HCT Logistics and Import Packages: Understanding Post-Clearance Delivery (2026)
Quick Answer: Can HCT Logistics Check My Customs Duty for Me?
No. Customs duty is assessed and collected by Customs (Customs Act (關稅法) Article 4). Domestic delivery companies like HCT Logistics have no authority to assess duty and cannot look up your duty amount; for duty and fee questions, contact your customs broker or consolidator, or check your declaration and fee details in "EZ WAY," the real-name verification app promoted by the Ministry of Finance. Delivery companies only take over the domestic leg after release and warehouse exit.
What Part of the Import Chain Does HCT Logistics Handle? Can It Check Customs Duty?
Bottom line first: the authority to assess customs duty belongs exclusively to Customs. Article 4 of the Customs Act (關稅法) states that "customs duty shall be collected by Customs," so no domestic delivery company has the authority to assess duty or look up your duty amount. Take HCT Logistics as an example: according to its own website, the company has transferred its international sea and air freight forwarding business to its affiliate, Xinrui Sagawa Express Co., Ltd. (新瑞佐川急便股份有限公司) , so in a consolidated-shipping context it typically handles the domestic delivery leg after release and warehouse exit. Which specific last-mile delivery company a given consolidator actually contracts with depends on that consolidator's own announcements.
When Does It Actually Get Handed to the Delivery Company?
1International arrival and warehousing (stored in a Customs-approved bonded warehouse)
2Customs declaration / simplified declaration, with advance authorization confirmation completed in "EZ WAY"
3Duty and fee processing, then Customs release (dutiable goods are released only after duty is paid)
4Warehouse exit → domestic delivery pickup (the bonded warehouse verifies the release notice and other documents before allowing goods to leave)
5Domestic delivery, transfer, and final delivery
Customs' official lane system is C1 (no document review, no inspection), C2 (document review), and C3 (physical inspection). Until duty is paid, the release notice is issued, and the goods actually leave the warehouse, there's usually no usable domestic delivery tracking number yet. Statuses like "under declaration / documents pending / duty pending" shown on consolidators' dashboards are the operators' own terminology, not official Customs status codes.
How Long From Clearance to Delivery? Understanding the Timeline
- Think of it as two separate stages: "1 day for clearance + 1 day for delivery" is not a guaranteed figure. Customs assigns lanes via its computer expert system — C1/C2/C3 — and C3 requires an in-person inspection; only the domestic leg is the delivery company's own processing time.
- Outlying islands ship by sea: per HCT Logistics' announcement dated 2018-05-23, packages for outlying islands under convenience-store delivery are now shipped exclusively by sea (no longer by air), with delivery adjusted to 4-7 business days, still subject to weather and sea conditions.
- Weather can cause delays: the company's typhoon announcement dated 2026-07-10 states that pickup and delivery are suspended in areas where work and school are suspended, and even in unaffected areas, "delivery times in some areas may be delayed" and "package delivery times may be postponed."
- Oversized/overweight items mainly affect acceptance and pricing, not necessarily the timeline: per its shipping guidelines, surcharges for items that are too long, too heavy, or too bulky are negotiated between the branch office and the shipper, and items unsuitable for vehicle loading may not be accepted for carriage.
Why does HCT handle this leg? Its transit hub sits inside Taipei Port
Sea express consignments clear customs in the sea express cargo zone at Taipei Port, and HCT Logistics built its International Logistics and Northern Taiwan Transit Center right inside the Second Industrial Zone of Taipei Port (Bali District, New Taipei City): ground was broken on 17 April 2023, with an investment of NT$1.9 billion, a total floor area of about 6,110 ping (approx. 20,200 m²), three storeys above ground and an expected 500 jobs created. At the groundbreaking ceremony, HCT chairman Hsu Yu-jui stated that the centre covers cold-chain logistics, pharmaceutical logistics, cross-border e-commerce and the northern transit centre. HCT's own cross-border e-commerce page also describes it as "A new model for the sea express zone at Taiwan's ports — HCT is inside Taipei Port".
This directly affects the transit time you experience: once goods are released, they do not need another cross-region trunk haul back to a transit station in a different county before sorting can begin. They can enter the nearby facility and join a delivery route the same day — what is removed is that one extra handover between "release" and "on the road".
