Shanghai Port Full Process Guide for Lithium Battery Materials Import Agency

I.Core Access Thresholds and Regulatory Red Lines for Lithium Battery Materials Import Agency

The primary task of lithium battery materials import agency services is to clarify product attributes and regulatory boundaries.Among mainstream lithium battery materials in 2026,core categories such as ternary lithium battery cathode materials (e.g.NCM811),lithium iron phosphate (LFP),and electrolytes (EC/DMC mixture system) need to first determine whether they belong to hazardous goods.The electrolyte product of a Japanese and South Korean supplier once delayed clearance at Shanghai Port for 3 days due to missing hazardous goods declaration elements because "flammable liquid" (UN1993) was not marked in the MSDS file,resulting in total late declaration fees and storage fees of RMB 87,000.

HS code classification is the first barrier for import agencies.Common classification errors focus on the distinction between "lithium battery materials" and "lithium batteries": lithium batteries (HS85075000) require 3C certification,while material types (such as ternary precursor,electrolyte) are usually classified under 38249090 (other unlisted chemicals) or 28369000 (inorganic acid esters).A customer once misdeclared lithium iron phosphate (LFP) as "lithium metal powder" (HS28053000),was rejected by customs due to the lack of export license,and finally resumed declaration by submitting a pre-classification certificate.

Special attention should be paid: the newly added "Measures for the Administration of Dual-use Items and Technologies Import License" in 2026 requires that when the lithium content in lithium battery cathode materials exceeds 0.01%,a dual-use items license issued by the Ministry of Commerce must be submitted.A European and American supplier failed to inform in advance last year,resulting in the goods being unable to obtain the license in time after arrival at the port,and incurred detention fees of RMB 120,000.

II.Game Strategy for Customs Price Verification and Price Consultation

Lithium battery materials import agencies need to establish the awareness of "price authenticity verification".The customs price verification system added a "similar transaction database" (including transaction records of the same HS code at domestic ports in the past 12 months) in 2026.If the declared price is more than 3% higher than the system benchmark price,manual price verification will be easily triggered.A customer’s lithium cobaltate (HS38249090) imported from South Korea was classified as "incomplete transaction price" because the declared unit price was 2.7% lower than the system average price.After Zhongshitong coordinated to submit the certificate of origin,payment voucher,and third-party price appraisal report,it finally passed at 99.2% of the benchmark price.

In price consultation,attention should be paid to the compliance of "adjustment items".For example,a customer’s imported electrolyte (containing lithium salts) was supplemented with tax by customs for not declaring "patent licensing fees".After supplementary declaration,it finally reduced the tax difference by 3.2 percentage points by "separately listing royalty fees".

III.Pre-audit of Commodity Inspection and Pre-management of Inspection Risks

Commodity inspection pre-audit for lithium battery materials is the key to avoiding inspection delays.The newly added "Measures for the Administration of Inspection and Supervision of Import and Export Battery Products" in 2026 clarifies that "battery recycling labels" must be affixed to lithium battery materials with lithium content exceeding 0.01%,otherwise clearance will not be granted.A European supplier was required to return the goods and reaffix labels after arrival at the port because the battery materials were not labeled,resulting in additional transportation costs of USD 21,000.

Special attention should be paid to hazardous goods declaration: the "MSDS 18th Edition" has become mandatory for hazardous goods packaging certificates in 2026,which must include parameters such as "flash point of flammable liquid" and "explosion limit".A customer’s electrolyte (UN1993) imported from Japan was judged as "missing declaration elements" because "lower explosion limit" was not marked in MSDS.Zhongshitong assisted it to contact the foreign manufacturer to update MSDS and supplement "hazardous property classification report",and finally completed clearance within 3 working days.

• 5 Must-Check Items for Commodity Inspection Pre-audit:
• Battery test report (requires dual certification of CMA/CNAS)
• Hazardous Goods Packaging Certificate (provide "performance certificate" if containing metal packaging)
• Lithium battery material composition analysis report (clear lithium content)
• Import license (if involving dual-use items)
• Certificate of origin (enjoy RCEP tariff reduction)

IV.Special Advantages and Risk Warnings of Shanghai Port Agency

As a Shanghai-headquartered company,Zhongshitong relies on the "cross-port country-wide declaration" network to realize "one declaration,multi-port clearance".A customer’s lithium battery materials imported from Shenzhen Port used the "territorial declaration,port inspection and release" policy of Shanghai Port with the coordination of Zhongshitong,saving transit transportation time by 48 hours and reducing logistics costs by 15%.

Hidden costs to beware: demurrage fees (Shanghai Port’s demurrage fee was adjusted to RMB 1,200 per natural container per day in 2026),amendment fees (an additional RMB 500 per time for delivery order amendment),and re-inspection fees (RMB 8,000 per time for secondary sampling of hazardous goods inspection).A customer once paid amendment fees of RMB 1,200 due to "bill of lading inconsistent with contract" when taking delivery of goods because they failed to confirm manifest information in time,and also delayed clearance by 2 days.

Exchange rate fluctuations increased exchange loss risks in 2026,and it is recommended to adopt the combination strategy of "batch foreign exchange settlement + forward foreign exchange settlement and sale".A customer locked in exchange rates in advance through Zhongshitong,and saved exchange costs of about RMB 400,000 when the RMB depreciated by 3%.

V.Practical Case: Full Process Analysis of Lithium Battery Materials Import Agency of a Japanese and South Korean Supplier

Situation (S): A Japanese and South Korean supplier exported lithium iron phosphate cathode materials (HS38249090) to a new energy enterprise in Shanghai,with FOB Osaka terms,and required clearance to be completed within 30 days.

Task (T): Complete HS code pre-classification,hazardous goods declaration,price consultation,and foreign exchange settlement and verification within 2 weeks,and avoid delays caused by policy changes.

Action (A):

• Submit "pre-classification application" 7 working days in advance,and clarify the declaration element as "lithium iron phosphate powder (LiFePO4)"
• Coordinate Japanese and South Korean manufacturers to update MSDS to the 18th edition,and supplement "lithium content test report"
• Contact the bank to lock in yen exchange rate,and agree on "batch foreign exchange settlement + T/T payment"
• Submit "certificate of origin (FORM J)" to customs,and apply for RCEP tariff reduction

Result (R): Clearance was completed within 3 working days after the goods arrived at the port,tariff costs were reduced by 1.8 percentage points,the clearance cycle was 5 days shorter than the industry average,and demurrage fees of RMB 12,000 were saved.

Lithium battery materials import agencies have entered the "compliance-first" era in 2026.Only by anticipating regulatory policies in advance,strictly controlling the consistency of declaration elements,and building global supply chain collaboration capabilities can we achieve the dual goals of "safety and efficiency" in fierce competition.Zhongshitong,leveraging Shanghai Port’s location advantage and 20 years of practical experience,can provide a full-chain agency service from HS code pre-classification to clearance,escorting global procurement for new energy enterprises.