Operational procedures for importing from China

When it comes to international import transportation and customs clearance in China, the process is tightly regulated but efficient, particularly given China’s status as one of the largest trading nations in the world. Below is an overview of what to expect when importing goods into China, focusing on transportation and customs procedures.

International Import Transportation to China

The transportation of goods into China typically involves several methods depending on the nature of the goods, cost, and urgency:

Sea Freight: Most imports to China are shipped by sea due to its cost-effectiveness for bulk goods. China is home to some of the world’s largest ports, such as Shanghai, Shenzhen, Ningbo, and Guangzhou, and these ports handle millions of containers annually. Sea freight is typically slower than air freight, but it's the preferred method for large or non-urgent shipments.

Air Freight: Used for high-value, time-sensitive goods. China has several international airports, including Beijing Capital, Shanghai Pudong, and Guangzhou Baiyun, which act as key international hubs for air freight.

Rail Freight: With the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has expanded its rail network significantly. Goods can be transported by rail from Europe, Central Asia, and even parts of Southeast Asia, making it a viable alternative to sea or air freight for certain goods.

Road Transport: Once goods arrive in China, they are often transported by truck to various inland locations, especially in the case of shorter distances. Cross-border road transport is used for imports from neighboring countries such as Russia, Mongolia, and countries in Southeast Asia.

Customs Clearance Process in China

The customs clearance process in China is managed by the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC). Here’s an overview of the key steps:

A. Required Documentation

To ensure a smooth customs clearance process, you’ll need to provide the following documents:

· Bill of Lading (BOL) or Airway Bill (AWB): This document proves ownership of the goods and contains shipment details.

· Commercial Invoice: A bill from the exporter to the importer that details the value and nature of the goods.

· Packing List: An itemized list of the goods, including their dimensions, weight, and packaging details.

· Customs Declaration Form: This form is required for all imports and must be submitted to customs authorities.

· Certificate of Origin: This document shows where the goods were manufactured and may be needed for preferential tariff treatment.

· Import License: Certain goods (such as food, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals) require an import license in addition to the standard documentation.

· Insurance Certificate: Required in case the goods are insured during transportation.

B. Customs Duties and Taxes

China imposes Customs Duties, Value Added Tax (VAT), and sometimes Consumption Tax (CT) on imports. The rates depend on the classification of the goods:

· Customs Duty: Based on the Customs Tariff of the People's Republic of China, which categorizes products into different categories with varying duty rates. These are generally calculated as a percentage of the customs value (CIF – Cost, Insurance, and Freight).

· VAT: The standard VAT rate for imports into China is 13% for most goods, but it can be lower or higher depending on the product category (e.g., 9% for certain foods, books, and electronic products).

· Consumption Tax (CT): Applied to certain luxury goods, including alcohol, tobacco, and some cosmetics.

C. Customs Declaration and Inspection

· Customs Declaration: The customs broker or the importing company will submit a Customs Declaration Form to the China Customs authorities. This includes details about the goods, their origin, and their value.

· Inspection: Customs authorities may perform physical inspections or sampling of goods. Inspections are especially common for high-risk or regulated items like food, electronics, and pharmaceuticals. Customs also uses risk management systems to flag shipments for detailed examination.

D. Customs Clearance and Release

After customs approval, the goods will be released for delivery. The customs clearance time in China can vary but typically takes between 1-3 days, depending on the efficiency of documentation, the type of goods, and whether additional inspection is required.

Special Considerations for Imports to China

· Restricted and Prohibited Goods: China has strict import restrictions and bans on certain products, such as hazardous chemicals, drugs, firearms, and some types of food and plants. It is important to research whether your products fall into any restricted category.

· HS Code Classification: Ensure that the products are correctly classified under the Harmonized System (HS) code, as this will directly affect the customs duties and VAT applied to the goods. Errors in classification can result in fines or delays.

· Import Permits for Certain Products: Some products, such as food, medicine, and cosmetics, require additional certifications or permits from Chinese authorities (e.g., CFDA approval for pharmaceuticals).