Compare this with the HowBridge measurements further down this page: across 556 customs declarations, 51.8% left the warehouse within 24 hours of customs release and 71.8% within 48 hours. These are HowBridge's own operational figures, not an official published standard, and they exclude the domestic delivery days after the courier picks the parcel up.
Sources for this section: Economic Development Department, New Taipei City Government / Taiwan TB News, "HCT partners with New Taipei City Government, investing NT$1.9 billion in a smart logistics transit centre in Bali" (2023-04-17); HCT official website · Cross-border e-commerce services.
How Do I Track My Package With the HBL Number? What You Need to Look It Up
Imported consolidated packages use two completely different numbering systems — one for customs clearance, one for delivery — and this is where most people get stuck.
- International leg: bill of lading or HBL number — express goods are declared per house bill of lading number for each consignee, and where there is no house number, per master number. This number is used for customs declaration and EZ WAY confirmation.
- Domestic leg: the delivery company’s consignment number — the HCT Logistics tracking page states that you enter the 10-digit shipment number / bill number to search, and it only provides information on shipments delivered by that company. This number exists only after the goods leave the warehouse.
- Recipient name, phone number and address — the shipping notes require the sender’s and recipient’s names (company name), addresses and phone numbers to be filled in completely; incomplete details often require a confirmation call and cause delays. For what happens with a wrong address and how to change it, see “Will a wrong recipient address cause a return?”.
- A screenshot of the current system status — to avoid errors from verbal relaying.
- HowBridge members don’t need to match numbers themselves — the title of the “In transit” card in the consolidation center is the HBL number, and logistics, Customs and home delivery statuses are combined in one timeline; for the meaning of each status, see consolidation shipment status.
HBL number lookup: what is the difference between GC329 and GB321?
For the Customs leg, only the HBL number is recognized. The Customs-Port-Trade Single Window has two lookups that do not require login; both require the HBL number, but they check different things:
| Item | GC329 full dynamic process inquiry for imported simplified goods | GB321 receipt processing result inquiry for imported simplified declarations |
|---|---|---|
| What it checks | The full dynamic clearance process for this shipment: which step it has reached among arrival, receipt and filing, release and warehouse exit | Per the system name, it checks the “receipt processing result” of the simplified declaration, i.e. how the declaration data was received after being sent to Customs |
| Required field | HBL number (official note: “The HBL number field is required; other fields are optional”) | HBL number (marked * on screen); the master bill of lading number may be left blank |
| Sea / air | “Air” (default) or “Sea”; you must switch it yourself | “Air” or “Sea” can be selected |
| Number length | Up to 35 characters | Up to 35 characters |
| When to use it | When you want to know which stage it is stuck at, whether it has been released and whether it has left the warehouse | This is the one the Ministry of Finance’s 2020-01-17 explanation directed the public to use for checking clearance progress with master and house bill of lading numbers (then named as the air version) |
| What it does not show | The domestic home delivery leg after warehouse exit (use the delivery company’s number instead) | The official page does not state its coverage; for the domestic delivery leg after warehouse exit, likewise use the delivery company’s number |
Official entry points: GC329 full dynamic process inquiry for imported simplified goods, GB321 receipt processing result inquiry for imported simplified declarations (the Customs-Port-Trade Single Window lookup pages only support opening in a regular browser).
Checking once with GC329: works for both sea and air shipments
1 Have your HBL number ready. For where HowBridge members can find it, see “Where do I find the HBL number in HowBridge?” below.
2 Select sea or air according to the actual transport mode. GC329 defaults to “Air”; for sea shipments, switch to “Sea”. HowBridge has both sea and air shipments; if unsure, pick one first and switch to the other if nothing comes up — the HowBridge system does the same when it runs its scheduled queries.
3 You can leave the master bill of lading number blank and fill in only the HBL number (the official note says the master bill of lading number is optional).
4 Press “Search” and the results appear at the bottom of the screen; if the number is entered incorrectly, the system displays an error message.
The data the HowBridge system receives from GC329 records five stages: vessel (aircraft) arrival, electronic receipt and filing, tax calculation, Customs release and warehouse exit. For the meaning of each stage, see consolidation shipment status; for the regulations and timelines of each stage, see How long does Taiwan customs clearance take?.
