Alashankou Aluminum Ingot Import Full-Process Agency Guide

Alashankou Port Aluminum Ingot Import Entry Thresholds

Alashankou Port,as the only comprehensive land port in China relying on the China-Europe Railway Express,saw an 18% year-on-year increase in aluminum ingot imports from Central Asia and Europe in 2026.As a typical industrial raw material,aluminum ingot imports require clarification of three core entry conditions:

• Customs Code and Regulatory Conditions: Aluminum ingots are standardly classified under 76011000 (unwrought aluminum and aluminum alloy ingots),requiring confirmation of an import license (regulatory condition "O").In 2026,new regulations from the General Administration of Customs require that for single batches exceeding 3,000 tons,an automatic import license must be applied for from the Ministry of Commerce 15 working days in advance.Zhongshitong once assisted Manager Qin in completing customs declaration for 5,000 tons of Kazakh aluminum ingots through the "license first,declaration later" model.
• Application of Rules of Origin: If aluminum ingots come from member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (e.g.Russia,Kazakhstan,Belarus,etc.),a FORM E certificate of origin must be obtained,which can enjoy tariff reductions (0.5%-1% reduction on the basis of the most-favored-nation rate).In 2026,Alashankou Customs added a "Eurasian Economic Union Enterprise Whitelist," prioritizing the release of goods from whitelisted enterprises,shortening inspection time to within 24 hours.
• Anti-Dumping and Safeguard Measures: The EU imposes anti-dumping duties on Chinese aluminum ingots (rates of 20%-30%),but temporarily exempts those from Russia and Kazakhstan.It is necessary to verify the supplier’s trade background in advance to avoid secondary tariffs when goods are transshipped to the EU.

Core Links in the Full Process of Agency Import

Pre-Customs Inspection and Quality Inspection

The quality of aluminum ingots directly affects downstream processing.Zhongshitong recommends initiating pre-customs inspection 7 working days before the goods arrive at the port:

• Require foreign suppliers to provide quality inspection certificates (MTC) issued by SGS or BV,specifying key indicators such as Al content ≥99.7%,Fe ≤0.15%,Si ≤0.1%,Cu ≤0.05%,etc.
• For special requirements (e.g.aviation-grade aluminum ingots),apply for "pre-inspection release" in advance.Zhongshitong can coordinate between Shanghai Inspection Bureau and Alashankou Bureau to avoid goods being returned due to excessive impurities after arrival at the port.

Weight Measurement and Error Control

Weight disputes are a common point of contention in aluminum ingot imports and need to be avoided from the source:

• For bulk aluminum ingots shipped by sea,draft survey weight measurement is used.A "Draft Survey Certificate" must be issued by the ship at the loading port,specifying terms such as "weight measurement base temperature 20°C" and "error range ±0.3%".
• In 2026,Alashankou added an "electronic weighbridge measurement system," requiring freight forwarders to confirm the weighbridge calibration certificate (must be valid) with the port weighing station in advance to avoid weight disputes due to weighbridge errors.

Customs Valuation and Price Query Response

Customs valuation is a key checkpoint in aluminum ingot imports.Zhongshitong summarizes the "three documents and one explanation" response method:

• Commercial invoice (confirming unit price),packing list (confirming quantity),bill of lading (confirming port of shipment),price explanation (including details of freight/insurance/commission calculations).
• If the declared price is lower than the customs benchmark price,a "transaction price explanation" must be supplemented,for example: "This batch of aluminum ingots was transacted under EXW terms,and the price includes all costs from the factory to the port," and attach a "Price Reasonableness Statement" issued by the foreign supplier.

Risk Warning and Pitfall Avoidance Guide

In 2026,aluminum ingot imports at Alashankou Port need to focus on preventing three types of risks:

• Compliance Risk: Prohibit importing aluminum ingots from informal channels in source countries (e.g.some aluminum plants in Uzbekistan have not passed international environmental certification).It is necessary to verify the supplier’s membership in the "International Aluminum Institute (IAI)" in advance.
• Hidden Costs: Demurrage fees (freight forwarders may charge "overdue storage fees"),document exchange fees (up to 3,000 yuan per shipment for document exchange,Zhongshitong can coordinate with Shanghai freight forwarders to lock in fees in advance).
• Exchange Loss Risk: In 2026,the RMB to USD exchange rate fluctuates significantly.It is recommended to adopt "batch settlement" (complete settlement within 3 working days after each batch of goods arrives at the port) to avoid losses from unilateral exchange rate fluctuations.

Practical Case: Weight Dispute Resolution

Situation: Manager Qin imported 5,000 tons of aluminum ingots from Kazakhstan.After the goods arrived at the port,it was found that the weighbridge measurement was short by 20 tons,and the supplier refused to pay for the shortfall.

Task: The weight dispute needed to be resolved within 3 working days to avoid demurrage fees (6,000 yuan per day).

Action:

• Zhongshitong immediately contacted the Alashankou Inspection Bureau,issued a "Weight Re-inspection Application," and requested on-site verification by a third-party measurement institution (Xinjiang Metrology Institute).
• Simultaneously retrieved the foreign supplier’s draft survey weight sheet,confirming the "loading port draft survey weight + 20°C standard temperature" data to prove compliance with foreign measurement.
• Coordinated with the China-Kazakhstan Chambers of Commerce to issue a "Weight Dispute Mediation Letter," ultimately assigning responsibility for 10 tons of the shortfall to the supplier based on the difference: "draft survey weight (5,000 tons) - weighbridge weight (4,980 tons) = 20 tons."

Result: The goods were successfully released,saving 120,000 yuan in demurrage fees,and the client subsequently increased order volume by 30%.

As a land hub of the "Belt and Road," Alashankou Port continues to see growth in aluminum ingot import business in 2026.Leveraging its long-term cooperation between the Shanghai headquarters and Alashankou Bureau,Zhongshitong can achieve "remote declaration,port inspection and release," ensuring safe and compliant customs clearance for each batch of aluminum ingots.For further consultation,please follow Zhongshitong’s official website for the latest policy interpretations.