2026 Practical Guide and Compliance Strategy for PET Raw Material Import

Core Compliance and Market Pain Points of PET Imports in 2026

In 2026,domestic demand for PET (polyethylene terephthalate) pellets continues to rise.Whether it’s bottle-grade flakes for mineral water bottle production or fiber-grade flakes for chemical fiber textile,they are highly dependent on import supply chains.However,I have seen too many enterprises neglect compliance details for chemical imports,leading to cargo detention at ports for weeks,not only incurring high container demurrage and storage charges,but also wiping out profits due to retroactive collection of anti-dumping duties.

As a senior operation expert at Zhongshitong,I must frankly tell everyone: PET imports are no longer simple "customs clearance upon arrival of goods".Now the customs inspection system has achieved big data networking,with unprecedentedly strict reviews of HS code classification,authenticity of certificates of origin,and logicality of declaration elements.Especially for PET of specific origins,the verification of anti-dumping duties is a top priority.To achieve efficient customs clearance at Shanghai and national ports,a rigorous import risk control logic must be established.

Accurate HS Code Classification: First Line of Defense Against Anti-Dumping Duties

In PET import business,HS code classification directly determines tariff rates and regulatory requirements.Many novice traders easily confuse polymers in primary forms with flakes for specific uses.Usually,PET pellets are classified under heading 3907.But in practical operations,we need to subdivide based on specific physical states and uses.

Incorrect classification may result in surcharges and fines at minimum,or suspected smuggling violations at maximum.For example,if fiber-grade flakes subject to anti-dumping duties are incorrectly classified as bottle-grade flakes exempt from such duties,once placed under the customs risk control system,the enterprise will face full-scale audit risks.When handling such businesses,Zhongshitong will require clients to provide detailed physical and chemical parameters of goods in advance,including key indicators like viscosity and ethylene glycol content,ensuring declaration elements are completely consistent with actual goods to avoid classification risks at the source.

Anti-Dumping Duty Risk Alert

This is the biggest "minefield" in PET imports in 2026.Currently,China still implements anti-dumping measures against PET flakes originating from South Korea,Thailand and other specific countries.This means,in addition to normal tariffs and value-added tax,importers also need to pay a considerable anti-dumping duty.

I once met a client,Mr.Qiu,who ignored this clause when signing the contract and was shocked that costs exceeded the budget after cargo arrived at the port.Worse still,if a valid certificate of origin proving the "origin country" is not an involved country cannot be provided,or there are minor discrepancies between certificate of origin information and bill of lading/invoice,customs will directly collect the highest tax rate as a security deposit and even refuse to release the cargo.Therefore,at the contracting stage,we must intervene to help clients review the format of certificates of origin provided by exporters to ensure they comply with China’s preferential rules of origin.

Hard-Core Practices for Customs Valuation and Declaration Elements

Customs valuation is another "stumbling block" in PET imports.Chemical raw materials are bulk commodities with frequent price fluctuations,and there are multiple transaction modes in the international market,such as long-term contract prices and spot prices.The customs system maintains a large price risk database; if the declared price is below the database’s alert line,the system will automatically transfer the case to manual valuation.

To deal with valuation,we cannot only provide a contract and invoice.Zhongshitong usually advises enterprises to prepare foreign exchange payment vouchers,insurance policies,and various correspondence emails or telegrams reflecting the transaction process.Especially for related-party transactions,customs will focus on reviewing the rationality of transfer pricing.We need to prepare sufficient supporting materials,such as price adjustment statements and current market reports,to prove the fairness of the declared price.

Filling Specifications for Key Declaration Elements

The filling quality of declaration elements directly determines the customs clearance speed.For PET,the following elements are key inspection priorities for customs:

Full Process Analysis of Document Review and CIQ Customs Clearance

Most PET imports belong to commodities not in the statutory inspection catalogue,but under the 2026 regulatory environment,the inspection rate of customs for "Safety,Health and Environment (SHE)" items has increased significantly.This means,even if an Entry Goods Clearance Certificate is not required,customs may still conduct radiation tests,solid waste attribute screenings,etc.during the port sampling process.

To ensure smooth document flow,we strictly implement the "document pre-review" mechanism in operations.After cargo leaves the port and before arrival,we submit the full set of electronic documents to the customs broker for logical verification.

• Core Document List:
• Packing List,Invoice,Contract: Must Be Consistent in All Three,and the Trade Terms (e.g.FOB/CIF/EXW) Must Match the Actual Foreign Exchange Payment Logic.
• Certificate of Origin: Preferential Certificate of Origin Is Preferred,and the Shipment Date on the Certificate Must Not Be Later Than the Bill of Lading Issuance Date.
• MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet): Although it is general cargo,providing MSDS proves the goods are non-hazardous chemicals and greatly reduces the inspection probability.
• Chinese Label: For Retail Packaging or Specific Industrial Packaging,Customs Will Check Whether There Is a Chinese Label Compliant with GB Standards.

Practical Case: Review of Inspection Triggered by Non-Compliant Declaration Elements

Last year,I took on a tricky case.Supervisor Fan from a client imported a batch of PET bottle-grade flakes from Taiwan,and after the cargo arrived at Shanghai Yangshan Port,it was placed under the customs system with the instruction "Full Inspection".Supervisor Fan was very anxious because the production line was about to face raw material shortage.

Upon receiving the entrustment,I immediately checked the original declaration data and found that the customs broker directly quoted the internal control value from the factory’s final inspection report when filling in the "intrinsic viscosity" indicator,which had a slight deviation from the standard value of the same brand and model in the customs database.This deviation triggered the risk parameter.

We took rapid actions: First,we helped the enterprise submit a "Statement of Situation" to customs,explaining in detail the value fluctuation caused by slight process adjustments for this batch of products,and attached the appraisal report from a third-party authoritative testing institution.Second,we voluntarily applied for "guarantee for release",and with Zhongshitong’s Class A credit rating at Shanghai ports,we coordinated customs to release the cargo first and then conduct supplementary verification.Finally,the cargo was delivered to the factory within 24 hours after inspection,avoiding production shutdown.

This case fully shows that in the face of customs’ inquiries,pure explanations are often weak; only professional data support and compliant operation paths can help turn crisis into opportunity.

Zhongshitong Experts’ Recommendations: Building Import Risk Control System

Under the 2026 trade environment,there must be no reckless behavior in PET imports.With our Shanghai headquarters as the core and linkage with major ports nationwide,Zhongshitong can provide clients with end-to-end services from overseas bill of lading review,port customs clearance to domestic logistics delivery.

I suggest all importers should not only focus on the level of "agency fee" when choosing agency partners.An expert who understands products,customs logic and can predict risks in advance is far more valuable than saving agency fees of a few per thousand.Whether it is dealing with complex calculations of anti-dumping duties or difficult negotiations on customs valuation,Zhongshitong is willing to be your solid support,using our professional experience to ensure every import business is safe,compliant and efficient.