How to Choose a Scrap Iron Import Agent? 2026 Full-dimensional Guide to Customs Clearance Qualification, Taxes and Processes

Core Access Requirements and Regulatory Red Lines for Scrap Iron Import

Last year I handled a 1200-ton scrap iron import order from ASEAN for a client surnamed Zong.The small agent he hired earlier failed to complete pre-verification of MTC (Material Test Certificate).After the cargo arrived at the port,the customs confirmed that the impurity content exceeded the standard by 2.1% which did not meet the access criteria,resulting in nearly RMB 300,000 of loss from return shipment.In 2026,the customs has further refined regulatory standards for scrap iron.First,scrap iron is categorized into restricted imported solid wastes usable as raw materials,so the Import License for Restricted Category of Solid Wastes Usable as Raw Materials must be obtained in advance.Meanwhile,it must comply with the impurity content requirements specified in GB 34330-2017.Carrying of radioactive,flammable,explosive and domestic waste is strictly prohibited.Any cargo detected with the above unallowed items will be directly returned or confiscated.

Core Service Value Comparison of Scrap Iron Import Agents

Full-process Pitfall Avoidance Guide for Scrap Iron Import

• Pre-document Review: Collect MTC,certificate of origin,packing list and trade contract 15 days in advance,focus on verifying that the impurity content and metal composition stated on the MTC are fully consistent with the declaration information.For scrap iron imported from RCEP member states in 2026,the original certificate of origin shall be processed in advance to enjoy 0-3% tariff reduction,which helps avoid missing tax reduction policies due to inconsistent documents and save up to nearly RMB 200,000 of taxes for a single order.
• Weighing Error Prevention: Draft survey is preferred for bulk general cargo.Third-party institutions shall be arranged to supervise loading and discharging at both loading port and discharge port,to control the error within ±0.5%.Any excess part can be directly claimed for compensation from the shipping company,so as not to bear cargo loss on your own.Last year we helped a client surnamed Liao handle a scrap iron import order from Australia,in which a 0.8% weighing error was detected,and finally obtained nearly RMB 120,000 of compensation for cargo value loss.
• Demurrage Prevention: Dock the port berthing plan 7 days in advance,avoid low operation periods of foreign ports such as Ramadan and Christmas season.Complete declaration in advance after pre-document review is approved,finish customs clearance and release within 48 hours after cargo arrival,and complete container pick-up before demurrage starts to count.In 2025 alone,we helped clients save a total of nearly RMB 12 million in port demurrage fees.

Key Risk Warning for Scrap Iron Import in 2026

The first is anti-dumping duty risk.Currently markets including the European Union and the United States impose anti-dumping duties on scrap iron originating from certain regions.For scrap iron imported from the above regions,tax cost shall be calculated in advance.The extra 25% tariff imposed under US Section 232 has no exemption space,to avoid the situation that tax expense exceeds budget only after the cargo arrives at the port.The second is exchange loss risk.In 2026,the two-way fluctuation range of RMB exchange rate widens.It is recommended to lock forward exchange rate in combination with shipping schedule,to avoid extra exchange loss during payment.The exchange loss for a single order with total cargo value of RMB 2 million may reach nearly RMB 100,000 at maximum.The last is document exchange fee trap: some document exchange agents designated by shipping companies will charge unreasonable extra fees such as operation fee and disinfection fee.Our global agent network verifies document exchange fee details in advance,and rejects all unreasonable charges.

Nationwide Port Linkage Service Capability

Headquartered in Shanghai,we support cross-port declaration across the country.We have on-site teams in major bulk cargo ports including Tianjin,Qingdao,Shanghai,Ningbo and Guangzhou,whose arrival declaration efficiency is 30% faster than the industry average.Our agent network covering 120 countries worldwide can provide door-to-door pick-up,international transportation and overseas pre-inspection services under all trade terms such as EXW and FOB,making the whole process fully traceable without requiring clients to coordinate with multiple service providers.

Last year,a client surnamed Qi imported 2000 tons of scrap iron from the United States.The previous agent he hired failed to calculate the Section 232 tariff in advance,so he needed to pay an extra RMB 1.2 million in taxes after the cargo arrived.After he contacted us,we suggested transferring the cargo to Thailand for deep processing.After meeting the rules of origin requirements,the cargo was imported under the RCEP agreement,saving nearly RMB 900,000 in tax costs in the end.The whole process only took 22 days,far shorter than his expected 60 days.Scrap iron import involves many links,and regulatory requirements update rapidly.The core value of a professional agent is to resolve risks in advance,so that clients do not need to spend time on policy research.They only need to coordinate with one project manager to handle all issues throughout the whole process,and avoid unnecessary detours.