What is commercial sea express?
Commercial sea express is a "fast ocean shipping service" designed specifically for cross-border e-commerce sellers, wholesalers and high-volume consolidation members. Compared with the standard ocean freight line (7-14 days), commercial sea express uses fast vessels + priority clearance and arrives in 5-12 days. The rate is NT$45/kg, including dual customs clearance.
📌 In one sentenceCommercial sea express = the middle path that is "50% faster than ocean freight and 70% cheaper than air freight", and it suits Taiwanese sellers buying in bulk from 1688 / Pinduoduo particularly well.
⚠️ Important notes on duties, taxes and money flows
This service is exclusively for commercial imports (B2B): the importer is the buying company, customs duty and business tax are declared according to the amount actually assessed by Customs, and they are already included in the freight quotation with a uniform invoice issued. HowBridge does not advance or pay the taxes on your behalf.
Personal consolidation parcels are not covered by this service: for personal imports, the customs duty and business tax are borne by the recipient and collected in cash by HCT Logistics on delivery. HowBridge neither advances nor pays them.
HowBridge does not provide buying-agent or procurement services, and does not collect or pay for the goods on your behalf (under Article 29 of the Banking Act (銀行法), a non-bank may not conduct remittance business); please order and pay the seller yourself.
Commercial sea express vs other shipping methods
| Method | Rate | Transit time | Best for |
|---|
| Air freight line | NT$100/kg | 3-5 days | Urgent, light, high-value |
| Sea express line | NT$50/unit | 5-10 days | Heavy personal consolidation |
| Commercial sea express | NT$45/kg | 5-12 days | Wholesale, seller restocking |
| Ocean freight line | from NT$25/kg or NT$150/cu ft | 7-14 days | Large furniture, not urgent |
Sea express vs commercial sea express: what is the difference?
Many people mix up "sea express" and "commercial sea express". In fact the two run through the same maritime express channel, and the difference lies in who they serve and how they are priced: sea express (the sea express line) is fast ocean shipping for individual consolidation members, while commercial sea express is a high-volume service designed for e-commerce sellers and wholesalers. The sea express line costs about NT$50 per unit and suits personal consolidation of 10-30kg a month; commercial sea express costs NT$45 per kilogram and suits steady restocking of 30kg or more a month, or 50kg or more in a single shipment.
| Comparison | Sea express (sea express line) | Commercial sea express |
|---|
| Main users | Heavy individual consolidation members | E-commerce sellers / wholesalers |
| Rate per kilogram | About NT$50 | NT$45 (better value in bulk) |
| Suitable volume | 10-30kg a month | 30kg+ a month / 50kg+ per shipment |
| Declaration identity | Mostly personal real-name declaration (EZ Way) | Formal declaration under a company is available (B2B) |
| Clearance category | Maritime express consignment | Maritime express consignment (same regime) |
| Dual customs clearance | ✅ | ✅ |
📌 In one sentenceSea express and commercial sea express are both "maritime express consignments" and go through the same simplified clearance and dual customs clearance process; the only difference is that sea express is priced for personal consolidation (about NT$50/unit), while commercial sea express is priced for sellers buying in bulk (NT$45/kg). The larger your monthly purchase volume, the more you should be using commercial sea express.
At Customs, sea express and commercial sea express are both classed as "maritime express consignments" and fall under the same simplified maritime express clearance regime. According to issue 105 of the journal of the Customs Association of the Republic of China (中華民國關稅協會), the volume of cross-border e-commerce express clearances in the maritime express consignment zone has grown year by year since the zone was established; although scattered low-value goods account for only about 0.4% of total import trade value, they consume considerable inspection manpower. Maritime express is charged on volumetric weight, with a gross weight ceiling of 70 kg per piece (bag) (Customs Association journal, issue 94), so for light bulky goods it is advisable to compress and pack them tightly to reduce volume and save on freight.
Who is commercial sea express for?
1. Shopee / momo / PChome sellers
Sourcing from 1688 / Alibaba and restocking 30-100kg a week. Commercial sea express is NT$5/kg cheaper than the sea express line, with the same transit time.
2. Cross-border e-commerce wholesale
More than 100kg a month, with fixed suppliers and a need for a steady arrival rhythm. Commercial sea express can run on a "designated container" + locked-in space.
3. Pinduoduo bulk purchasing
50kg+ per shipment of Pinduoduo household goods / clothing / accessories. Commercial sea express includes dual customs clearance, sparing you the hassle of declaring.
4. Own brands shipping direct from Shenzhen factories
Own-brand operators need a steady 5-12 day arrival rhythm, and commercial sea express saves 70% on freight compared with air.