Why can’t I find clearance status on the Customs website with a consolidation order number?
Because a consolidation order number is not a Customs declaration number. The Taipei Customs Office explanation published by the Ministry of Finance on 2020-01-17 states it clearly:
“Members of the public often ask about the clearance process using purchase order numbers from overseas online shopping, consolidation order numbers and similar, but these numbers are goods information provided by e-commerce platforms, consolidation companies and sellers, and are not matters required to be declared on an import declaration, so Taipei Customs cannot check clearance progress based on such goods information. In future, members of the public who need to should ask the consolidation company for the master and house bill of lading numbers of the goods … If no data is found, please first contact the seller, logistics company or customs broker for details, so that clearance progress can be checked.”
Source: Ministry of Finance, “Taipei Customs provides multiple inquiry channels for the public to quickly understand cargo status” (2020-01-17). The inquiry path named at the time was “(GB321) air import simplified declaration processing result inquiry”; the current GB321 is named “receipt processing result inquiry for imported simplified declarations” and allows selecting sea or air.
If nothing comes up, check these 6 things in order
- Wrong number: consolidation order numbers, purchase order numbers, the “sub-bill number” on the HowBridge screen and the HCT Logistics 10-digit shipment number are all not HBL numbers.
- Wrong sea / air selection: GC329 defaults to air, so a sea shipment will not be found unless you switch; try again with the other mode.
- Declaration data not yet created: while the goods are still in the Shenzhen warehouse or have just been dispatched, Customs may not have data for the shipment yet; the HBL number on the HowBridge screen also appears only after the declaration data is created.
- EZ WAY not yet answered: when the EZ WAY app has a pre-declaration record awaiting confirmation, tap into that HBL number and press “Declaration matches”. According to the Customs Administration explanation, goods for which there is no reply or a reply of “declaration does not match” “cannot be declared for import because the customs authorization has not been completed”.
- Already left the warehouse: after warehouse exit it is the domestic home delivery leg, so use the HCT number (10 digits) on the HCT Logistics shipment tracking page; that page only provides information on shipments delivered by HCT Logistics.
- Still nothing: contact HowBridge customer service with the HBL number or sub-bill number shown on screen, and customer service can verify manually with our logistics partner or the delivery company.
Where do I find the HBL number in HowBridge?
No need to ask customer service — you can see it yourself after logging in. The following is based on the actual screens of the “In transit” tab in the HowBridge consolidation center:
| Location on screen | What number it is | Where to look it up |
|---|---|---|
| The string after 📦 in the card title | The HBL number used by Customs (appears only after the declaration data is created) | GC329, GB321; it is also the number of the pre-declaration record in EZ WAY |
| Card title starting with B or D followed by a date | A temporary system number, meaning the HBL number has not been generated yet | Cannot be used in Customs systems; wait for the declaration data to be created |
| “Sub-bill number” field | Logistics tracking number, not the HBL number | Provide it when contacting customer service; it will not be found on GC329 |
| “HCT number” field | HCT Logistics 10-digit shipment number (only available after handover to HCT Logistics for delivery) | HCT Logistics website shipment tracking page |
| The timeline that pops up when you expand the card and click the status button (e.g. “En route”) | Customs events read “Customs clearance … stage (HBL: …)”; the value in parentheses is the HBL number | Same as the first row |
HowBridge queries GC329 for clearance progress using the HBL number about every 4 hours and syncs shipment status with our logistics partner about every 2 hours, combining both into one timeline. Taiwan-leg pickup, dispatch and receipt events are currently relayed by our logistics partner; HowBridge is not directly connected to HCT Logistics’ systems, so they occasionally appear a few hours later than on the HCT Logistics website. If they don’t match, customer service can verify manually with the delivery company. For the meaning of each status, see consolidation shipment status.
A common cause of last-mile holdups is an address missing its section, lane or alley, or the wrong district selected. Check before submitting; for what to do if it is wrong, see Will a wrong recipient address cause a return?.
Glossary: House B/L, Warehouse Exit, Release
These terms are often used interchangeably, but each belongs to a different stage and a different authority:
- Master Bill of Lading (Master B/L)
- The bill of lading issued by the carrier to the consolidator for the entire shipment. Since consolidated packages are typically grouped together, the Master B/L corresponds to the entire container/batch — not your individual package.
