China customs declaration · export side
China Export Customs Declaration
Filed by our Yiwu team, released before the cut-off.
China export customs declaration with Al Fajar: our Yiwu team files the declaration for your sea container…. We check the HS code and data against your invoice and packing list, and follow the cargo to customs release. We work on the China side only, and your own broker clears the cargo at the destination.
02 / What it is
What a China Export Customs Declaration Is
A China export customs declaration is the filing that tells China Customs what is leaving the country: the goods, their value, weight, HS code and destination. Cargo cannot be loaded on the ship until customs releases it. Our Yiwu team files it for the containers we book, so the papers and the booking are handled together.
- Before loadingcustoms must release the cargo first
- Onlinefiled through the single window or by a declarant
- HS codesets the data, any duty and any licence check
- Same teamdeclaration and container booking in one office
03 / Who files
Who Files a China Export Customs Declaration?
The exporter must be registered with China Customs. A seller without that registration exports through a foreign-trade company, and either one can appoint a declarant to file the China export customs declaration for them.
Three ways to file
- The registered exporter files for itself
Through the single window.
- A foreign-trade company exports on the seller's behalf
For sellers without customs registration.
- A declarant such as Al Fajar files for the exporter
With a signed entrustment letter.
What we need from you
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Sales contract or purchase order
- Exporter's company name and registration details
- Product details: material, use, brand and model
- A licence or dangerous goods packaging certificate, for restricted goods
04 / How it works
China Export Customs Declaration in 5 Steps
The China export customs declaration is the China-side step inside every FCL booking.
01 / 05
Your shipment journey
05 stages
Additional support
FCL container shipping
Need the container booked? See our FCL Container Shipping service.
Additional support
China export documentation
Not sure which papers you need? See our China Export Documentation service.
05 / The form fields
What a China Export Customs Declaration Form Asks For
A China export customs declaration is filed electronically, so most exporters never fill in a paper form. The table lists the data we confirm with you before filing. It must match your invoice, packing list and bill of lading.
| Field | What goes in it | Taken from |
|---|---|---|
Exporter and consignee |
Company names as on the contract | Sales contract |
Port of export and transport mode |
Loading port, and sea | Our booking |
Vessel, voyage and bill of lading number |
Added once the booking is made | Carrier and our booking |
Trade mode |
How the goods are exported, such as general trade or market procurement trade | Seller's status |
Destination country |
Country of final destination | Contract |
Packages, gross and net weight |
Number of cartons or pallets, and weights | Packing list |
Trade term |
FOB, CIF or CFR, with freight and insurance where the term includes them | Contract and invoice |
HS code and goods description |
The classification and the declared goods details | Our check against your product details |
Quantity, unit price, total value, currency |
Declared value of each line | Commercial invoice |
Country of origin |
Where the goods were made | Supplier |
06 / Trade modes and Yiwu
Trade Modes: General Trade and Market Procurement Trade
Goods bought in Yiwu are often exported under market procurement trade, a mode piloted in Yiwu since 2013 for small purchases from approved markets. Factories with export rights usually use general trade. The mode changes the paperwork of the China export customs declaration, so we confirm it before filing.
| Trade mode | Typical seller | What changes |
|---|---|---|
General trade |
Factory or trading company with export rights | Standard declaration; an export VAT refund may be possible when the conditions are met |
Market procurement tradeYiwu pilot 2013 |
Sellers in approved markets such as Yiwu | Simplified customs clearance, with a value limit per declaration |
Source for the market procurement pilot: Belt and Road Portal (opens in a new tab). Not sure which mode applies? Send us the supplier's name and we check it.
07 / Who does what
Who Does What, and Where We Are Based
Al Fajar's office is in Yiwu, Zhejiang. The same team that files your China export customs declaration also books the container. It follows the container to the port, so a problem on the papers is solved in one office. We cover the China side only.
-
We handle
- Checking the HS code and declaration data
- Filing the declaration online
- Following the cargo to customs release
- Booking the container and the bill of lading
-
You handle
- A valid invoice, packing list and contract
- Import clearance, duty and tax at the destination
- The exporter's own tax and VAT refund records
-
We do not offer
- Clearance at the destination
- Air freight
- Door-to-door or DDP delivery
08 / What can delay it
What Can Delay a China Export Customs Declaration
Most holds come from papers that disagree or from goods that need a licence. Checking both before filing is cheaper than fixing them at the port.
