Complete Process Guide for Imported Dried Fruit Agency: Key Points of Port Clearance and Delivery Practice

Key Operation Nodes of Imported Dried Fruit Agency

When operating imported dried fruit agency business at Shanghai Port,it needs to focus on three dimensions: "compliance access-logistics connection-risk pre-positioning".Take a case handled last year as an example: A trading company imported 200 tons of longan dry from Bangkok Port,Thailand.Due to not completing commodity inspection pre-approval in advance,the goods were detained for inspection because the labels did not meet the GB 7718 standard after arriving at the port,directly resulting in port detention fees exceeding 150,000 yuan.This case exposes the critical importance of preliminary preparation.

1.Commodity Inspection Pre-approval: Double Verification of Labels and Ingredient Lists

For imported dried fruit,the following documents need to be submitted to Shanghai Commodity Inspection Bureau 72 hours in advance for pre-approval: ① Sample of imported pre-packaged food label (must include Chinese product name,ingredient list,net content,allergen prompt,etc.); ② Certificate of Origin (FORM A) must mark "processing procedures" (such as baking,shelling,etc.); ③ Importers need to provide food business license (the newly added "special food" category in 2026 requires additional review).

Special Note: The 2026 new version of the "General Rules for Pre-packaged Food Labels" requires that dried fruit products must clearly mark "storage conditions" (such as "cool and dry place,avoid direct sunlight"),otherwise they will be directly judged as unqualified labels.

2.Animal and Plant Quarantine: Verification of Epidemic Area and Fumigation Certificate

Dried fruit from epidemic areas (such as some rainy season producing areas in Southeast Asia) needs strict verification: ① Whether it carries fruit pits (such as pistachios,walnuts) requires a plant quarantine certificate; ② If wooden packaging is involved,an IPPC fumigation certificate is required (starting from 2026,the source of wooden materials for dried fruit packaging transported by China-Laos Railway needs to be verified simultaneously).

In practice,special attention should be paid to "mixed nuts" products.Because the quarantine requirements for different nuts vary greatly (e.g.shelled cashews need quarantine,while unshelled cashews do not),incorrect HS code classification will directly trigger commodity inspection.

3.Customs Valuation: Matching of Declared Price and Same-period Data

The core logic of customs valuation is "transaction price + transaction price of identical goods".Taking imported Turkish apricots as an example,the declared unit price should not deviate by more than ±5% from the price of similar goods at Shanghai Port in the same period (such as apricots from Iran).If the declared price is abnormal,the customs will initiate a price query,and supporting materials such as purchase contracts,ocean bills of lading,and foreign exchange payment vouchers need to be provided at this time.

In 2026,a "price traceability system" will be added.If a complete price chain cannot be provided,it will be implemented according to the "base price" published by the General Administration of Customs (e.g.the base price of Thai longan dry in January 2026 is 12.5 yuan/kg).Enterprises need to predict this risk in advance.

2026 Imported Dried Fruit Agency Risk Early Warning List

Practical Case of Imported Dried Fruit Agency at Shanghai Port

Situation (S): A trading company imported 50 tons of shelled cashews from Vietnam,originally planned to declare via "general trade".Due to not confirming the HS code (0802.10) in advance which requires commodity inspection,the goods were detained after arriving at the port.

Task (T): Need to complete customs clearance within 3 days to avoid additional port detention fees.

Action (A): ① Immediately apply for HS code classification pre-determination (Shanghai Customs Classification Center); ② Supplement the "non-epidemic area certificate" issued by the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture; ③ Coordinate with the commodity inspection bureau to issue the "label rectification notice" urgently.

Result (R): The goods were released within 3 working days,and the port detention fee was only 4800 yuan (far lower than the original estimated 12,000 yuan).And due to completing the classification in advance,the declaration efficiency of subsequent similar goods increased by 40%.

Key Recommendations for Imported Dried Fruit Agency in 2026

• Prioritize RCEP member countries (such as Thailand,Malaysia),and enjoy tariff reduction with FORM A certificate (some categories’ tariffs will drop to 0 in 2026)
• Complete the "import food consignee filing" 15 working days in advance to avoid delays due to qualification issues
• Establish a "double valuation mechanism": Before customs valuation,complete price compliance verification through Zhongshitong’s internal risk control system
• For the Middle East Ramadan (March 25-April 23,2026),coordinate with the port in advance for the "holiday priority inspection" channel

The essence of imported dried fruit agency is "full-chain compliance management".With the "commodity inspection green channel" accumulated over 20 years at Shanghai Port,Zhongshitong can achieve "clearance upon arrival" for more than 95% of goods.If you have specific needs,you can contact us for free pre-approval service.