MPN (Manufacturer Part Number)
The code a manufacturer assigns to a product or part, shared by every reseller — used by marketplaces to match listings, especially when no GTIN exists.
An MPN (Manufacturer Part Number) is the unique code a manufacturer assigns to a specific product or part. Unlike a SKU — which each retailer designs for itself — the MPN is set by the manufacturer and is the same across every reseller that sells the item. That shared consistency is exactly what makes MPNs useful for matching listings.
MPN vs SKU vs GTIN
- MPN — assigned by the manufacturer, identical across all resellers of the product.
- SKU — assigned by each retailer, internal and unique to that business.
- GTIN/UPC/EAN — globally standardized identifiers administered by GS1.
Why MPNs matter on marketplaces
Google Shopping and many marketplaces use the MPN — often combined with the brand — to match your offer to a known product, especially for items that lack a GTIN (custom, bundled, or older products). Providing an accurate brand + MPN pair improves matching, eligibility, and discoverability.
Managing MPNs in a PIM
A PIM stores the MPN as a governed attribute alongside SKU, GTIN, UPC, and EAN on one canonical record. Apimio keeps the manufacturer’s MPN linked to your internal SKU and pushes both to the right Shopify fields and marketplace feeds, so listings match correctly even when a GTIN is missing.