5. Heavy individual consolidation members
Members consolidating 30kg+ a month who are used to waiting 1-2 weeks. Commercial sea express saves NT$5-15/kg on average.
Commercial sea express cost calculator
Charging formulaVolumetric weight (kg) = length(cm) × width(cm) × height(cm) ÷ 10000
Chargeable weight = the greater of volumetric weight vs actual weight
Freight = chargeable weight × NT$45/kg
| Batch | Actual weight | Freight (incl. dual customs clearance) | Cost per kilogram |
|---|
| Small batch | 10kg | NT$450 | NT$45/kg |
| Medium batch | 50kg | NT$2,250 | NT$45/kg |
| Large batch | 100kg | NT$4,500 | NT$45/kg |
| Full container | 1 CBM (about 200kg) | NT$3,500-4,500 | NT$18-23/kg |
⚠️ Watch out for light bulky goods
"Light bulky goods" with big cartons and little weight (such as stuffed toys and toilet paper) get hit by volumetric weight. Vacuum packing and tight stacking to reduce volume is recommended and can save 30-50% on freight.
How commercial sea express works
- Register with HowBridgeRegister free to get the Shenzhen warehouse address
- Order on 1688 / Pinduoduo / TaobaoEnter "好运器" as the recipient, and use the personal address one-tap copied from the 0523.tw homepage as the delivery address (it ends with an H-code ID for automatic matching).
- Arrival at the Shenzhen warehouseSelect "commercial sea express" as the shipping method (in the dashboard menu)
- Consolidated into one boxAll parcels are merged into one large carton (consolidation is free)
- Back to Taiwan, usually 5-12 daysCustoms clearance and dual customs clearance are handled automatically
- Home deliveryDelivered by HCT Logistics
Commercial sea express FAQ
How do I import B2B commercial sea freight into Taiwan?
For B2B commercial imports into Taiwan, we recommend commercial sea express or a full container, with a formal customs declaration filed by an AEO customs broker. Process: ① confirm the CCC tariff code and import regulations ② the exporter ships to the HowBridge China warehouse ③ goods are shipped back to Taiwan by sea / full container ④ the AEO customs broker handles the import declaration and pays import duty and the 5% business tax ⑤ delivery to the designated location. HowBridge offers commercial sea express and B2B commercial sea freight options, suited to e-commerce sellers, physical stores and wholesalers with steady, high-volume restocking.
Q1. What is commercial sea express, and how does it differ from a standard sea freight line?
Commercial sea express is a “fast sea freight service” designed for cross-border e-commerce sellers and wholesalers. Compared with a standard sea freight line (7-14 days), commercial sea express uses fast vessels + priority clearance, arriving in 5-12 days. The rate is NT$45/kg (somewhat more than the sea freight line’s from NT$25/kg or NT$150/cu ft (quoted per product by customer service), but cheaper than the sea express line’s NT$50/unit). Key points: ① it goes by sea, not by air (not treated as dangerous goods) ② dual clearance (export and import clearance handled for you) ③ suited to large volumes (30kg+) ④ suited to sellers with delivery-time requirements.
Q1b. What is the difference between sea express and commercial sea express?
In one sentence: sea express (the sea express line) is fast sea shipping for individual consolidation members, while commercial sea express is a high-volume option on the same sea express channel designed for e-commerce sellers and wholesalers; the difference is the customer type and the rate. The sea express line is about NT$50 per unit and suits individual consolidation of 10-30kg per month; commercial sea express is NT$45 per kg and suits steady restocking of 30kg or more per month or 50kg or more per shipment, with the option of a formal declaration under a company (B2B), whereas sea express is mostly declared under an individual’s real name (EZ Way). At Customs both are “sea express cargo”, both clear in the sea express cargo zone and include dual clearance (sea express mostly via the simplified declaration form, commercial sea express via the general import/export declaration G1), both are charged on the greater of volumetric weight and actual weight, and both have a gross weight limit of 70 kg per piece (bag).
Q1c. What is the difference between sea express and sea freight?
Sea express and the sea freight line both travel by ship; the difference lies in the declaration method, transit time, chargeable weight and suitable goods. Sea express clears in the sea express cargo zone, mostly with a simplified declaration form, takes 5-10 days from China to Taiwan, costs NT$50/unit with HowBridge, is charged on the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight (length × width × height cm ÷ 10000), and each piece (bag) may not exceed 70 kg gross weight, making it suited to personal online purchases and small to medium parcels. The sea freight line is traditional LCL / full container shipping, cleared with a general import/export declaration, takes 7-14 days, costs from NT$25/kg or NT$150/cu ft (quoted per product by customer service), compares the actual-weight charge and the volume charge for the whole shipment, and suits large, heavy items such as furniture and appliances. For high-value goods over NT$50,000 or when a formal declaration and invoice are needed, please use commercial sea express.