- House Bill of Lading (House B/L)
- The sub-bill-of-lading number the consolidator issues for each individual consignee. Import courier goods are declared using each consignee's individual House B/L sub-number; if there's no sub-number, the Master B/L number is used instead — this is the number you see in EZ WAY and the one used for customs declaration.
- Bonded Warehouse
- A facility approved and registered by Customs specifically for storing import/export goods that have not yet completed the Customs release process. After packages arrive in Taiwan, they first enter the bonded warehouse before the declaration process begins.
- Release
- The determination by Customs, after completing inspection and duty/fee procedures, permitting goods to be claimed. Dutiable imported goods shall be released only after the duty has been paid (Customs Act (關稅法) Article 44, Paragraph 1).
- Warehouse Exit (Cargo Pickup)
- The bonded warehouse operator only permits goods to leave after verifying the Customs release notice, pickup order, and other documents. Only after warehouse exit are goods actually handed over to the domestic delivery company.
- Domestic Waybill Number
- The delivery company's own tracking number (for example, HCT Logistics uses a 10-digit number). It only covers the domestic delivery leg and cannot be used to look up customs clearance or duty/fee information.
HowBridge Real Data: How Long After Customs Release Until Warehouse Exit?
The following is HowBridge's own operational data (not official statistics), provided to help you understand the actual gap between "release" and "warehouse exit":
| Item | Within 24 Hours | Within 48 Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Customs Release → Warehouse Exit | 51.8% | 71.8% |
| Declaration Filed → Customs Release | 97.5% | 98.6% |
Sample n=556 · Period2026-07-01 ~2026-08-31 · Method: timestamps returned by the Customs/Port/Trade Single Window (E1 declaration filed → RL Customs release, RL release → OW warehouse exit), records with negative time sequences excluded · Verified on2026-09-17
This is the internal processing time from Customs release to warehouse exit; it does not include the domestic delivery days after the delivery company receives the package. For domestic-leg timelines, see the timeline section above and the delivery company's own announcements.
The customs release figures above cover only declarations already filed with customs; shipments not yet filed are not counted, and the data carries no clearance-type (C1/C2/C3) code.
How long after Customs warehouse exit until delivery? HowBridge measured data
After warehouse exit, the goods are handed to a Taiwanese home delivery company. To be clear up front: HowBridge does not separately track the “warehouse exit → receipt” leg, so we do not give a guaranteed “days after warehouse exit” figure here; what we can provide is measured data for the full journey and the earlier legs over the same period:
| Leg | Sample | Measured result |
|---|---|---|
| Dispatch in China (billing date) → receipt in Taiwan (full journey) | 601 shipments | Median 6 days, P90 9 days; 72.2% within 7 days, 94.3% within 10 days |
| Customs release → warehouse exit | 556 records | Median 22.7 hours; 51.8% within 24 hours, 71.8% within 48 hours, 80.4% within 72 hours |
| Warehouse exit → receipt in Taiwan | — | Not tracked separately (no data) |
Statistics period 2026-07-01–2026-08-31 (generated 2026-09-17), covering sea express shipments only; air shipments are not included, and test accounts are excluded. These are statistical results, not a delivery guarantee for any individual shipment.
Factors that can still affect delivery time after warehouse exit
- Address and phone number: if details are incomplete or wrong, the courier has to call to confirm, which easily causes delays.
- Outlying islands: HCT Logistics has announced that outlying-island shipments via its convenience store home delivery service are all delivered by sea, taking 4–7 working days; see the timeline section above.
- Weather: pickup and delivery are suspended in areas where work and classes are cancelled due to typhoons and similar events, and other areas may also be postponed; see the timeline section above.
- Data time lag: Taiwan-leg events are relayed by our logistics partner, so the HowBridge screen may lag the HCT Logistics website by a few hours.
What Should You Actually Compare Against Other Couriers?