· E-commerce Imports: China has a rapidly growing e-commerce market, and cross-border e-commerce imports have different procedures. For example, goods bought from overseas and sold via e-commerce platforms may be subject to a simplified customs clearance process.

Choosing the Right Customs Broker or Freight Forwarder

Given the complexity of international trade regulations, many businesses opt to hire a customs broker or freight forwarder to handle the customs clearance process. These professionals can help navigate the regulatory environment and ensure that the necessary documents and fees are properly managed.

Technology and Automation

In recent years, China has increasingly adopted digital platforms for managing the import process. For example:

· China’s Single Window System: This system allows for the submission of customs declarations, tax information, and other documents online, making the clearance process faster and more streamlined.

· Automation in Ports: Major ports in China are heavily automated with technologies like container tracking and robotic unloading, which helps speed up the import process.

Challenges

· Complexity: The documentation requirements, taxes, and regulations can be complicated, and the process can be time-consuming for new importers.

· Language Barrier: Many official documents are in Chinese, so international traders might face language barriers unless they have professional assistance.

· Changing Regulations: Trade regulations in China can change rapidly, especially in response to geopolitical shifts or changes in China’s economic strategy. Keeping up with these changes is crucial.

Best Practices

· Due Diligence: Ensure all paperwork is accurate and complete, and verify that your products comply with Chinese regulations.

· Work with Experts: Collaborating with experienced customs brokers or freight forwarders can ensure smoother clearance.

· Stay Informed: Keep up with China’s changing import regulations and tariffs, particularly if there are trade policy shifts (e.g., under WTO agreements or trade disputes).

Main international import products

Food: chicken wings, chicken feet, seafood, milk, fruit, etc.

Alcohol: red wine, foreign wine

Electronic products: circuit boards, original electronic parts

Machinery: large equipment, medical equipment, second-hand machinery

The import process, taking the import of red wine to China by sea as an example:

As the most common food, red wine is a huge market for red wine consumption in China. Famous wineries around the world have their own agents in China to sell red wine, and the most are from: Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Brazil, Mexico, the United States, France, Italy, Germany, Portugal, and Spain. Wine is gradually being accepted by the Chinese. Whether it is daily meals or wedding banquets, red wine is also a common drink at the banquet.

Friends who are preparing to export red wine to China and do wine business often don’t know how to transport it internationally to China for sale. They need to fully understand the process of exporting food and red wine to China by sea. As a company with rich experience in import international logistics, Viputrans provides a detailed import process, including picking up goods at the winery at the departure place, export customs declaration, international shipping, China import customs clearance, delivery to the designated address, what information and labels are required, etc.

The process of exporting food and red wine to China by sea is only applicable to regular container import and export transportation.

Process of exporting food and wine to China by sea

1. Confirm the registration of red wine. Confirm whether the red wine you want to export to China has been registered with the Chinese Customs Food. This is the most critical point. If this condition is not confirmed, then even if you ship the red wine to the Chinese port, it is unlikely to complete the import customs clearance, and the container will most likely be returned to the port of departure.

2. Pick up the goods. After booking the cabin at the port of departure, according to the trade terms FOB and EXW with the red wine winery, decide to arrange a trailer to the winery to load the goods, and then ship the container back to the port after loading.

3. Export customs declaration. Usually this work is completed by the local port's ocean freight booking freight forwarder. The winery gives the freight forwarder a complete set of export customs declaration materials required for the export of red wine, and they will complete the export customs declaration procedures.

4. International shipping. It is the job of the shipping company to ship red wine to China internationally. Of course, the shipping company will not accept you to book directly with them. You need to complete the booking through the relevant international freight forwarder. The ordinary red wine shipped to China by sea uses ordinary standard containers: 20GP, 40GP, 40HQ.

If your red wine has high temperature requirements, it is recommended that you use a constant temperature container or a refrigerated container to load it. The freight for using this type of container is about three times higher than that of an ordinary container. The sea transportation time is relatively long. It takes about 30 days and a month to ship from Europe to China by sea. It takes 13 days to ship from Los Angeles, the nearest port in North America, to Shenzhen by sea. The longest time is the international sea transportation from Chile to China, which takes 35 days to arrive at the fastest. The temperature at sea is relatively high, which may affect the red wine in the container, so it is also important to choose what kind of container to ship red wine to China by sea.

