The answer is yes: professional international freight forwarders can not only handle customs clearance, but in cross-border transportation involving bulk cargo (BulkCargo), freight forwarders are often the core role in ensuring smooth customs clearance of goods. For merchants engaged in general trade import and export, it is usually more efficient and safer to entrust the customs clearance process to a qualified freight forwarder than to contact the customs broker on their own. By integrating "transportation" and "customs affairs", freight forwarders can effectively connect the order exchange, declaration, inspection and release links after the arrival of sea or air freight, and minimize the demurrage and warehousing fees caused by document issues.
This article will strip away all irrelevant politeness and directly focus on the import and export of medium and large goods, providing an in-depth analysis of the actual operating procedures of freight forwarders in customs clearance, the application details of DDP/DDU clauses, and the compliance risks that merchants must pay attention to.
The dual role of freight forwarders in customs clearance: coordinator and executor
Many businesses have a misunderstanding that "freight forwarders are only responsible for transportation, and customs brokers are only responsible for customs declaration." In fact, in the mature international logistics system, the boundaries between the two have long been merged.
For bulk goods (whether FCL or LCL), freight forwarders usually play the following two roles in the customs clearance process:
Direct customs declarer: Many large freight forwarding companies have their own customs declaration department and customs declaration agent qualifications, and send data directly to the customs system.
General customs control: Some freight forwarders will establish long-term contracts with the top local professional customs brokers at the destination port. At this time, the freight forwarder, as the "general controller", is responsible for reviewing the merchant's documents and guiding the HS code classification, and its cooperative customs broker handles the specific inspection and tax payment on the front line.
Regardless of the model, for merchants, the interface they face is freight forwarding. This "one-stop" service avoids communication gaps for merchants to send messages back and forth between shipping companies, truck fleets and customs.
Analysis of the core customs clearance process of international trade
Customs clearance of bulk goods is far more complicated than sending samples. Omissions in any link may result in high fines or return shipments. The standard freight forwarding customs clearance process usually includes the following key steps:
- Pre-declaration of manifest information (ISF/AMS/ENS)
Before the goods arrive at the destination port, the freight forwarder must send manifest information to the customs of the destination country. This is the first line of defense for customs clearance.
Note: If exporting to the United States, the ISF (Import Security Declaration) must be completed 24 hours before shipment, otherwise you will face a fine starting from US$5,000. Here’s what to expect from China to US Ocean Shipping in 2026: Save 30% on LCL Freight with DDP. https://presou.com/china-usa-shipping-ddp-lcl-2026/
2.Exchange of D/O
After the goods arrive at the port, the freight forwarder needs to exchange the bill of lading (Bill of Lading) with the shipping company or its agent for the delivery order (D/O). Without this piece of paper, the customs broker cannot pick up the goods.
Avoid pitfalls: If you are doing DDP (delivery after duty paid) at the destination port, the freight forwarder needs to ensure that the agent at the destination port has strong local operating capabilities and can quickly complete the order exchange to avoid demurrage fees.
- Formal customs declaration and tax payment
This is the most core link. The freight forwarder will submit the merchant's commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin to the customs.
Customs review: The customs system will conduct a risk assessment on the declared value and HS code of the goods.
Pay customs duties and value-added tax: According to the trade terms (DDP or DDU), the freight forwarder will pay the tax or notify the consignee to pay the tax directly.
- Inspection and release
Customs has the right to conduct physical inspection of goods (X-ray scanning or unpacking and manual inspection).
The role of the freight forwarder: When an inspection occurs, a professional freight forwarder will send personnel to the scene to cooperate with the customs, explain the situation of the goods, and strive to release it as soon as possible.
List of key documents: goods will be deducted if missing
In order to ensure that the freight forwarder can handle customs clearance smoothly, the shipper must provide accurate documentation. For bulk cargo, the following documents are a matter of life and death:
Commercial Invoice: It must truly reflect the transaction price and must not intentionally understate it.
Packing List: It must be accurate to the gross weight, net weight and dimensions of each box, and must be completely consistent with the actual item.
Bill of Lading (Bill of Lading): Property certificate, the "OnBoard" date must be indicated.
Certificate of Origin: Such as FormA, FormE, etc., used to enjoy tariff preferences.
Special regulatory documents: such as fumigation certificate (wooden packaging), hygiene certificate (food contact), MSDS (chemical products).
DDP vs. DDU: Who is responsible for customs clearance?
When communicating with freight forwarders about customs clearance matters, the most commonly heard terms are DDP and DDU (now commonly known as DAP). Understanding the difference between the two directly determines the responsibility for customs clearance.
DDU/DAP (DeliveredDutyUnpaid-delivery without duty paid):
Operation: The freight forwarder is responsible for delivering the goods to the door designated by the buyer, but is not responsible for paying customs duties and VAT.
