Top 10 Water Filter Cartridge Manufacturers in China (2026)

Last Updated: October 17, 2026

China produces over 60% of the world’s water filter cartridges. But when you search for “water filter cartridge manufacturer China,” you get thousands of results — and telling a world-class OEM factory from a repackaging trader takes real due diligence.

This guide profiles the 10 best water filter cartridge manufacturers in China, ranked by production capacity, certification portfolio, OEM flexibility, and export track record. Every company listed here is a verified factory (not a trading company) with documented certifications and active international sales.

Key Takeaways:

• The Ningbo-Cixi corridor in Zhejiang Province is the global epicenter for cartridge manufacturing, producing 2M+ cartridges per month across multiple factories.
• Only about 15-20% of Chinese cartridge factories hold genuine, current NSF/ANSI 42 or 53 certification — always verify at info.nsf.org.
• FOB pricing for standard 10” cartridges ranges from $0.18 (PP sediment) to $5.50 (UF membrane) depending on media type and order volume.

---

How We Ranked These Manufacturers

We evaluated cartridge-specific criteria that matter to B2B importers, distributors, and private-label brands:

Criterion	Weight	Why It Matters
Cartridge production capacity	25%	Ensures supply continuity for growing brands
NSF/WQA/FDA certifications	25%	Non-negotiable for North American and European markets
OEM/ODM flexibility	20%	Custom media, housing, labeling, and packaging options
Export market coverage	15%	Proven logistics and compliance experience
Carbon and media quality	15%	Determines actual filtration performance and cartridge lifespan

Unlike our broader guide to China’s water filter manufacturers — which covers complete systems, membranes, and equipment — this article focuses exclusively on replaceable filter cartridge production: PP sediment, GAC, CTO carbon block, quick-connect inline, UF, and specialty cartridges.

---

1. Ningbo XZH Environmental Technology (HL Water)

Location: Cixi, Ningbo, Zhejiang Specialty: Quick-connect cartridges, standard 10”/20” replacement cartridges, Everpure-compatible commercial cartridges Monthly Capacity: 2,000,000+ cartridges MOQ: 500 pcs (standard), 1,000 pcs (custom OEM)

Ningbo XZH (brand: HL Water / Star Navigation) is a dedicated cartridge manufacturer headquartered in the Cixi water filtration cluster. Their product line covers the full spectrum of replaceable cartridges: PP melt-blown and string-wound sediment filters, GAC and UDF carbon cartridges, CTO carbon block filters, T33 post-carbon, quick-connect inline cartridges for refrigerators and under-sink systems, and Everpure-compatible bayonet-mount commercial cartridges.

What sets XZH apart is the combination of genuine certification depth and low MOQ accessibility. They hold NSF component certification, FDA registration, and WQA membership — verified through public databases — while offering MOQs as low as 500 pieces. That means smaller distributors and startup brands can access factory-direct pricing without committing to container-load volumes.

Their coconut shell activated carbon filters use 1,050+ mg/g iodine value media, and their Ningbo location provides direct access to Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, minimizing inland logistics cost. Full OEM/ODM service includes custom media formulation, housing color, cap printing, multilingual packaging, and Amazon listing support.

Certifications: NSF/ANSI 42, FDA, ISO 9001, WQA, SGS

Request samples and OEM pricing from XZH →

---

2. Membrane Solutions (MS)

Location: Nanjing, Jiangsu Specialty: Standard replacement cartridges, RO membranes, inline filters Monthly Capacity: 1,500,000+ cartridges MOQ: 1,000 pcs

Membrane Solutions is a large-scale cartridge manufacturer with strong presence on Amazon and other e-commerce platforms. Their product line includes PP sediment, GAC, CTO carbon block, inline filters, string-wound cartridges, and RO membrane elements. They are one of the few Chinese cartridge manufacturers selling directly to end consumers under their own MS brand in North America and Europe, which means their products go through actual market validation — not just factory-floor testing.

Their strength is in standard replacement cartridges that are compatible with major brand housings (GE, Whirlpool, Kenmore). The Nanjing facility also produces specialty cartridges including deionization (DI) resin and iron-removal media.