5. Customs clearance for imported red wine. It is well known that customs clearance for imported red wine in China is a difficult thing. Don't worry about customs clearance for imported red wine. As long as you prepare the "red wine import customs clearance information", customs clearance is also a very easy thing.

The specific policies of the customs at each port in China are different. Although red wine can be imported into various ports along the coast, the requirements of various customs are different in terms of details, such as when the food label of red wine needs to be affixed. From 2024, the customs of Shenzhen Port will require that imported red wine must be affixed at the place of origin before it can be shipped by sea. Previously, food labels could be affixed in the Shenzhen bonded warehouse. If the importer did not follow this regulation, there was a risk that your red wine would be returned to the port of departure. Guangzhou Huangpu Port allows red wine labels to be affixed after the goods arrive at the port. Tianjin Port Customs has relatively loose requirements for imported red wine. The goods can be affixed before they are sold after customs clearance and sent to the consignee's warehouse.

6. Delivery: After the wine has completed import customs clearance, it will be delivered to the recipient's designated address.

What services does import logistics provide?

1. "China-Europe Express" container railway import, "Europe-China railway export transportation". Professional international import freight forwarding company.

2. International air import, we have close contact and cooperation with freight forwarders at various international airports in the world, and can provide international air import transportation services from major airports in the world to Shenzhen, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.

3. International sea import, full container, we have a good relationship with COSCO Shipping. For sea import full container, we can directly book space in China and provide the warehouse entry paper to your foreign supplier. Goods are imported to major coastal ports. International sea LCL, goods less than one container can be imported and transported through sea LCL service.

4. International express import transportation, use our Hong Kong FEDEX and TNT express accounts, just place an order in China, the express company will pick up the goods from all over the world and then send them to the Hong Kong warehouse, and then from Hong Kong to the mainland.

5. Import customs clearance service. If your goods are imported to a Chinese port and your company does not have import authority, we will provide import authority and help with customs clearance. If your company has import documents, we can provide customs clearance procedures.

6. International express import customs clearance operation process

7. Personal import tax exemption quota

Europe-China Railway Export Transport

Railway land transportation has great advantages over international air transportation and international sea transportation. It has fast transportation time, low freight, and can carry a wide variety of goods.

Since the launch of the "China-Europe Express", more and more goods exported from Europe to China have been transported by rail, and the customer experience has become better and better.

Viputrans has 10 years of experience in European import rail transportation, and has rich experience in both railway LCL and FCL transportation.

According to different goods, volume and weight, and destination, we provide customers with tailor-made railway import transportation solutions to facilitate customs clearance and the best freight, save import costs, and deliver goods safely and timely in the shortest time.

Railway import routes

European railway export transport to Zhengzhou, Xi'an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hefei railway stations.

Railway import countries

The countries of origin for exporting from Europe to China or importing to China include the whole of Europe, Western Europe and Eastern Europe, and of course the United Kingdom.

The countries that frequently export from Europe to China include: Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, Austria, Portugal, Belarus, Poland, Belgium, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, Romania, Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece, etc.

Our European agents can provide pick-up, export customs declaration, warehousing and other services in the whole European countries.

European imports and exports to China

Mirrors, ceramics, beds, mattresses, skis, outdoor products, auto parts, etc.

European rail export services in detail

Services for exporting LCL and 40HC from European railway containers to China include local pickup services in various European countries (truck or container trailer), export customs declaration procedures, railway LCL and FCL booking, domestic customs clearance services, and door-to-door logistics delivery services in China.

Pickup: Door-to-door pickup services to warehouses at the originating railway station in various cities in Europe and the UK, LCL and FCL. Provide detailed pickup address, product name, number of pieces, packaging size, weight, and pickup time.

European export declaration: Assist European shippers to check the information required by the export customs in order to pass the customs review smoothly.

