Air line
NT$100/kg
- Fastest option
- Good for 3C, cosmetics and apparel
- Some lithium battery specs accepted
- Dual clearance included
Taiwan Line Shipping Guide: Air and Sea Rates Compared
Last updated: 2026-08-20 · HowBridge consolidation editorial team · Checked against Articles 3, 11, 12 and 28 of the Regulations Governing Customs Clearance of Sea Express Consignments and the Customs Administration's advance authorization announcement effective 1 March 2026
Quick answer: how much is Taiwan line shipping and which option is fastest?
Common options are air at NT$100/kg in about 3-5 days, sea express at NT$50/kg in about 5-10 days, commercial sea express at NT$45/kg, and sea freight at NT$25/kg in about 7-14 days.
🚚 HCT does deliver on Saturdays; Sundays and public holidays are generally not served. Whether a given parcel is delivered on Saturday, and the actual delivery date, follow HCT's own scheduling at the time.
What Is Taiwan Line Shipping?
Taiwan line shipping is a fixed logistics route for China to Taiwan cargo, using consolidation, scheduled capacity and customs handling to reduce cost.
It is often more practical than standard international express for Taobao consolidation, seller sourcing, furniture, appliances and multi-order shipments.
Taiwan line vs standard express
| Item | Taiwan line shipping | Standard express |
|---|---|---|
| Freight | About NT$25–NT$100 per kg (depending on the line) | Quote via the carrier's own official tool; fuel and remote-area surcharges apply |
| Transit | About 3–14 days (air / sea express / sea freight) | Depends on the carrier's service level and flight schedule |
| Customs | Export and import clearance handled end to end by the logistics provider | Often self-handled or extra cost |
| Billable weight | Volumetric weight = length × width × height (cm) ÷ 10000, charged against actual weight, whichever is greater | Volumetric weight mostly uses ÷6000 or ÷5000, so the same box yields a higher figure |
| Consolidation | Multiple orders can combine | Usually not supported |
| Best for | Taobao, sourcing, bulky cargo | Urgent or high-value single items |
What is commercial sea express, and how does it differ from sea express and sea freight?
"Commercial sea express" is an industry nickname for sea express cleared with a general import declaration (import declaration type G1). The only difference from ordinary sea express is the declaration method: the goods still travel by sea and still clear customs in the sea express cargo zone. Under Article 12 of the Regulations Governing Customs Clearance of Sea Express Consignments, high-value goods with a customs value above NT$50,000, goods subject to import/export regulations and goods liable to commodity tax must use a general import declaration in any case.
"Commercial sea express" is the industry's name for sea express formally declared with a general import declaration: the goods travel by sea and clear customs in the sea express cargo zone, but without a simplified declaration. Under Article 11(2) of the Regulations Governing Customs Clearance of Sea Express Consignments, import sea express falls into four classes — express documents; low-value duty-free goods with a customs value of NT$2,000 or less; low-value dutiable goods from NT$2,001 to NT$50,000; and high-value goods above NT$50,000. Article 12 then lists ten cases that must be cleared with a general import declaration, most commonly high-value goods (customs value above NT$50,000) and goods subject to import/export regulations; where import/export regulations apply but the customs authority has announced special circumstances, a simplified declaration is still allowed.
| Item | Sea express (standard consolidation) | Commercial sea express | Sea freight (FCL / LCL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Declaration method | Mostly handled on a simplified declaration form (cases other than those listed in Article 12) | Regular import/export declaration (G1 import declaration for foreign goods) | Regular import/export declaration |
| Clearance location | Sea express consignment zone | Sea express consignment zone | Ordinary container yard / bonded warehouse |
| Gross weight per piece | Each piece (bag) over 70 kg gross may not clear in the zone (Article 3), and must go through general cargo clearance | Same as left | Not subject to the zone's 70 kg limit |
| Best suited to | Personal use; low-value, scattered parcels | Sellers shipping in bulk who need a formal declaration and invoice | Bulky, heavy goods such as furniture and appliances |
| Tax threshold | Duty-free at a customs value of NT$2,000 or less | Above NT$50,000 counts as high value and must use a formal declaration | Assessed on the declaration |
Why can't a forwarder "downgrade the declaration for you"?
Article 28 of the Regulations Governing Customs Clearance of Sea Express Consignments provides that where a sea express operator declares goods that "must be cleared with a general import declaration" using a simplified declaration, customs may issue a warning or impose a fine of NT$6,000 to NT$30,000 under Article 87 of the Customs Act and order correction within a set period; where the operator has been penalised three times without correcting, or the violation is serious, sea express clearance operations may be suspended for up to six months or the registration revoked. ⚠️ This provision penalises the sea express operator, not the recipient; and precisely because the penalty falls on the operator, no operator can downgrade goods that require a general import declaration into a simplified one for you. The right approach is not to "squeeze high-value goods into a low-value simplified declaration" but to pick the correct declaration method for the nature and value of the goods (full text of the Regulations).
