In the global trade pattern in the post-epidemic era, Belgium serves as the "crossroads of Europe", and its Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Liège Airport have become the core gateway for Chinese goods to enter the hinterland of Europe. For cross-border merchants who deal in bulk goods, DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) transportation services from China to Belgium are gradually becoming a mainstream choice due to their "worry-free, controllable and low-risk" characteristics.
However, for large goods above 200kg or above 2CBM, the logistics organization under DDP trade terms is far more complicated than ordinary transportation. This article will start from a professional perspective and provide an in-depth analysis of the operation process, tariff logic and risk avoidance strategies of DDP transportation of bulk goods from China to Belgium.
Why do bulk cargoes prefer DDP services?
For goods with a starting volume of more than 200kg or a volume of more than 2CBM, sea freight less than container load (LCL) or air freight are the main modes of transportation. The main core value of choosing DDP services is certainty:
Customs clearance risk control: Belgian customs is extremely strict in inspecting imported goods. Under the DDP terms, the freight forwarder is responsible for all customs declaration links, effectively reducing the risk of goods being detained due to incomplete documents.
Transparent tax costs: DDP includes export customs declaration, international transportation, import duties (Duty), import value-added tax (VAT) and destination delivery fees. This allows merchants to accurately lock in profit margins when calculating costs.
Closed loop of logistics efficiency: Since the seller or its agent is responsible for the entire link, the demurrage fee incurred by the goods waiting for the buyer to pay taxes at the port is reduced.
Core operating procedures for DDP transportation from China to Belgium
For medium and large trade goods, the standardized DDP operation process is usually divided into the following five stages:
- Cargo shipment and domestic integration
After the goods are picked up from the supplier's warehouse, they need to be sent to major port consolidation centers in China. For goods above 2CBM, professional packaging reinforcement (such as pallets, stretch film) is essential to prevent damage during long-distance transportation.
- Export compliance declaration
Before leaving the country, you must prepare complete documents, including Commercial Invoice, Packing List, and special certificates required based on product characteristics (such as CE certification, MSDS for battery products, etc.).
- International trunk transportation (sea or air transportation)
Sea Freight: Suitable for heavy goods above 5CBM with low timeliness requirements. Usually arrives at the port of Antwerp.
Air Freight: Suitable for goods weighing more than 500kg and requiring quick return of funds. Usually arrive at Liège or Brussels airport.
- Belgian customs clearance (core link)
The essence of DDP services lies in this. The freight forwarder needs to have customs clearance qualifications in Belgium and handle import declarations. Belgium has a convenient VAT deferral policy (PVA), which can optimize cash flow if conditions are met.
- Terminal truck delivery
After the goods are cleared and released, trucks are usually used for terminal delivery of bulk goods instead of the ordinary distribution system to ensure the safe delivery of overweight and oversized goods.
Pitfall avoidance guide and cost analysis for Belgian DDP transportation
For bulk cargo traders, overlooking the details can often lead to huge additional expenses.
- Accurate calculation of VAT and tariffs
Belgium's standard VAT rate is 21%. When calculating the cost of DDP transportation from China to Belgium, in addition to the basic freight, tariffs must be clearly included. Merchants should check the corresponding tax rate in Belgium through the HS Code (Customs Code) in advance to avoid fines caused by misreporting of coding.
- The necessity of palletized transportation
For goods above 200kg, it is strongly recommended to use standardized pallets for transportation. This not only facilitates mechanized loading and unloading and reduces the breakage rate, but also conforms to the receiving standards of Belgian warehouses.
- Reject the “low price trap”
Some low-price DDP channels on the market may have risks of illegal customs clearance (such as gray customs clearance or false product names). For bulk goods, once seized by customs, not only will the goods be confiscated, but the consignor may also be blacklisted.
Compliance advice for medium to large cargo
When operating trade goods above 2CBM, compliance is the cornerstone of long-term operations:
Document consistency: Ensure that the description, quantity, and weight of the goods on the box list and invoice are completely consistent with the actual goods.
EORI number preparation: Even under DDP terms, if the buyer is a Belgian company, it is best to confirm that it has a valid EORI number for inspection.
Intellectual property review: It is strictly prohibited to transport imitation and infringing products. Belgian customs cracks down on such contraband very hard.
Professional bulk cargo logistics solution: Presou
To handle DDP transportation from China to Belgium, especially for bulk cargo of more than 200kg or more than 2CBM, we need a partner with deep industry accumulation and strong implementation capabilities.
Presou is your trusted international freight forwarding expert. As a professional organization with 10 years of industry experience, we are well aware of the pain points and difficulties of bulk trade logistics. Our service system is implemented by our wholly-owned subsidiary Shenzhen Dayuanjun (Shenzhen Dayuanjun) to ensure that every link is accurate. Heavy cargo transportation in China: Why licensed inland trucks matter.
Why choose Presou for your Belgian shipments?
Service network covering the whole of China: We have branches in China’s major trade ports—Guangzhou, Ningbo, Shanghai, Qingdao, Tianjin, and Xiamen—to provide you with efficient localized pickup and customs declaration services.
Deeply engaged in DDP/DDU door-to-door service: With a deep global cooperation network, we are good at handling the complex Belgian import customs clearance process and provide customers with one-stop solutions from Chinese factories to Belgian warehouses. Presou Global Door to Door Shipping: WIFFA Secure Network Instructions.
Focus on large and medium-sized goods: Our business red line is clear and clear - we do not deal with small package express business, but focus all resources on serving bulk trade goods of 200kg+ or 2CBM+. This specialization enables us to provide more stable space guarantees and more professional loading solutions for large cargoes.
Whether you need stable sea freight LCL or efficient air freight large cargo services, Presou can provide you with compliant, transparent and competitive DDP transportation solutions.
Thank you for watching. I hope we can solve your problems.
Presou is an international freight forwarding company from China, with subsidiaries offering one-stop logistics services—from pickup and customs clearance to home delivery. Over the past ten years, we have established branches in major port cities in China, including Guangzhou, Ningbo, Shanghai, Qingdao, Tianjin, and Xiamen.
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