Customs clearance responsibility: Usually the freight forwarder will assist in sorting out the information, but the legal responsibility and tax payment obligation for import customs clearance lies with the consignee (buyer). Buyer needs to have his own import rights.
Applicable scenarios: The buyer is a mature and large-scale importer who wants to control tax deductions by himself.
DDP (DeliveredDutyPaid-delivery after duty paid):
Operation: The freight forwarder is responsible for all matters from the port of departure to the buyer's door, including customs clearance and tax payment at the port of destination.
Customs clearance responsibility: The freight forwarder is solely responsible. This has extremely high requirements for freight forwarders, who need to have a legal importer of record (IOR) or a strong customs clearance agent network in the destination country.
Applicable scenarios: The buyer does not have import rights, or wants a "worry-free" one-stop door-to-door service.
Common Risks of Bulk Cargo Customs Clearance and Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls
The logistics cost of bulk cargo is high. Once customs clearance is blocked, demurrage and detention charges may be as high as hundreds of dollars per day. The following are common risks and response strategies in freight forwarding operations:
1.HS code classification error
The HS code directly determines the tariff rate.
Risk: Deliberately using low-tax codes in order to save taxes will be judged as "declaration non-compliance" by the customs and face huge fines or even confiscation of goods.
Countermeasures: Before shipping, be sure to let the professional customs personnel of the freight forwarder pre-review the HS code, and make customs pre-ruling if necessary.
- The declared value deviates from the market price
Risk: Customs has a comprehensive price database. If the declared price is much lower than the average market price of similar products, the price review process will be triggered, resulting in customs clearance delays of several weeks.
Countermeasure: Report truthfully. If it is indeed discounted or old equipment, you need to prepare transaction vouchers, email records and other supporting materials in advance.
- Sensitive goods are not subject to compliance certification
Risk: Goods with brand logos (involving intellectual property registration), products with batteries, devices that come into contact with the human body, etc., will be returned or destroyed directly if they lack the certification required by the destination country (such as FDA, DOT in the United States, and CE in the European Union). Here are the UAE E-Shipping 2026: Jebel Ali Battery Compliance Guidelines. https://presou.com/uae-electronics-shipping-jebel-ali-battery-guide/
Countermeasures: Don’t take chances. Professional freight forwarders will review the compliance of products when receiving orders. If they do not have relevant certifications, regular freight forwarders will usually refuse to transport them.
Why can’t bulk shipments be processed like documents?
It must be emphasized that bulk freight (GeneralCargo) is essentially different from ordinary letter delivery.
Main body responsibility: Bulk trade usually involves general trade customs declaration. Each shipment must have an independent customs declaration form in the customs system and be subject to tax inspection.
Process complexity: It involves multiple long chain links such as booking, towing, customs declaration, inspection, tax payment, and delivery. Any link that is out of touch will affect the overall timeliness.
Therefore, finding a freight forwarder that can deeply intervene in the customs clearance process and have the ability to solve unexpected problems is the key to ensuring the safety of the supply chain.
Solution: Presou’s professional bulk logistics services
In the complex international logistics environment, customs clearance capabilities are often the touchstone to test the strength of a freight forwarder. If you are looking for a partner that can handle medium and large cargo and provide full-process services from factory to door, Presou is a trustworthy choice.
As a high-end brand focusing on international freight forwarding, Presou relies on its wholly-owned subsidiary Shenzhen Dayuanjun to be responsible for specific implementation and customs operations. We are not just a transporter, we are the guardians of your trade compliance.
Why choose Presou&ShenzhenDayuanjun?
10 years of industry experience: We have been deeply involved in the field of international logistics for more than ten years. We are familiar with the customs policies and "hidden rules" of customs clearance in various countries. We can warn risks in advance and ensure that goods are compliant and quickly cleared.
Full port coverage: We have direct branches in China's major port cities - Guangzhou (Guangzhou), Ningbo (Ningbo), Shanghai (Shanghai), Qingdao (Qingdao), Tianjin (Tianjin), and Xiamen (Xiamen). No matter where your goods are shipped from, we can provide localized professional customs clearance and towing services.
DDP/DDU experts: We have an in-depth cooperative agent network covering the world and are good at handling complex DDP (Delivery Duty Paid) and DDU (Delivery Duty Unpaid) door-to-door services. Even if the consignee does not have import rights at the destination port, we can provide compliant solutions.
Focus on medium and bulk cargo: We know our positioning. Presou and its executive team Shenzhen Dayuanjun focus strictly on the transportation of medium and large cargo for commercial trade. We do not handle private small parcels, but only provide the most solid logistics guarantee for traders who are committed to long-term development.
Customs clearance is not a matter of luck, but a reflection of professionalism. Choose Presou to make your goods flow smoothly around the world.
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