Certifications: NSF/ANSI 42, NSF/ANSI 53, FDA, SGS, ISO 9001

---

3. Pureflow Filter Technology

Location: Xiamen, Fujian Specialty: Carbon block (CTO/ACB) cartridges, high-performance filtration media Monthly Capacity: 800,000+ cartridges MOQ: 2,000 pcs

Pureflow is a specialist carbon block cartridge manufacturer with proprietary sintering technology for producing high-density activated carbon blocks. Their carbon block cartridges achieve consistent chlorine reduction rates above 97% (tested per NSF/ANSI 42 protocol) with precise micron control from 0.5 to 25 microns.

They source coconut shell activated carbon from Sri Lanka and Indonesia, with iodine values verified at 1,000+ mg/g. Beyond standard CTO cartridges, Pureflow produces VOC-reduction cartridges, lead-reduction composite blocks, and catalytic carbon blocks for chloramine removal. If your business focuses on premium cartridges with health-contaminant reduction claims, Pureflow’s media expertise is a strong fit.

Certifications: NSF/ANSI 42, NSF/ANSI 53, ISO 9001, SGS

---

4. Karofi Group (Hai Phong Manufacturing)

Location: Hai Phong, Vietnam (Chinese-invested, supply chain from Guangdong) Specialty: Complete cartridge sets for RO systems, quick-change cartridges Monthly Capacity: 1,000,000+ cartridges MOQ: 500 pcs

Karofi is Vietnam-based but sources key components (carbon media, membrane elements, housing pellets) from established Guangdong suppliers. They are included here because Karofi is a major OEM cartridge supplier to Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern markets. Their strength is complete 5-7 stage cartridge sets: PP + GAC + CTO + RO membrane + T33, packaged as annual replacement kits for residential RO systems.

The Vietnam factory location offers a dual advantage: lower labor cost than coastal China and tariff avoidance for buyers in markets that impose anti-dumping duties on Chinese-origin water filtration products. However, their carbon block technology and membrane quality depend on Chinese supply inputs, so the quality consistency requires careful incoming inspection.

Certifications: ISO 9001, FDA, CE, SGS

---

5. Guangzhou Litree Purifying Technology

Location: Guangzhou, Guangdong Specialty: UF membrane cartridges, hollow-fiber membrane elements Monthly Capacity: 500,000+ UF cartridges + 10M sqm membrane/year MOQ: 500 pcs (residential), project-based (industrial)

Litree is China’s leading manufacturer of hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membrane cartridges. They produce their own PVC alloy hollow-fiber membrane from raw resin — one of the few Chinese companies with full vertical integration from polymer to finished cartridge. Their UF cartridges feature 0.01 micron pore size, removing 99.99% of bacteria and 99.9% of cysts while retaining beneficial minerals.

For importers focused on UF-based purification systems (common in Southeast Asia, India, and Middle East where users want bacteria removal without the waste water of RO), Litree offers both standard 10” and custom-dimension UF cartridges. Their membrane technology is patented in China, the US, and the EU.

Certifications: NSF/ANSI 42, NSF/ANSI 53, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, CE

---

6. Shanghai Canature Environmental Products

Location: Shanghai (HQ) + Jiangsu (manufacturing) Specialty: Water softener cartridges, resin media, whole-house filter cartridges Monthly Capacity: 300,000+ cartridges and media packs MOQ: 200 pcs

Canature is best known for whole-house water treatment systems, but their cartridge division produces standard and Big Blue replacement cartridges, ion-exchange resin packs, KDF media cartridges, and sediment filters for residential and commercial use. Their unique strength is producing both the control valves and the replacement cartridges for whole-house filtration systems — a one-stop OEM solution for distributors selling complete water softening product lines.

Canature’s export team has deep experience with European certification requirements (WRAS, DVGW), making them a strong partner for UK and German market entry.

