由 caicai8478 For cross-border sellers, understanding every step of a shipment’s journey is essential for effective risk management and customer communication. Below, we’ll provide a clear breakdown of the seemingly complex process of “double customs clearance.”
Overview of the Overall Process
The entire journey can be divided into three stages, with two customs clearances occurring in Stages 1 and 3:
China Departure and Hong Kong Export Transit Clearance
International Trunk Transport
European and American Destination Import Clearance and Final Delivery
Stage 1: China Departure and Hong Kong Export Transit Clearance (First Customs Clearance)
This is the starting point of the entire process and where the first customs clearance occurs.
Step 1: Domestic Collection and Consolidation
Your Action: Prepare the goods, or have a freight forwarder collect them.
Freight Forwarder’s Action: Aggregate goods from multiple sellers at a domestic consolidation warehouse (usually in cities near Hong Kong, such as Shenzhen and Guangzhou) for initial sorting and measurement.
Step 2: Declaration and Arrangement of Export Documents
Your Key Responsibility: Provide the freight forwarder with an accurate and complete Commercial Invoice and Packing List. This is the foundation for all customs clearance and must contain accurate information (product name, material, quantity, declared value, etc.).
Freight Forwarder’s Action: Review the documents and prepare the necessary materials for export declaration to China Customs.
Step 3: Land Transport to Hong Kong
Goods are transported by truck from the domestic consolidation warehouse and enter Hong Kong via Shenzhen ports (such as Huanggang and Shenzhen Bay). This process is commonly known as “cross-border hauling.”
Step 4: Hong Kong Import/Transit Clearance (First Clearance)
Core Location: Hong Kong Customs.
Type of Clearance: Transit Clearance or Free Port Import and Export Clearance.
Why is it simple? Hong Kong is a free port, with virtually no customs duties on imports and exports (except for certain commodities). The main purposes of this customs clearance are:
Confirm that the goods have legally entered Hong Kong.
Verify documents to ensure that the goods are not prohibited items.
Prepare for the subsequent international export flight.
Your Experience: Due to the extremely efficient customs clearance process in Hong Kong and favorable tariffs, you typically won’t notice any resistance at this stage. Logistics tracking information may indicate “Arrived at the Hong Kong Operations Center” or “Inspected and released by Hong Kong Customs.”
Step 5: Hong Kong Airport Operations
After customs clearance, the cargo is transported to the cargo terminal at Hong Kong International Airport, awaiting loading. The freight forwarder will perform palletizing and security checks based on the flight schedule.
Stage 2: International Trunk Transport
This is a relatively quiet but crucial stage.
Process: The cargo is loaded onto an international flight from Hong Kong to a major airport in the destination country (such as LAX in Los Angeles, Germany, FRA in Frankfurt, Germany, or AMS in Amsterdam, the Netherlands).
Your Experience: The logistics information will indicate “Departed” or “In Transit.”
Stage 3: Import Customs Clearance and Final Delivery in the European and American Destination Countries (Second Customs Clearance)
This is the most critical and rigorous customs clearance step, directly impacting the smooth delivery of the cargo.
Step 6: Arrival at the Destination Airport and Declaration
Upon arrival at the destination airport, the goods will be unloaded and transferred to a customs-controlled warehouse.
Freight Forwarder/Customs Broker Actions: The destination customs broker will use the commercial invoice and packing list you initially provided to submit a formal import declaration to the local customs office.
Step 7: Destination Customs Inspection and Tax Payment (Second Customs Clearance)
Core Location: Customs offices in the destination country (e.g., US Customs and Border Protection, EU customs).
Nature of Customs Clearance: Import clearance.
Why is it so strict? This customs clearance determines whether the goods can legally enter the country’s market and is subject to the payment of customs duties and value-added tax (e.g., US tariffs, EU VAT).
Key Steps:
Document Review: Customs examines all documents to determine whether the HS code is correct, the declared value is reasonable, and whether the goods comply with local standards (e.g., CE, FCC certification, etc.).
Decision on Release or Inspection: Customs may release the goods directly or conduct random or targeted inspections (e.g., X-rays or unpacking).
Payment of Duties and Taxes: The customs broker will calculate the due taxes and duties. Typically, the broker advances the payment and then collects it from you (DDP terms), or the consignee pays it (DAP/DDU terms).
Your Experience: The shipping information will clearly indicate “Customs Clearance” or “Customs Pending.” This is the most critical stage, as any documentation issues may cause delays.
Step 8: Customs Release and Goods Collection
Once customs review is completed and taxes and duties are paid, customs will issue a release order.
The shipping information will be updated to “Customs Release.”
Step 9: Final Delivery
A local courier or trucking company (such as UPS, FedEx, or DHL) will collect the cleared goods from the airport cargo terminal and arrange the final mile delivery to the consignee.
Visual Summary of the Entire Process
China Warehouse → Domestic Collection → Road Transport to Hong Kong → [First Customs Clearance: Hong Kong Transit Clearance] → Installation at Hong Kong Airport → International Air Freight → Arrival at European or American Airports → [Second Customs Clearance: Destination Country Import Clearance] → Customs Release → Final Delivery → Customer Signature
Key Tips for Sellers
Documentation is King: Both customs clearances rely on the commercial invoice and packing list you initially provided. Accuracy is the cornerstone of 100% customs clearance.
Understand Logistics Information: Learn to distinguish between “Hong Kong Customs Release” and “US Customs Release.” The former merely completes the transit process, while the latter signifies the goods have truly landed.
Proactive Communication: Choose a freight forwarder who can clearly explain each step. During peak seasons or policy changes, proactively inquire about customs clearance status.
Allow Buffer Time: Allow for possible inspection time (typically 2-3 days) for both customs clearances, especially the second one.
Through this analysis, we hope that you will have a thorough understanding of double customs clearance, so that you can better control your cross-border logistics journey and stay calm in the face of any unexpected situations.