Full Process Analysis of Import Agency Letter of Credit Issuance: 2026 Shanghai Port Customs Valuation Key Points

Core Process of Import Agency L/C Issuance Business and Key Risk Points of Shanghai Port in 2026

With 20 years of experience in import agency L/C issuance business at Shanghai Port,I have seen too many enterprises suffer from skyrocketing port detention fees,customs clearance delays and even huge fines after cargo arrival due to lax L/C clause review,incorrect HS code classification or neglect of commodity inspection pre-audit.Customs valuation policies continue to tighten in 2026,with frequent updates of anti-dumping duties and rules of origin.This article will break down common pitfalls and compliance key points in the full process of import L/C issuance from a practical perspective.

I.Three Elements of Qualification Verification Before L/C Issuance (Must-read Checklist)

When a chemical enterprise imported hazardous chemicals,it failed to declare the goods after arrival because it did not apply for the *Declaration of Conformity for Imported Hazardous Chemicals Enterprises* in advance.Qualification verification must cover three core items:

• Confirm whether the imported products are included in the *Catalogue of Goods Subject to Import License Administration* (12 new categories of high-risk chemical products added in 2026 require separate declaration)
• Check whether the exporting country is a RCEP member (tariff reductions for some categories from Vietnam and Malaysia are added in 2026)
• Verify in advance whether the products require 3C certification (for example,13 new categories of household electronic products are added to the mandatory certification list starting from 2026)

II.Four Dimensions of L/C Clause Review (With 2026 New Regulations)

Errors in L/C clauses are the main cause of dishonor after L/C issuance.In 2026,the customs has strict requirements on the expressions of "port of shipment" and "port of destination":

III.Practical Key Points of Customs Valuation and Commodity Inspection Pre-audit

When a machinery enterprise imported German machine tools,the valuation was rejected due to wrong HS code classification,which was solved through the following steps later:

• Step 1: Apply for pre-classification (Shanghai Customs accepts online classification applications,and a comparison table of technical parameters and customs codes is required)
• Step 2: Prepare price certification (including certificate of origin,third-party price assessment report and comparison of concurrent import data)
• Step 3: Avoid "transaction value method" traps (Avoid accepting the combination of "FOB price + unreasonable commission",and exclude the fees indirectly paid by the buyer)

In terms of animal and plant quarantine,new requirements for BSE risk assessment of Australian beef are added in 2026.The *Sanitary Certificate* and *Veterinary Sanitary Certificate* issued by the official authority of the exporting country shall be provided in advance,and neither shall be absent.

IV.2026 Import L/C Issuance Risk Management and Practical Cases

Risk Early Warning List:

• Exchange loss risk: If the exchange rate fluctuates by more than 3% after L/C issuance,it shall be locked in advance (it is recommended to use forward foreign exchange settlement + exchange rate hedging tools)
• Demurrage fee trap: The free storage period for 20-foot containers is only 7 days (the overstay fee is charged at USD 0.5 per container per day,and the demurrage liability shall be agreed with the freight forwarder in advance)
• Document exchange fee blind spot: Some shipping companies hide the clause of "document exchange fee included" in the remarks column of the bill of lading,which requires separate verification

Practical Case (S-T-A-R)

Situation: A cosmetics enterprise imported 3,000 boxes of facial masks from Japan,and was required to return the goods by commodity inspection because it did not check the ingredient list before issuing the L/C

Task: Complete re-declaration and document correction within 3 days

Action: 1.Coordinate with the Japanese party to reissue the ingredient list (in accordance with the new requirements of the *Regulations on the Supervision and Administration of Cosmetics* 2026); 2.Apply for "green channel" inspection to Shanghai Customs in advance

Result: The goods were cleared on time,saving RMB 120,000 in port detention fees and avoiding the 2% handling fee loss caused by reissuing the L/C

For import agency L/C issuance business at Shanghai Port,the key lies in "pre-audit + pre-judgment".With 20 years of front-line experience,Zhongshitong has established a cross-regional declaration network covering 30 ports across the country,which can respond to changes in customs policies in real time.If you need to know the compliance details of L/C issuance for specific categories,you can contact the professional team to obtain a customized solution.