Full Process of Chengdu Railway Import Agency and 2026 Compliance Key Points

Full Process of Chengdu Railway Import Agency: Compliance Path from Waybill to Release

As the assembly center of China-Europe Railway Express (Chengdu-Chongqing),Chengdu saw an 18% year-on-year increase in the number of China-Europe Railway Express trips in 2026,with imported goods covering industrial equipment,auto parts,agricultural products and more.Railway import agencies need to build a full-chain risk control system centered on "compliant access".Based on 20 years of port operation experience,Zhongshitong has summarized practical key points for four core links.

I.Customs Valuation: Dutiable Value Risks to Focus on in 2026

Railway imported goods are declared with the combination of "rail waybill + contract + invoice".Attention should be paid to the 2026 customs valuation rules for goods under special trade agreements.For example,for industrial machinery imported from RCEP member states (such as ASEAN,Australia and New Zealand),the certificate of origin must be marked with "regional value content ≥40%",otherwise it may be classified as "non-agreement goods" and subject to the highest tariff rate.

• Common risk point: If the declared price differs by more than 15% from that of import declarations in the same period,prepare "purchase contract + payment voucher + insurance document" in advance as price supporting evidence;
• Bulk cargo case: Steel products imported by a client from Russia were classified as "other steel products" by customs (10.5% tariff) because the client failed to provide the corresponding relationship between the draft survey report and commercial invoice.After supplementing the original mill test certificate (MTC),the goods were finally classified as "alloy structural steel" with a 6.5% tariff rate,saving more than CNY 300,000 in tax.

II.Commodity Pre-inspection: Double Guarantee of Animal and Plant Quarantine and Quality Inspection

Chengdu Railway Port implements the "train batch + local inspection" mode for imported goods via China-Europe Railway Express.For goods involving animal and plant products,the Certificate of Entry Goods Inspection and Quarantine shall be submitted 72 hours in advance.Taking the newly added cold chain logistics regulation in 2026 as an example,imported meat must be provided with the official quarantine certificate of the exporting country (attached with production date and transportation temperature record) at the same time.

• Special requirements for general cargo inspection: For imported cosmetics (non-hazardous chemicals),an additional Chinese label filing certificate shall be submitted.Chengdu Customs District requires the label design draft to be consistent with the actual goods;
• Practical pitfall avoidance: Auto parts imported by a client from Germany last year were required to supplement certificates after arriving at the port because the client failed to complete the 3C certification pre-inspection in advance,resulting in a 2-working-day delay and CNY 8,000 of port detention fees.It is recommended that the agency check the commodity code classification table in advance,and submit a classification pre-ruling to the commodity inspection bureau 15 days in advance for sensitive categories such as Chapter 73 iron and steel products.

III.Import License Application: Response to Newly Added Supervision Catalog in 2026

In 2026,categories such as deep-processed rare earth products and recycled plastic particles are added to the Import License Management Catalog.Chengdu Railway Port requires enterprises to submit paper applications within 3 working days after the railway waybill is confirmed.Note that the license is valid for 6 months,and re-declaration is required if it expires.

• Notes for special categories: For imported second-hand equipment (such as construction machinery),an additional equipment condition statement (issued by a third-party institution) shall be provided.When classifying excavators produced after 2000,Chengdu Customs District will focus on verifying the subheading notes of Chapter 84 of customs codes;
• Advantages of local declaration: Zhongshitong cooperates with customs brokers through its Shanghai headquarters,realizing "declaration at Chengdu Port + pre-inspection by Shanghai document review center",which shortens the license approval cycle to 5 working days (10 working days for regular processing).

IV.Foreign Exchange Settlement and Tax Refund Closed Loop: Response to 2026 Exchange Rate Fluctuations

Railway import involves RMB settlement + foreign exchange verification,so attention should be paid to the impact of 2026 exchange rate fluctuations on costs.Take imported auto parts as an example,if EUR/USD is used for settlement,it is recommended to complete the foreign exchange settlement lock within 3 working days after the declaration form is released to avoid cost overruns caused by exchange rate fluctuations.

• Key points of tax refund: Export tax refund requires matching "foreign exchange received amount ≥ declaration form amount".If separate settlement of railway freight is involved for Chengdu railway imported goods,the international railway through waybill shall be retained as the freight voucher;
• Risk warning: German medical devices imported by a client in February 2026 caused delayed foreign exchange verification because the client failed to submit the payment guarantee issued by the exporting country’s bank in time,which affected the tax refund progress (original cycle 25 days,45 days after delay).

2026 Chengdu Railway Import Agency Pitfall Avoidance Guide: Zhongshitong’s 20 Years of Practical Experience

As an agency enterprise with its Shanghai headquarters located in the international trade center,Zhongshitong has assisted in more than 3,000 China-Europe Railway Express import businesses through national port linkage + global agency network.For Chengdu railway import,three types of hidden risks should be focused on:

• Demurrage trap: After China-Europe Railway Express goods arrive at the port,if bill exchange + customs declaration is not completed within 72 hours,demurrage will be charged at CNY 0.5 per ton per day (new regulation of Chengdu Railway Port in 2026);
• Bill exchange fee chaos: Some agencies charge double fees of rail waybill exchange fee + distribution fee.Zhongshitong can reduce this cost by 15%-20% through unified settlement by Shanghai headquarters;
• Sudden change of supervision policy: The requirement of electronic signature of certificate of origin for RCEP member states was newly added in 2026,so it is necessary to verify in advance whether the customs system of the exporting country has completed data connection.

Zhongshitong suggests that Chengdu railway import agencies should establish a port prediction mechanism: track the TOP 10 Commodity List of China-Europe Railway Express Import Volume of Chengdu Customs every month,and complete the commodity code pre-classification 7 days in advance for high-risk categories such as auto parts and precision instruments to ensure that goods can be released immediately upon arrival at the port.

Conclusion: Future Trends of Chengdu Railway Import Agency

With the upgrading of trade facilitation of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2026,Chengdu China-Europe Railway Express imports will present the characteristics of multiple categories,high frequency and small batch.Enterprises need to rely on professional agencies (such as Zhongshitong) to build a three-dimensional system of compliance + risk control + cost,so as to gain an advantage in fierce competition.