Certifications: NSF/ANSI 44, NSF/ANSI 61, WQA Gold Seal, ISO 9001, WRAS, CE

---

7. Zhejiang Qinyuan Water Treatment

Location: Cixi, Zhejiang Specialty: Standard replacement cartridges, commercial filtration cartridges Monthly Capacity: 800,000+ cartridges MOQ: 300 pcs

Qinyuan has been manufacturing water treatment products in Cixi for over 25 years. Their cartridge line includes all standard 10” and 20” formats (PP, GAC, CTO, UDF, T33) plus commercial-grade high-capacity cartridges for restaurant and hotel use. Located in the same Cixi manufacturing cluster as XZH, Qinyuan benefits from the region’s deep supply chain for carbon media, PP resin, and cartridge housing components.

Their commercial cartridges are designed for high-flow applications (2-4 GPM) with extended service life — a segment that overlaps with Everpure and 3M replacement cartridges. MOQ starts at just 300 pieces, suitable for importers testing commercial foodservice markets.

Certifications: NSF, ISO 9001, CCC, CE, WRAS

---

8. Shenzhen Watts Water Technology (China)

Location: Shenzhen, Guangdong Specialty: Premium carbon block, specialty reduction cartridges Monthly Capacity: 600,000+ cartridges MOQ: 1,000 pcs

Watts’ Shenzhen facility focuses on high-performance carbon block cartridges, including PFAS-reduction media and lead-reduction composite blocks. Their cartridges target the premium segment of the replacement market — distributors selling under private labels that need to make specific contaminant reduction claims backed by NSF 53 test data.

For importers targeting the North American and European replacement cartridge aftermarket, Watts China provides the test documentation and certifications needed to compete with branded alternatives from Pentair (Everpure) and 3M. The tradeoff is higher MOQ (1,000 pcs) and pricing 15-25% above commodity cartridge manufacturers.

Certifications: NSF/ANSI 42, NSF/ANSI 53, WQA Gold Seal, FDA, ISO 9001

---

9. Hainan Litai Environmental Technology

Location: Haikou, Hainan Specialty: CTO carbon block cartridges, activated carbon block (ACB) Monthly Capacity: 2,000,000+ CTO cartridges MOQ: 2,000 pcs

Litai is a pure-play carbon block specialist with one of the highest production capacities in the segment. Their Hainan location provides proximity to coconut-growing regions, reducing carbon procurement lead time and cost. They produce standard CTO cartridges in all common sizes (10”x2.5”, 10”x4.5”, 20”x2.5”, 20”x4.5”) with micron ratings from 1 to 25.

Beyond standard CTO, Litai manufactures VOC-reduction carbon blocks, catalytic carbon for chloramine reduction, and composite blocks with integrated scale inhibition. If your product line is heavy on carbon block cartridges and you need consistent, high-volume supply at competitive pricing, Litai’s scale is hard to match.

Certifications: NSF/ANSI 42, ISO 9001, SGS, FDA

---

10. Foshan Shunde Midea Water Purification

Location: Foshan, Guangdong Specialty: Proprietary quick-change cartridges for Midea ecosystem Monthly Capacity: 1,000,000+ cartridges MOQ: 1,000 pcs (OEM), 5,000 pcs (custom)

Midea’s water purification division produces proprietary quick-change cartridge sets for the Midea water purifier ecosystem — one of China’s largest installed bases. While Midea primarily manufactures cartridges for their own branded systems, they also offer OEM production for partners who want cartridges with similar quick-change mechanisms.

The value for international importers is access to Midea’s supply chain infrastructure: automated carbon block sintering lines, advanced injection molding for housing, and quality systems backed by the Midea Group’s $50B+ ecosystem. However, Midea’s cartridge OEM service is less flexible than dedicated cartridge factories — custom media formulations and non-standard dimensions may face higher MOQ requirements.

Certifications: NSF, WQA Gold Seal, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, CE, CB