Q1d. How many days does sea express take to reach Taiwan?
HowBridge sea express generally takes 5-10 days. Measured across 601 real sea consolidation parcels on this site (sea express and sea freight line): from dispatch in China to receipt via Taiwan logistics, the median is 6 days and the 90th percentile 9 days, with 100% delivered within 14 days (2026-07-01 to 2026-08-31, checked 2026-09-17); on the Customs side, 97.5% of 556 sea declarations were released within 24 hours. The Double 11 and pre-Lunar New Year peak seasons and C3 inspections extend this; for urgent shipments, please use air freight at 3-5 days.
Q2. Who is commercial sea express best for?
The 5 best fits: ① Shopee / momo / PChome sellers restocking from 1688 ② cross-border e-commerce wholesale (100kg+ per month) ③ bulk purchases from Pinduoduo (50kg+ per shipment) ④ private brands shipping directly from Shenzhen factories ⑤ heavy individual consolidation members (30kg+ per month, used to waiting 1-2 weeks). Not suitable for: ① small consolidations of < 10kg per shipment (the sea freight line is cheaper) ② urgent shipments (use air freight if it must arrive within 7 days) ③ dangerous goods (batteries / perfume must go through the sea freight line’s dangerous goods container).
Q3. Who pays the import duty for commercial sea express?
This option includes dual clearance. “Dual clearance” = clearance at origin + clearance at destination, handled by an AEO-certified customs broker. This option is exclusively for commercial imports (B2B): the importer is the buyer’s company, import duty and business tax are declared according to the amounts actually assessed by Customs, and a uniform invoice is issued; HowBridge does not advance or pay taxes on your behalf. Individual consolidation shipments are not eligible for this option; for personal imports, import duty and business tax are borne by the recipient and collected in cash by HCT Logistics on delivery. There are two exceptions: ① goods valued over NT$50,000 per piece = a bulk commercial import requiring a separate declaration, which may incur extra charges ② specially controlled goods (cosmetics TFDA / BSMI / pharmaceuticals) = additional licensing fees.
Q4. How is volumetric weight calculated for commercial sea express?
Commercial sea express is charged on “the greater of volumetric weight and actual weight”. Formula: volumetric weight (kg) = length (cm) × width (cm) × height (cm) ÷ 10000 (many competitors use ÷6000, which inflates volume by 1.67 times; HowBridge’s ÷10000 is more favorable to customers). Example: 1 carton of 50×40×30cm has a volumetric weight of 60,000 ÷ 10000 = 6kg. If it actually weighs 4kg, the greater value applies: 6kg × NT$45 = NT$270. Light, bulky goods (large cartons with little weight) are at a disadvantage, so pack them tightly and fill empty space to reduce volume. Full container shipments (priced by CBM) have special rates of NT$3,500-4,500 per cubic meter.
Q5. Can commercial sea express carry batteries / cosmetics / food?
It depends on the item: ① lithium batteries: power banks / phones / tablets can be shipped (a safety data sheet
SDS, formerly MSDS, is required) ② cosmetics / skincare: the cosmetics personal-use quantity limit was abolished on 2024-07-01 and no current item-count cap can be found, but items are for personal use only and may not be resold or diverted for other use; commercial imports require completing TFDA cosmetics product notification in advance ③ food: OK within 6 kg for individuals; commercial imports require FDA approval ④ perfume containing alcohol: prohibited (must go through the sea freight line’s dangerous goods container) ⑤ counterfeits / weapons / drugs: strictly prohibited. We recommend checking with the
tariff lookup tool before ordering.
Q6. What happens if something goes wrong with commercial sea express (damage / loss)?
HowBridge currently does not offer declared-value (shipping insurance) coverage, and has no published insurance rates or claim payment timelines. If goods are damaged or lost in transit: ① keep photos of the outer carton and goods, plus the 1688 / Taobao order and invoice (including the goods value) ② contact customer service as soon as possible to explain the situation ③ for actual handling and liability, the compensation standard is: lost parcels are compensated up to three times that shipment’s freight; damage to fragile items or goods containing batteries is not compensated; other damage is assessed case by case ④ Customs confiscation depends on the reason; personal errors (such as declaring prohibited goods) are not covered, and Customs misjudgments can be appealed under the law ⑤ for high-value or fragile goods, we recommend reinforcing packaging at the ordering stage and assessing for yourself whether to ship by an international express service that offers insurance (such as EMS or DHL) instead.
Start your commercial sea express
Register free → get the Shenzhen warehouse address → back to Taiwan in typically 5-12 days, with dual customs clearance
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