Tableware and kitchenware; of porcelain or china

HS code 691110 covers the import and export of tableware and kitchenware made of porcelain or china. This industry plays a crucial role in the global housewares and home furnishings market, providing essential items for households, restaurants, and other commercial establishments. As a highly specialized sector, the production and trade of porcelain and china tableware and kitchenware contribute significantly to the broader economy, with applications across various industries.

The production of porcelain and china tableware and kitchenware involves a multi-step process. Key techniques include the mixing and refining of raw materials, such as kaolin, feldspar, and quartz, to create a fine clay body. This clay is then shaped using methods like slip casting, jiggering, or pressing, before being dried, glazed, and fired in high-temperature kilns. The firing process is crucial, as it fuses the glaze and clay, resulting in the durable, glossy finish characteristic of porcelain and china products.

The main inputs required for the production of porcelain and china tableware and kitchenware include high-quality raw materials like kaolin, feldspar, and quartz, as well as specialized equipment such as molds, kilns, and glazing machinery. Additionally, skilled labor, including ceramic artists and technicians, is essential for the intricate design and manufacturing processes involved in this industry.

The primary outputs of HS code 691110 are a wide range of tableware and kitchenware items, such as plates, bowls, cups, saucers, and serving dishes. These products are often used in 630610 Tableware, kitchenware, other household articles and toilet articles, of porcelain or china and 691200 Ceramic tableware, kitchenware, other household articles and toilet articles, other than of porcelain or china industries, as well as in the 940510 Chandeliers and other electric ceiling or wall lighting fittings, excluding those for lighting public open spaces or thoroughfares and 940520 Electric table, desk, bedside or floor-standing lamps sectors, where porcelain and china items are used for decorative and functional purposes.