-
Documents
Papers that do not match
Names, values or weights that differ between the invoice, packing list and bill of lading cause queries.
-
Classification
A wrong HS code
The code sets the data customs checks, and a wrong one can trigger a licence or inspection query.
-
Controls
Restricted goods
Batteries, chemicals and other controlled goods may need a licence or a dangerous goods packaging certificate.
Export duty. China charges export duty on certain goods only, mainly raw materials such as some metals and minerals. Your HS code shows whether your goods are among them.
09 / Fee and timing
What a China Export Customs Declaration Costs, and How Long It Takes
We do not publish fees, because they depend on the goods and the shipment. The China export customs declaration is quoted in writing and listed as its own line next to the other China-side charges.
What changes the fee
- Number of HS linesEach product line is declared.
- Type of goodsLicence or inspection checks add work.
- InspectionCustoms may open and check a container.
- Quality of papersLate or mismatched papers mean re-filing.
Timing
- Filing
We file once your papers are complete and checked.
- Release
Low-risk cargo can clear automatically; inspected cargo takes longer.
- Cut-off
The container must be released before the carrier's cut-off, so we file early.
10 / FAQ
Questions exporters ask about the China export customs declaration
Straight answers on who files, the documents needed, brokers, 2026 rules and market procurement trade.
What is an export customs declaration in China?
It is the filing that tells China Customs what is being exported: the goods, HS code, value, weight, destination and trade mode. Customs must release the cargo before it is loaded on the ship. It is a different filing from the import declaration made in the destination country.
Who files the China export customs declaration?
The exporter files it, or appoints a declarant to file for them. An exporter without customs registration ships through a foreign-trade company. For containers booked with Al Fajar, our Yiwu team files it as declarant after you sign an entrustment letter.
What documents do I need to declare an export from China?
You need a commercial invoice, packing list and sales contract, plus the exporter's registration details and product details such as material and use. Restricted goods also need a licence or a dangerous goods packaging certificate. We check that names, values and weights match before filing.
Is there a China export declaration form PDF or sample?
Declarations are filed electronically, so a normal container export does not need a paper form. A registered exporter can file online through the single window, or we file for you. The table on this page lists the data the declaration asks for, and we send it to you to confirm.
What is the China export customs clearance procedure?
People call it export clearance, and the official steps are to prepare the documents, file the declaration, wait for customs review and receive release for loading. Our Yiwu team runs these steps for your container. Clearance at the destination is a separate step done by your broker.
Do I need a customs broker to export from China?
You need a registered exporter, or a declarant filing on its behalf. An exporter can file itself through the single window, but many shippers use a declarant for speed and error checks. A seller without export registration must use a foreign-trade company.
How much does a customs broker charge in China?
It depends on the number of HS lines, the type of goods, any inspection and your papers, so we do not publish a figure. The declaration appears as its own line in our written quote, next to the other China-side charges.
Are there export duties or new export rules in 2026?
China charges export duty on certain goods only, mainly raw materials. A new export licence catalogue of 43 categories took effect on 1 January 2026, and dual-use items need their own licence. Tell us your goods and HS code early and we check them.
What is market procurement trade?
It is a customs mode piloted in Yiwu since 2013 for small purchases from approved markets, with simplified clearance and a value limit per declaration. Whether your goods qualify depends on the seller and the goods. We confirm the mode before filing.
Do you clear cargo at the destination, or offer air freight or DDP?
No. Al Fajar files the China export declaration and books FCL by sea. Import clearance at the destination belongs to your broker. We do not offer air freight, door-to-door or DDP delivery.
Need a China export customs declaration filed?
Get your quote within 24 hours.
Send the invoice, packing list and supplier details, and a written quote reaches you within 24 hours.
- Send your detailsInvoice, packing list and supplier details
- Get a written quoteThe declaration is listed as its own line, next to the other China-side charges
- We check and fileData checked, declaration filed before the cut-off
Request a quote
Reply within 24 hoursWhat to send us
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Supplier name and details, and the exporter
- Destination port
Written quote. Charges listed separately.
or talk to us directly