---

Manufacturer Comparison Table

Manufacturer	Location	Specialty	Monthly Capacity	MOQ	Key Certifications	Best For
XZH / HL Water	Ningbo, Zhejiang	Quick-connect, standard, commercial	2M+	500	NSF 42, FDA, WQA	Low-MOQ OEM, full cartridge range
Membrane Solutions	Nanjing, Jiangsu	Standard replacement, inline	1.5M+	1,000	NSF 42/53, FDA	Amazon/e-commerce brands
Pureflow	Xiamen, Fujian	Carbon block (CTO/ACB)	800K+	2,000	NSF 42/53	Premium carbon performance
Karofi	Hai Phong, Vietnam	RO cartridge sets	1M+	500	ISO, FDA, CE	SE Asia, tariff avoidance
Litree	Guangzhou, Guangdong	UF membrane cartridges	500K+	500	NSF 42/53	UF-based purification
Canature	Shanghai	Softener & whole-house cartridges	300K+	200	NSF 44/61, WQA, WRAS	European market entry
Qinyuan	Cixi, Zhejiang	Standard & commercial	800K+	300	NSF, WRAS, CE	Commercial foodservice
Watts China	Shenzhen, Guangdong	Premium carbon block	600K+	1,000	NSF 42/53, WQA	Contaminant reduction claims
Litai	Haikou, Hainan	CTO carbon block	2M+	2,000	NSF 42, FDA	High-volume carbon block
Midea Water	Foshan, Guangdong	Quick-change proprietary	1M+	1,000	NSF, WQA, CE	Midea-ecosystem compatible

---

What to Check Before Placing an Order

Choosing a manufacturer from a list is the easy part. The hard part is validating quality before committing volume. Here is the due diligence checklist we recommend to every importer:

1. Verify certifications independently. Search the manufacturer’s legal name (not brand name) at info.nsf.org for NSF, wqa.org for WQA, and request original test reports — not just certificate PDFs. See our water filter certification guide for a complete breakdown of what each standard covers.

2. Request carbon quality documentation. Ask for iodine value test reports (ASTM D4607) — premium coconut shell carbon should be 1,000+ mg/g. Ask for the certificate of origin for carbon raw material. Factories using recycled or coal-based carbon will avoid providing this documentation.

3. Order samples before committing. Get 5-10 sample cartridges and test them: weigh each cartridge (weight variation over 5% indicates inconsistent media fill), run a flow rate test, and if possible send one to a local lab for chlorine reduction testing.

4. Start with a trial order. Place one MOQ-level order and conduct AQL 2.5 incoming inspection before scaling volume. This single step prevents 90% of quality disasters.

5. Confirm export compliance. Ensure the cartridges meet your target market’s import requirements. North America needs NSF + FDA. Europe needs EU 10/2011 food-contact compliance. UK needs WRAS. Your manufacturer should provide all required documentation — if they cannot, that is a red flag.

For a deeper dive into the factory evaluation process, read our OEM manufacturer selection guide.

---

Regional Manufacturing Clusters

China’s cartridge manufacturing concentrates in four key regions:

• Ningbo-Cixi-Yuyao (Zhejiang): The world’s largest cartridge cluster. Home to XZH, Qinyuan, and 200+ cartridge factories. Deep supply chain for PP resin, activated carbon, injection molds, and packaging. Direct access to Ningbo-Zhoushan Port.
• Pearl River Delta (Guangdong): Strengths in UF membrane, premium carbon block, and smart cartridge technology. Home to Litree, Watts China, and Midea. Electronics integration capabilities from Shenzhen.
• Yangtze River Delta (Jiangsu/Shanghai): Focus on standard replacement cartridges and whole-house media. Home to Membrane Solutions and Canature.
• Fujian (Xiamen): Niche cluster for high-performance carbon block and ceramic elements. Home to Pureflow.

---

Ready to Source?

If you are comparing cartridge suppliers, the fastest path is to request samples from 3-5 factories on this list — focusing on the ones whose specialty matches your product line.

Ningbo XZH (HL Water) offers the widest cartridge range with the lowest MOQ on this list (500 pcs). Whether you need quick-connect inline cartridges, standard 10”/20” replacement filters, Everpure-compatible commercial cartridges, or shower filter cartridges — we ship samples within 5 business days and quote within 24 hours.

Request Samples & OEM Pricing →

---

Related Guides

• Top 10 Water Filter Manufacturers in China (2026) — Broader overview including complete system manufacturers
• OEM Water Filter Manufacturer in China — How to Evaluate & Select
• Carbon Water Filter Types: GAC vs CTO vs Coconut Shell
• Water Filter Certifications: NSF 42/53/58 vs FDA vs CE
• CTO Carbon Block Filter Cartridge Complete Guide