Customs & Compliance

Why Oversized Shipments Get Held at Customs

Most holds come from documents that do not match the cargo. These checks belong before the shipment leaves China.

Export crates and shelving inside a warehouse
Oversized shipments rarely get held because of size. They get held because the paperwork does not match what customs sees in the container.

The usual causes

A commercial invoice describing goods in general terms, an HS classification that does not fit the actual product, or a declared value that does not match the transaction.

What to prepare

Describe the goods precisely, agree the HS code before booking, and make sure the packing list matches the crate marks and quantities.

Fix it before departure

Under DDP terms the seller carries clearance. Resolving classification and duty questions in China is far cheaper than resolving them at destination.

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