Railway transportation: Provide the departure time of LCL and FCL trains, book space with railway operating companies, and provide cheap railway freight

Customs clearance: Assist domestic import companies in China to declare imports to the Chinese Customs. For some products, the importer does not have import qualifications and customs registration, and we provide import declaration services.

Delivery: After picking up the goods from the domestic railway customs supervision warehouse, they will be delivered to the door through different logistics companies, such as Deppon, Xinbang, Yunda, Yuantong, SF Express, Zhongtong, and Huolala.

Cargo insurance: Assist customers to purchase cargo transportation insurance from insurance companies. Buying insurance for fragile products and high-value goods will be safer and more secure.

International air import logistics

Viputrans international air freight import business has been very popular in the market since its launch. In recent years, the country has opened up to import products, and the improvement of people's living standards has led to an increasing demand for foreign products. In order to cooperate with the country's policies and meet the growing demand for international air freight imports.

At the same time, our international freight forwarders in various countries around the world provide local services for us, including picking up goods, export declaration, booking, documents and other services. We can provide EXW and FOB services for customers to choose. Our local international freight forwarding company will communicate with the shipper on the shipping time and specific conditions of the goods according to our requirements, assist customers in packaging, prepare export documents to comply with the regulations of the airline, and prepare the information required for import at China's international airports.

At various international airports in China (Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, Hong Kong International Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport, Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport), our office staff prepares customs clearance information in advance based on the data provided by foreign countries. When the goods arrive at the airport bonded area, we will declare the import of air freight import goods, pay taxes, and complete the import procedures according to the customs import process.

International air import process

1. Cargo collection: According to the import air cargo airport provided by the customer, we will provide a detailed list of goods: product name, weight, number of pieces, size, and packaging. Whether it is FOB or EXW terms, the Chinese destination airport and other information will be confirmed with the customer for the international air cargo import fee.

2. Booking: After the customer provides us with the booking information, we will contact the foreign shipper to confirm the shipping time and other information and then book with the international air cargo airline.

3. Delivery: The shipper will deliver the goods to the airport warehouse according to the warehouse entry form we provide, or our foreign agent will arrange to pick up the goods.

4. Check documents: Check the international air cargo import documents with the customer and the airline, and arrange air cargo import to the Chinese airport.

5. Carry out import customs clearance procedures

6. Deliver the goods to the customer.

International shipping import

International shipping imports have the advantages of low freight and large cargo volume. More than 80% of international imports are carried out by international shipping. International shipping imports can handle fresh products, raw materials, second-hand machinery, overseas shopping, wine products, etc.

Viputrans International Logistics is one of the few companies in the market that can provide comprehensive international shipping import services. Door-to-door one-stop international shipping imports require reliable freight forwarding cooperation at the destination port to professionally and safely transport the goods back to the country. We have long-term cooperative agents in major ports around the world (North America, South America, Europe, the Mediterranean, Australia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Japan and other countries).

Sea freight LCL import

The best channel for small-volume cargo import is sea freight LCL import. Viputrans provides LCL import services to the United States, Europe, and Australia.

Sea freight full container import

International sea freight full container import relies on our cooperative relationship with major shipping companies. We can complete full container bookings at ports around the world such as Shenzhen/Shanghai/Qingdao/Tianjin/Guangzhou/Xiamen and then import to China. Combined with Viputrans' import customs clearance service at the port, we can complete international sea freight full container import service.

International Express Import

Viputrans provides global import services with FedEx and TNT Express. Customers can get discounts directly by using our courier account. After confirming the import details and import quotation with our company, we will arrange for the courier company to contact the shipper in the foreign country and pick up the goods. After picking up the goods, you can check the trace of your goods according to the courier number.

Import channels and routes

FedEx and TNT Express.

Route: Global to Hong Kong

FedEx Global Import Price IFDP (IP Service)

FedEx Global Import Price IFDP (IP Service) This service is FedEx's fast channel. It is estimated to arrive at the Hong Kong transfer warehouse in 2 to 3 days from the time the goods are picked up.