Online shopping reviews often ask "which one is faster." For import consolidation, the delivery brand only determines the final domestic leg; the earlier lane assignment (C1/C2/C3), inspection, duty/fees, and documentation are the main variables for the overall timeline — comparing only the last-mile delivery company misses the entire customs clearance process.
| Item | Customs (Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance) | Domestic Delivery Company |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Role | Customs duty is collected by Customs (Customs Act (關稅法) Article 4) | Domestic transport and delivery after goods leave the warehouse |
| Can Check Duty? | Yes; you can also check declaration and duty/fee details via EZ WAY | No authority to assess duty; cannot look up the amount |
| When It Gets Involved | Before release (lane assignment, inspection, duty/fees) | After verifying the release notice and picking up goods from the warehouse |
| Number Used for Tracking | B/L number, House B/L number | The company's own waybill number (HCT Logistics uses a 10-digit tracking number) |
| Timeline Variables | C1/C2/C3 lane assignment; C3 requires an in-person inspection | Distance, sea shipping to outlying islands, weather delays, address and contact issues |
See Taiwan's Top 5 Delivery Companies: Fees & Timeline Comparison
HCT Logistics Oversize Fee Calculator: When You'll Be Charged and How Much
HowBridge's consolidated shipping fee already includes shipping from mainland China, Taiwan customs clearance, and home delivery by HCT Logistics; parcels under 10 kg are charged an additional NT$100 delivery fee. The oversize fee is a separate charge—it only applies when a parcel's volumetric size or weight exceeds HCT Logistics' standard limits, based on the delivery city/county. Enter the dimensions and weight to find out if you'll be charged, and how much.
How Cai (the Volumetric-Size Unit) Is Calculated (New as of 2025/12/01)
Cai = Length × Width × Height (cm) ÷ 27,000, rounded up to the next whole number; if any side is less than 30 cm, it is counted as 30 cm. So flat or long, narrow parcels often have a higher cai count than a simple multiplication suggests—this is the part most people get wrong.
The Four Tiers and Their Thresholds
| Tier | Criteria (either condition applies) | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Cai ≤ 10 and weight ≤ 40kg | No extra charge (included in shipping fee) |
| Small pallet | Cai > 10 or weight > 40kg | Based on delivery city/county, see table below |
| Large pallet | Cai > 20 or longest side > 300cm | Based on delivery city/county, see table below |
| Dedicated truck | Cai > 70 or weight > 800kg or longest side > 320cm | Requires an individual quote from customer service |
Tiers are checked from strictest to loosest: dedicated truck first, then large pallet, then small pallet—if none apply, it's Standard. Note that large pallet has no weight threshold: if weight exceeds 40kg, the parcel is upgraded to small pallet even if the cai count is under 20.
Oversize Fees by Region (NTD)
| Region | Applicable Cities/Counties | Small Pallet | Large Pallet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Taiwan | Keelung City, Taipei City, New Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Hsinchu County, Hsinchu City | NT$990 | NT$1,580 |
| Central | Miaoli County, Taichung City, Changhua County, Nantou County, Yunlin County, Chiayi County, Chiayi City | NT$1,290 | NT$2,180 |
| Southern | Tainan City, Kaohsiung City, Pingtung County | NT$1,590 | NT$2,780 |
| Eastern | Yilan County, Hualien County, Taitung County | NT$1,990 | NT$3,080 |
| Outlying islands | Penghu County, Kinmen County | NT$1,290 | NT$2,180 |
Penghu and Kinmen are shown at the base fee only; additional outlying-island surcharges require an individual quote from customer service.
Oversize Fee Calculator
Also note: parcels under 10 kg are charged an NT$100 HCT delivery fee, which is separate from the oversize fee.
This calculator uses HowBridge's current agreement with HCT Logistics (the cai calculation rule effective 2025/12/01), the same backend logic as the shipping fee calculator on this site; your actual invoice is authoritative.
Related Reading
- Complete guide to Taiwan import customs (customs knowledge overview)
- How long does Taiwan customs clearance take? A full timeline breakdown
- Complete tutorial on tracking consolidated parcels
- Rates and delivery times of Taiwan’s 5 major home delivery companies compared
- Consolidation shipment status: status reference and update frequency
- Will a wrong recipient address cause a return? How to check before submitting
Frequently Asked Questions
This article is a general summary. Actual customs clearance, duty/fees, inspection requirements, and jurisdictional division of responsibilities are subject to the latest announcements and case-by-case determinations by the Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Finance, and other relevant authorities. HowBridge provides consolidated shipping/customs clearance assistance and does not replace official rulings.
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