Full Process Analysis of Shanghai Port Import Customs Clearance

Core Processes and Key Compliance Points for Shanghai Port Import Customs Clearance

As the busiest foreign trade port along China’s eastern coast,Shanghai Port recorded a 12% year-on-year increase in import customs clearance business volume in 2026,while both customs clearance efficiency and compliance requirements have been improved simultaneously.Enterprises need to focus on four core links: customs valuation,commodity inspection pre-audit,animal and plant quarantine and import license.Omissions in any link may lead to losses such as port demurrage charges and inspection delays.The following breaks down key operations and risk points from the perspective of frontline agents.

I.Customs Valuation: Compliance Verification of Transaction Price

Customs valuation is based on the Measures of the Customs of the People’s Republic of China for the Determination of Dutiable Value of Imported and Exported Goods,and new price verification rules for cross-border e-commerce bonded imported goods were added in 2026.Enterprises need to prepare three types of documents as priorities:

• Transaction price supporting materials: Complete commercial invoices,packing lists and foreign exchange payment vouchers (bank slips) shall be provided to ensure the declared price is consistent with the actual foreign exchange payment amount.A chemical enterprise was once classified as "non-transaction price" by customs due to a 3% difference between the declared price and the bank slip,and paid 52,000 CNY in supplementary tax.
• Consistency between declaration elements and actual goods: 10 declaration elements including commodity name,specification and model,material composition must fully match the physical label and contract terms.An electronic enterprise was fined 5,000 CNY for missing the "voltage parameter" in the declaration,which caused parameter differences during inspection.
• Supplementary explanation for special trade scenarios: If it involves conversion of EXW/FOB/CIF price terms,the risk transfer point shall be indicated in the remarks column of the customs declaration form.For example,under FOB terms,overseas freight shall be provided separately with a cost voucher stamped and confirmed by the transport company.

Practical suggestion: Compare the proposed declared price with historical customs declaration data of similar commodities 3 working days in advance,focus on verifying the matching degree of "classification code and price range",to reduce the probability of customs classification disputes.

II.Commodity Inspection Pre-audit: Pre-verification of Statutorily Inspected Commodities

In 2026,Shanghai Commodity Inspection Bureau implemented "classified supervision" for imported commodities,with different pre-audit requirements for general goods and high-risk commodities (such as medical devices and food contact materials).Enterprises shall:

• Confirm supervision category in advance: Query the inspection and quarantine category corresponding to the HS code through the commodity pre-classification system of the "Single Window",for example,"0801.2300 fresh apples" require the Import Animal and Plant Quarantine Permit.
• List of pre-audit documents:
• Required for inspection: contract,invoice,packing list,bill of lading (to be checked when exchanging the original copy);
• For high-risk commodities: additional product test reports shall be provided (for example,cosmetics shall provide the conformity statement for the Safety and Technical Standards for Cosmetics),and dangerous chemicals shall provide MSDS (new "packaging label consistency" verification added in 2026).

Practical case: A medical device enterprise importing dental implants had its pre-audit suspended by the commodity inspection bureau due to missing the "product registration certificate number",resulting in a 5-day delay in customs clearance.

III.Animal and Plant Quarantine: Access Threshold for Special Commodities

For imports involving animals,plants and their products,the process of "quarantine approval - entry quarantine - follow-up supervision" shall be strictly implemented:

• Advance approval: Meat,fruits,plant seedlings and other products shall apply for the Import Animal and Plant Quarantine Permit to the General Administration of Customs in advance.A new "transport route filing" requirement was added in 2026,for example,for beef imported from Brazil,the land/sea transit port shall be clearly specified.
• Key points of entry inspection: The consistency between the "quarantine certificate" and the "bill of lading" shall be checked during on-site quarantine,and the frequency of customs verification of "cold chain transportation temperature records" increased in 2026.An importer had a whole batch of 20 tons of salmon returned due to a 2-hour gap in cold chain records.

Risk warning: Since 2026,fresh products imported through non-cold chain channels are required to provide a "quarantine certificate issued within 72 hours before departure" to avoid customs clearance failure due to time difference.

IV.Import License: Compliance Certificate for Specific Commodities

Additional licenses are required for the import of some commodities,and an electronic approval system for "import license for dual-use items and technologies" was added in 2026:

• License validity period: The automatic import license is valid for 6 months,and re-application is required if it expires.An enterprise suffered a loss of 120,000 CNY in tariff difference due to failure to renew the expired license.
• List of special commodities: Focus on the 2026 Catalogue of Goods Subject to Import License Administration.For rare earth products,monitored chemicals and other products,applications shall be submitted to the Ministry of Commerce 15 working days in advance.

Practical suggestion: Check the "license validity period" and "customs declaration date" synchronously with the agency company to avoid customs clearance failure due to time difference.

V.2026 Shanghai Port Clearance Risk Warning

Shanghai Port customs clearance requires in-depth collaboration between enterprises and agency companies.It is recommended to choose an agency with the capability of "cross-region declaration for national ports".In 2026,Zhongshitong has realized "24-hour customs clearance response for Yangtze River Delta ports",helping enterprises avoid the above risks.