FedEx Global Import Price IFDE (IE Service)

FedEx Global Import Price IFDE (IE Service) FedEx Economy Channel, estimated to take 7 days to Hong Kong Transshipment Warehouse

TNT Express Global Import IE Quote (Economy Service)

TNT Express Global Import IE Quote (Economy Service) TNT Express import freight is cheap, and it takes 5 to 7 days to arrive at the Hong Kong transit warehouse from all over the world

Import declaration and import customs clearance agent

As a professional import customs declaration and customs clearance agent in China, Viputrans always maintains close communication with customers, strictly and meticulously declares each project in accordance with the import customs declaration laws and regulations stipulated by the national customs.

The customs for international import customs clearance services include: Shenzhen Customs, Guangzhou Customs, Dongguan Customs, Xiamen Customs, Shanghai Customs, Ningbo Customs, Qingdao Customs, and Tianjin Customs.

The channels for import customs clearance services include: international sea freight import, international express import, and international air freight import.

Types of import declarations

Normal import declaration: The importing company has the authority, qualifications and relevant import documents to import the corresponding products. The import declaration agent helps to organize and fill in the information and declare to the customs according to the process.

Agent fee for exporting: The importing company or individual does not have the right to import and has no information. This requires the import declaration agent to provide an import-right and qualified company to declare the import on behalf of the import. This method is called buy-order import declaration, which is also a commonly used formal customs clearance mode.

Tax-inclusive import declaration: This method is actually a variant of the second import declaration. Importing companies will choose a suitable import port to import, the time is unstable, and the import cycle is long. It is not recommended to choose this method.

Import customs declaration process

Accept declaration---review documents---inspect goods---handle taxation---clear customs clearance.

General trade import customs declaration agents need to provide the following information: original factory invoice, packing list, contract, bill of lading, certificate of origin and other related information.

Customs declaration information: customs declaration form, agency customs declaration letter of authorization, contract, invoice, packing list, etc.

Customs clearance procedures for personal mail import goods

1. Confirm that the product can be purchased

2. Confirm the customs broker

3. Consignee's ID card, provide detailed information of the goods, packing list and invoice, product name, material, purpose, customs code, number of pieces, photos, etc.;

4. The customs broker prepares the declaration materials in advance

5. The goods arrive at the Chinese customs

6. The customs broker declares to the Chinese customs

7. The customs gives the tariff bill

8. Pay the tariff and customs clearance fees

9. The customs releases

10. The consignee receives the goods

Personal import duty-free quota, for goods purchased by individuals online from abroad or goods mailed by relatives and friends from abroad to China, the total value of goods is RMB or USD below which customs declaration is exempted. This refers to the method of mailing (EMS international express, DHL international express, FedEx international express, UPS international express, etc.).

The countries that frequently mail goods to China are: the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Hungary, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein; Western Europe: the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Monaco.

China Customs stipulates that if the "personal import duty-free quota" is exceeded, the international express company will notify the domestic consignee to entrust a professional customs clearance company to carry out import customs declaration. If it is not timely, it will be returned, etc.

In order to further standardize the supervision of personal mail items entering and leaving the country and take care of the reasonable needs of consignees and senders, the following matters are hereby announced:

1. For personal mailed items entering the country, the customs shall collect import tax in accordance with the law, but if the amount of import tax to be collected is less than RMB 50 (including RMB 50), the customs shall exempt it.

2. The limit for personal items sent from or to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan is RMB 800 each time; the limit for items sent from or to other countries and regions is RMB 1,000 each time.

3. If personal mailed items entering or leaving the country exceed the prescribed limit, they shall go through the return procedures or go through the customs clearance procedures in accordance with the regulations for goods. However, if there is only one item in the parcel and it is indivisible, although it exceeds the prescribed limit, it can go through the customs clearance procedures in accordance with the regulations for personal items after verification by the customs.

4. Commercial mail imported and exported by mail shall go through the customs clearance procedures in accordance with the regulations for goods.

VIPUTRANS can not only provide import transportation and customs clearance services from China, but also provide export transportation services from China to Europe, Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and other countries. If you have any transportation needs, please feel free to contact us.

Lora Yang    E-mail: sales02@viputrans.com    SKYPE|WECHAT|WHATSAPP|MOB:+86 13424468029