由 caicai8478 Characteristics of customs clearance for sea transport
Long time cycle
It usually takes 5-15 working days to complete customs clearance
Goods stay in the port for a long time, and storage costs may increase
More comprehensive document requirements
A complete packing list and ocean bill of lading need to be provided
Bulk commodities often require additional inspection and quarantine certificates
Different inspection methods
Generally random inspection method is adopted
The inspection process may last for several days
There are differences in the inspection process for full container load (FCL) and less than container load (LCL)
Complex tariff calculation
Bulk commodities often involve more complex duty-paid price determination
May involve special taxes such as anti-dumping duties
Features of air customs clearance
High timeliness requirements
Customs clearance usually needs to be completed within 24-72 hours
Airport storage costs are high, and there is great pressure for fast customs clearance
The process is relatively simplified
Document requirements are relatively streamlined
High degree of electronicization, many airports implement “advance declaration”
Inspection characteristics
High-risk goods are more likely to be inspected
Inspection speed is usually faster than sea transportation
There are special channels for fresh and valuable items
Tariff calculation
Usually quickly determined according to the declared value
High-value goods may involve luxury goods tax, etc.
Summary of commonalities and differences
Comparison items Customs clearance by sea freight Customs clearance by air freight
Time cycle Long (5-15 days) Short (1-3 days)
Document complexity High Relatively low
Inspection depth May be more in-depth Fast but strict
Storage cost Relatively low Extremely high
Applicable goods Bulk, non-urgent Urgent, high value
Tariff disputes More Less
Selection suggestions
Choose sea freight: when cost-sensitive, large volume of goods, and loose time requirements
Choose air freight: when time is tight, the value of goods is high, or they are perishable goods
The customs clearance strategies for the two modes of transportation should have different focuses. Sea freight needs to pay more attention to document integrity and advance preparation, while air freight should focus on declaration accuracy and rapid response capabilities.