What is wheat head (mark)? How to write the main mark and side mark - everything you need to know about shipping customs declaration
Lucky Carrier provides China-to-Taiwan logistics. The China warehouse identifies inbound parcels by customer code; commercial cargo marks are checked against packing lists, invoices, transport documents and carrier requirements. A shipping mark does not replace legally required cargo details.
What is wheat head (mark)?
wheat head (also written as shipping mark , English Shipping Mark) is a mark printed, written or affixed on the outer packaging of goods (cartons, wooden boxes, pallets) to display cargo information. It is a standard term for international trade and shipping.
origin : "Mark" is the transliteration of the English word mark. In Taiwan and the Chinese-speaking trade circle, it is pronounced as ㄇㄚˋ (mà) , which means "mark, mark".
is written as : "Maitou" and "Mark" are synonymous, and both are commonly used in the industry; official documents and trade textbooks often write "Mark".
format : It can be printed, written with an oil-based pen, or printed with a label, and affixed to a conspicuous place on the outer box (usually the front and side of the box).
Purpose : Allows goods to be quickly identified during transportation, transshipment, customs declaration, and unpacking, and corresponds to shipping documents (bill of lading, invoice, packing list).
The composition of wheat head: front mark (main mark) + side mark
A complete wheat head usually consists of two parts: "front mark (main mark)" and "side mark". The front mark is necessary to identify the subject; the side mark is supplementary information to facilitate inventory and distribution of goods.
① Main mark (main mark) - must be identifiable
- Consignee/Buyer logo：The English abbreviation or graphic mark of the consignee or buyer (required to identify the subject)
- Reference number：Traceable reference number such as waybill number, order number or invoice number
- Destination port (place)：Destination port or destination name for transshipment and unpacking diversion
- Number of pieces/batch number：The number of pieces or batch number of this batch of goods
- Manufacturing country/origin：The manufacturing country or origin of the goods (related to the customs declaration origin)
- (Optional) Consignee’s address and phone number：In some cases, add the consignee's address and phone number for easy contact.
② Side mark──Supplementary information
- Contract number/license number：Sales contract number, import and export license number
- Payment number/order number：Product model number or corresponding order number
- Gross weight/net weight：Gross Weight and Net Weight
- Volume (volume)：Box volume (CBM), used for space and freight calculations
- Packing and matching：Description of items included in this box
- Box serial number：For example, 1/10, 2/10, indicate which box this box is in the whole batch.
- Quality level：Goods quality or grade indication
UNECE 標準化 Shipping Mark
UNECE Recommendation 15 建議以簡化、標準化的方式識別國際貨物。下列四項是標準 Shipping Mark 的核心欄位；搬運與儲存圖示則另見 ISO 780:2015。
Consignee’s English abbreviation
The main mark to identify the owner of the cargo, usually the English abbreviation of the buyer's company.
Reference number
Traceability numbers such as waybill number/order number/invoice number.
destination
Destination port or destination name for transshipment diversion.
part number
Piece number or box serial number (such as 1/10) to facilitate counting.
Do container shipping customers need to write their own Maitou?
This is the most common question asked by Taobao/1688 container shipping customers. The answer depends on whether you are "General C-side Consolidation " or "Commercial Bulk Self-Transportation ":
General Taobao container shipping customers: no need to write it yourself
- Consolidators (such as HowBridge) will collect and ship on behalf of . When placing an order, the system will automatically mark the shipping warehouse address and your customer code .
- What you fill in at Taobao/1688 is container warehouse address + customer code . After the package is put into the warehouse, it will be identified and returned to the home by the consolidator.
- There is no need to write the front and side marks on the outer box by hand, and there is no need to deal with the bill of lading marks.
Commercial Bulk/Find your own shipping: Correct shipping mark
- If is commercially imported, FCL or you arrange sea transportation by yourself, you need to prepare the correct front and side marks according to the sales contract and customs declaration requirements.
- The mark must be consistent with packing list, invoice, and bill of lading , otherwise it will be easy to get stuck in customs inspection.
- This part of HowBridge provides consolidation + AEO customs declaration agency , which can handle shipping marks and customs declaration documents on behalf of customers.
Examples of wheat head writing (front mark/side mark)
The following is a typical example of commercial export wheat. Please adjust the actual content according to the sales contract, consignee and customs declaration requirements.
Example of main mark (main mark)ABC CO.P/O: 20260625-001KEELUNG, TAIWANC/NO. 1-10MADE IN CHINA
Side mark exampleG.W.: 18.5 KGSN.W.: 16.0 KGSMEAS: 0.045 CBMC/NO. 1/10
What is N.M.? N.M. is the abbreviation of No Mark (no mark) . If the goods are not marked, "N.M." will be marked on the document. Generally speaking, it is still recommended to mark at least the consignee's abbreviation and box serial number to avoid difficulties in inventory and customs clearance.
國際標準與文件來源
外箱標記、裝箱單欄位、危險品標示與目的國要求是不同規範，須按貨物與運輸方式分別確認。
UNECE Recommendation 15：Simpler Shipping MarksISO 780:2015：包裝搬運與儲存圖示U.S. International Trade Administration：Packing List 欄位與用途
Frequently Asked Questions (Maitou/Marktou FAQ)
Are wheat heads and marks the same thing?
Yes, "Maitou" and "Mark" are synonymous. In English, both are Shipping Marks, which refers to the mark printed on the outer box of the goods for identification and customs clearance. Formal trade documents are often written with "mark", and "mark" is pronounced as ㄇㄚˋ, which is the transliteration of the English mark.
How to write Maitou? What are the minimum things to write?
According to ISO's recommendations for shipping marks, at least four items should be included: consignee's English abbreviation, reference number (waybill/order/invoice number), destination, and piece number. In practice, gross weight, volume and warning icons (fragile, upward, moisture-proof) are often added.
Taobao Do I need to affix wheat labels on the package myself?
Generally, the C-side Taobao/1688 container shipping customer does not need to write by itself. The consolidator will collect and ship the goods on your behalf. When placing an order, the warehouse address and your customer number will be automatically marked. After the package is put into the warehouse, the consolidator will identify it and return it to your home. Only when you are importing in bulk or arranging your own shipping, you need to bring the correct shipping mark.
What does N.M. mean?
N.M. is the abbreviation of No Mark. If the shipment is not marked, N.M. will be noted on the document. However, it is generally recommended to mark at least the consignee's abbreviation and box serial number to avoid difficulties in inventory and customs clearance.