail unit with its true country of manufacture. The United States requires every imported article to carry the English name of the country of origin, legibly, conspicuously and as permanently as the article allows, so that the final buyer can see it; unmarked goods face additional duties unless they are marked, exported or destroyed under customs supervision. A “Made in Korea” mark must match the origin evidence. Items sold by Korean wholesalers but manufactured elsewhere must be marked with the actual country and cannot use FTA rates for Korean goods.
Container loading economics for bulky, low-value goods
Plastic baskets, bins and hangers are light for their size, so a container fills by volume, not by weight. Typical figures from one carrier’s specification are about 33 cubic metres and 25,000 kg payload for a 20-foot dry container, and about 68 cubic metres and 27,600 kg for a 40-foot dry container. A 40-foot box gives roughly twice the space for a far smaller increase in weight allowance, which suits household goods. Because freight is paid per container, the freight cost carried by each piece depends on how many pieces fit. Choose nesting or stackable designs, ask for carton dimensions before ordering, and mix dense lines such as glassware and stainless steel with light plastic lines. Fragile glass and ceramic need stronger cartons and are loaded low. See also our guides to hotel supplies from Korea and Korean products for online sellers.
What exporters in Korea need to prepare
- A line-by-line packing list showing material, HS code, quantity per carton, carton dimensions and gross weight, so the buyer’s broker can assign duty rates before shipment.
- Origin evidence from each manufacturer: where the item was produced and what materials went into it. Under the ASEAN-Korea FTA the general rule is 40% regional value content or a change in tariff heading, and the certificate of origin is Form AK. Lines without evidence ship at the general duty rate.
- Food-contact documents for anything that touches food: material declaration and migration or heavy-metal test reports to the standard the destination asks for. For ceramic ware bound for Malaysia, the per-consignment certificate on lead and cadmium release.
- For detergents and other chemical products: a complete SDS in English, the transport classification, and artwork space for a destination-language label.
- Country-of-origin marking on each retail unit and on the cartons, matching the commercial invoice. Do not mark goods made outside Korea as Korean.
- Retail-ready details the chain needs: barcode, pack size, inner and outer carton quantities, and any destination-language sticker the importer supplies.
- A check that the supplier is free to sell the product for export and that designs, characters and brand names on the goods are not restricted to the Korean market.
- Agreed Incoterms on the proforma invoice. Payment is by bank transfer against the proforma invoice, with terms written on each quote.
News and recent developments
Trade policy and product rules that affect Korean household goods shipments, with the newest items first.
New Section 301 duties took effect on 24 July 2026 as the Section 122 surcharge expired. For Korea the structure caps the general duty plus the new duty at about 12.5% on most lines, so US buyers of Korean housewares should recheck landed cost per tariff line.
At a regional strategy meeting in Ho Chi Minh City, KOTRA reported US$6.9 billion of exports to Southeast Asia and Oceania in five consumer goods categories, household goods among them, and planned more trade events and halal certification support.
January to April 2026 exports rose strongly, and Korea’s trade ministry expects the full-year total to pass US$900 billion. Exports by small and medium-sized firms were reported up about 10%.
The Food (Amendment) Regulations 2026 bring ceramic cooking ware under Regulation 28 from 1 August 2026. Chains importing ceramic pots into Malaysia need test reports against the new limits.
The court rejected tariffs imposed under emergency powers, and the US administration moved to a Section 122 surcharge and new Section 301 investigations. This is why US duty treatment of Korean goods changed twice during 2026.
KOTRA’s chief executive said consumer goods exports, a group that includes household goods, grew 6.6% in January to September 2025, faster than total exports. More supplier attention to export orders helps overseas buyers.
How an order works with us
- Request. Send your category list or item photos, target retail price points, quantities per item, destination port and any test or labelling standards your market requires.
- Sourcing and quote. We look for matching items from Korean manufacturers and wholesalers and quote per line with material, pack size, carton dimensions and country of manufacture, so you can see which lines can use an FTA rate.
- Check. Before you commit, you can review samples or a video inspection, and we check that test reports, SDS and origin documents exist for the lines that need them.
- Proforma invoice and payment. Payment is by bank transfer against our proforma invoice. The terms are written on each quote.
- Consolidation and packing. Goods from all suppliers are received in one warehouse, counted against the order, marked and loaded to use the container’s volume, with fragile lines packed separately.
- Documents and shipment. You receive the commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading, plus a certificate of origin when the goods qualify as Korean origin.
