2026 Full Dried Fruit Import Process Breakdown: Key Steps from Overseas Warehouse to Domestic Shelf

Ms.Hong contacted us last month,as one container of her US almonds was stuck in the inspection area of Shanghai Port for over two weeks.The problem lay with the accompanying phytosanitary certificate: its issuance date was later than the on-board date on the bill of lading,so the commodity inspection officer directly ruled the document invalid.This was not just a matter of thousands of yuan in container detention fees,but also meant the entire batch of goods might face return shipment or destruction.Similar incidents happen almost every week in dried fruit import practices.

I am Director Xie from ZST,with over 20 years of experience in customs declaration and food import agency at Shanghai ports.Dried fruits seem like ordinary snacks,but they are classified as "plant-derived food" in the customs and commodity inspection system,with completely different supervision logic from ordinary industrial goods.Today we will skip empty talks and directly go straight to the essential operations and risk points you must know about dried fruit import customs declaration.

1.Pre-Import Critical Requirements: Access Qualification and Documentation,One Mistake Leads to Total Failure

80% of the work should be completed before the goods are shipped.The first threshold for dried fruit import is the national access list for exporting countries and processing plants.This is not determined by individual operators,you must check the Catalogue of Food Exported to China from Countries or Regions Meeting Assessment and Review Requirements published by the General Administration of Customs (affiliated to AQSIQ) in advance.

For example,if you want to import Turkish figs,you first need to confirm that Turkish figs are included in the access list,and secondly,that the overseas production and processing enterprise is registered in China.This registration number must be indicated on the official certificates you submit later.Last year we had a client,Mr.Cheng,who enthusiastically closed a deal for Afghan pine nuts with very competitive prices,only to find that Afghan pine nuts have not obtained market access in China yet,and all his early investment went to waste immediately.

Core documentation is indispensable,and we have listed the checklist below:

• Official Certificate of Origin issued by the exporting country: Especially for dried fruits from RCEP member states (such as Vietnamese cashews),this certificate is the key to enjoying preferential tariff rates and saving customs duties.In 2026,customs carries out very strict verification on the authenticity and standardization of Certificates of Origin.
• Phytosanitary Certificate: Issued by the official quarantine department of the exporting country,to prove that the goods do not carry quarantine pests of concern to China.The information on the certificate (consignor,consignee,product name,container number,seal number) must be completely consistent with the bill of lading,invoice and packing list.
• Official Sanitary Certificate/Health Certificate: To prove that the products meet China’s food safety standards.There is a common pitfall here: you need to confirm whether the testing items on the certificate cover the mandatory requirements of Chinese National Standards (GB),such as mycotoxin and pesticide residue limits.
• Manufacturer’s Registration Number in China: As mentioned above,it must be indicated on the certificate.
• Packing list,commercial invoice,sales contract,bill of lading: These are basic documents,but the commercial invoice for dried fruits is particularly important,as it directly relates to the subsequent "customs valuation".

2.Core of Customs Declaration: Classification,Valuation and Inspection Prediction

After the goods arrive at the port,formal declaration is a technical task.Incorrect HS code classification will lead to tax payment at best,and punishment for false declaration at worst.For example,"roasted almonds" and "unroasted almonds" have different codes,and their tariffs,value-added tax and even supervision conditions may be different.We have an experience rule: mixed nut gift packs must be classified under the tariff code of the highest-value single item in the pack,and you cannot make arbitrary classification decisions on your own.

Customs valuation is another "high-risk area" for dried fruit import.The customs database stores transaction prices of similar commodities around the world.If the unit price you declare is significantly lower than the database price,or lower than the average price of similar imported goods over a period of time,the system will automatically trigger a price query.We once handled a batch of Chilean prunes,where the client carried out intra-group transaction and declared a relatively low price.We prepared a detailed price explanation,market reports of third-party purchases in the same period,and foreign exchange payment vouchers in advance,and conducted three rounds of communication with the customs valuation department,which finally recognized the declared price,saving 8% of customs duties for the client.If you have incomplete supporting materials,customs will directly levy tax based on the internal reference price increased by 10%-30%,and you will have no chance to argue.

Dried fruits from different origin countries have very different core regulatory focuses:

3.Port Inspection and Cargo Pickup: Risks in the Final Stage

Approval of document review does not mean everything is fine.Dried fruits are commodities subject to statutory inspection,with a very high probability of commodity inspection (now called "destination inspection").The inspection mainly covers three points: consistency between cargo and documentation (whether there are undeclared goods,whether the brand and specifications match),label qualification,and sensory inspection for mold or worm damage.

In 2026,Chinese labels are the most common problem in inspection.You must complete label filing and design in advance,and affix the labels to the retail packaging.Many clients put Chinese labels in the outer cartons for convenience,planning to paste them during inspection,which will be judged as unqualified labels and require rectification.Last year we helped Manager Qian handle a batch of Philippine dried mangoes,which were required to be re-labeled completely because the format of the "best before date" on the label did not meet the requirements of GB 7718,taking an extra 5 days in the bonded warehouse and causing considerable losses.

If problems are found during inspection,such as detected harmful organisms or excessive pesticide residues,the goods may be ordered to be returned or destroyed.At this point,huge container detention fees,storage fees and processing fees will be incurred at the port.These "hidden costs" are often not stipulated in the contract,and will eventually become the focus of disputes between importers and overseas shippers.

4.Our Solution: Beyond Customs Declaration

At ZST,we do not just provide "document submission" services.Based on the linked grasp of national port policies from our Shanghai headquarters,we can provide full-chain risk control from risk diagnosis before the start of trade to post-arrival processing.

• Pre-import risk control intervention: Before you sign the procurement contract,we provide access qualification check,tariff calculation and document list according to the product name and origin,to avoid losses like Mr.Cheng suffered.
• Document pre-audit and compliant documentation preparation: When the draft of overseas certificates is sent,we first review its logic and standardization; we design and review Chinese labels in advance according to the latest national standards.
• Coordinated declaration at national ports: No matter whether your goods arrive in Shanghai,Shenzhen,Tianjin or Guangzhou,we carry out remote declaration through the integrated customs system,and use local service resources to handle inspection,with higher efficiency.
• Customs process visualization and cost control: You can view every node of customs declaration,inspection,tax payment and release online.We give early warning of all possible fees (port miscellaneous fees,bill of lading exchange fees,demurrage fees),with absolutely no hidden charges.

Profits from dried fruit import come from supply chain efficiency as well as risk management.A successful import is the result of precise compliant operation,in-depth understanding of rules and efficient execution.We hope today’s sharing can help you bring high-quality nuts from all over the world to the domestic market more safely and cost-effectively.