Export sourcing on Unboxing Korea is handled by HANA for U, a trading company based near Incheon, Korea. See the Korea export sourcing overview.
Frequently asked questions
Can a retail chain mix many small household lines from Korea in one container?
Yes. That is the usual way to buy this category. A consolidator collects the lines from different manufacturers and wholesalers, repacks where needed and ships them in one container with a single invoice and packing list that lists every line with its HS code.
Do household goods bought in Korea automatically get FTA duty rates?
No. The preferential rate applies only to goods that meet the agreement’s origin rule for Korea and ship with a valid certificate or declaration of origin. Many items sold in Korean wholesale markets are made in other countries; those pay the general duty rate and must be marked with their real country of origin.
Which duty rate applies to a mixed container?
Each line is assessed under its own HS code. Plastic household articles, steel and aluminium kitchenware, glassware, ceramics and brushes sit in different headings with different rates, so the packing list must show the material and HS code per line.
What does Malaysia require for ceramic tableware and cookware?
Ceramic ware for food use must meet the lead and cadmium release limits in Regulation 28 of the Food Regulations 1985 and each imported consignment needs a certificate confirming this. From 1 August 2026 the limits also cover ceramic cooking ware. The importer should confirm the current document format with the Ministry of Health.
Can detergents and cleaning liquids go in the same container?
Sometimes. They are chemical products, so each needs a safety data sheet, a transport classification and a label that meets the destination’s rules. Items classed as dangerous goods need separate handling, and the importer must confirm any registration or labelling approval in its own country first.
Is a 20-foot or a 40-foot container better for household goods?
Light, bulky goods fill the space before they reach the weight limit, so a 40-foot container, with about twice the volume of a 20-foot one, usually carries more pieces per unit of freight. A 20-foot container suits a first order or a dense mix of glass, ceramic and steel items.
Sources
- US International Trade Commission, “Harmonized Tariff Schedule, headings 3924, 7323, 7615, 7013, 6912, 9603”, https://hts.usitc.gov/ (accessed October 2026)
- Morgan Lewis, “US administration rebuilds global tariff program under Section 301”, https://www.morganlewis.com/pubs/2026/07/us-administration-rebuilds-global-tariff-program-under-section-301 (accessed October 2026)
- Baker Donelson, “Section 301 tariffs imposed to replace expiring Section 122 tariffs”, https://www.bakerdonelson.com/forced-labor-section-301-tariffs-imposed-to-replace-expiring-section-122-tariffs-what-importers-need-to-know (accessed October 2026)
- Korea Economic Institute of America, “What happens to the U.S.-Korea trade deal with IEEPA off the table?”, https://keia.org/the-peninsula/what-happens-to-the-u-s-korea-trade-deal-with-ieepa-off-the-table/ (accessed October 2026)
- Korea Pro, “US Supreme Court ruling shakes legal basis of Trump tariff deals”, https://koreapro.org/2026/02/us-supreme-court-ruling-shakes-legal-basis-of-trump-tariff-deals/ (accessed October 2026)
- European Commission, “EU trade relations with South Korea”, https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/eu-trade-relationships-country-and-region/countries-and-regions/south-korea_en (accessed October 2026)
- European Commission, Access2Markets, “EU-South Korea Free Trade Agreement”, https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/content/eu-south-korea-free-trade-agreement (accessed October 2026)
- UK Government, “UK Integrated Online Tariff, headings 3924, 7323, 7615, 7013, 6911, 6912, 9603”, https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/ (accessed October 2026)
- Japan Customs, “Japan’s Tariff Schedule as of 1 April 2026, chapters 39, 69, 70, 73, 76, 96”, https://www.customs.go.jp/english/tariff/2026_04_01/index.htm (accessed October 2026)
- Tariff Commission of the Philippines, “Philippine Tariff Finder”, https://finder.tariffcommission.gov.ph/ (accessed October 2026)
- Royal Malaysian Customs Department, “JKDM ezHS tariff search”, https://ezhs.customs.gov.my/ (accessed October 2026)
- US International Trade Administration, “Malaysia country commercial guide: import tariffs”, https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/malaysia-import-tariffs (accessed October 2026)
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- Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, Malaysia, “ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement”, https://fta.miti.gov.my/index.php/pages/view/asean-korea (accessed October 2026)
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- UAE Government portal, “Clearing the customs and paying customs duty”, https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/finance-and-investment/clearing-the-customs-and-paying-customs-duty (accessed October 2026)
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This guide is general information, not legal, tax or customs advice. Brand and product names belong to their owners; no affiliation is implied.
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