Simplified declarations are the overwhelming majority; formal declarations are the minority
As cross-border e-commerce grew, low-value express items cleared with a simplified declaration came to make up the majority of import declarations, yet these scattered low-value goods account for a very small share of total import trade value while consuming considerable customs manpower. That is the background to customs applying risk grading and differentiated management to cross-border e-commerce, and also why commercial sea express differs from ordinary consolidation in scheduling and clearance costs. (The share statistics previously cited were changed to a qualitative description from 2026-08 because no publicly verifiable primary link could be found.)
Full definitions of these terms are collected in the cross-border consolidation and customs glossary, where the most frequently asked entries are the C1／C2／C3 clearance channels、EZ WAY identity verification and advance authorization。
An academic view: why sea express volumes exploded after the pandemic
Chung Cheng-chi and Li Mu-wu, "A Study of the Customs Clearance Management System for Express Consignments" (《財稅研究》 Public Finance Review, Vol. 51, No. 1, January 2022, pp. 118-143), note that airlines cut flights sharply during COVID-19, so that large volumes of cross-border e-commerce goods shifted from air to sea express. Sea express volumes surged and simplified import express declarations grew rapidly, exceeding the throughput of the existing clearance facilities. The paper compares how major countries regulate express operator qualifications and the definition of express consignments, and proposes amendments on that basis.
How should you read reviews of Taiwan line consolidation? Five things you can verify yourself
To judge a Taiwan-line consolidator, check five things you can verify yourself: whether clearance uses a general import declaration or a simplified declaration; who bears the import duty and the 5% business tax; whether the company registration and tax ID can actually be found; whether the partner customs broker holds AEO status; and how responsibility for C2 document review and C3 inspection is written down. All five can be cross-checked against the Ministry of Economic Affairs business registration system and the Customs Administration's systems — far more reliable than anonymous star ratings.
When you look at reviews of Taiwan line consolidation, star ratings matter far less than five things you can verify yourself: (1) whether clearance uses a regular import/export declaration or a simplified one; (2) who bears the import duty and VAT, and whether it is stated in writing that the operator neither advances nor pays them for you; (3) whether the company registration and unified business number can be looked up; (4) whether the partner customs broker holds AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) status; and (5) whether the terms set out responsibility for C2 document review, C3 physical inspection, supplementary documents and re-export. All five can be checked in official systems or in the contract, which makes them more reliable than anonymous reviews.
| What to check | Why it matters | How to check it |
|---|---|---|
| Whether the declaration method is stated | It decides whether you get an import declaration at all; by law, high-value goods must use a regular import/export declaration anyway | Read the terms of service, or simply ask whether they provide the import declaration number and declaration type |
| Who the import taxes belong to | The taxpayer for duty and the 5% VAT is the recipient; advancing or paying them on your behalf raises questions of financial liability | Check whether the website and contract state in writing who bears them and when they are paid |
| Company registration and tax ID | Only a registered company gives you a legal entity you can hold to account | Ministry of Economic Affairs business registration search: findbiz.nat.gov.tw |
| Customs broker credentials | AEO status is certified by Customs; the facilitation measures and audit records can be looked up | AEO section of the Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance: aeo.customs.gov.tw |
| Clauses on handling exceptions | C2 document review, C3 physical inspection, supplementary documents and re-export are all routine; responsibility must be settled in advance | Check whether the terms of service spell out how supplementary documents, inspection delays and return shipments are handled |
How HowBridge Logistics handles these five points
HowBridge uses its own warehouse in Shenzhen and lawful clearance procedures, and states on this page and in its terms of service: freight is freight only — we do not buy goods on your behalf, do not advance payment for goods and do not pay in RMB on your behalf; import duty and business tax are borne by the recipient (the taxpayer) and collected in cash by HCT on delivery, with no mark-up taken by HowBridge; clearance is handled by an AEO-certified partner broker, and customer service assists with C2 document requests and C3 inspections. All of this can be checked directly against the "Who pays the import taxes" and "Clearance process" sections on this page.
Four Taiwan Line Services Compared
Choose air, sea express, commercial sea express or sea freight based on cargo, budget and urgency.
Sea expressRecommended
NT$50/kg
- Balanced time and cost
- Popular for Taobao consolidation
- Dual clearance included
- Free consolidation
Commercial sea express
NT$45/kg
- For seller bulk shipments
- Formal import declaration
- Invoice support
- Dual clearance included
Sea freight
From NT$25/kg
- Best for furniture and appliances
- CBM billing
- From 0.0283 CBM
- Dual clearance included
Comparison table
| Service | Rate | Transit | Billing | Best for | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air line | NT$100/kg | 3-5 days | Greater of actual or volumetric weight | 3C, cosmetics, urgent cargo | About 30kg per piece |
| Sea expressRecommended | NT$50/kg | 5-10 days | Greater of actual or volumetric weight | Taobao and mixed goods | About 50kg per piece |
| Commercial sea express | NT$45/kg | 5-10 days | Greater of actual or volumetric weight | Bulk seller cargo and invoices | Company customers |
| Sea freight | From NT$25/kg | 7-14 days | CBM | Furniture, appliances, bulky cargo | Minimum 0.0283 CBM |
How Is Freight Calculated?
Taiwan-line freight is charged on the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight: for HowBridge air, sea express and commercial sea express, volumetric weight = length × width × height (cm) ÷ 10000, while sea freight is priced by CBM with a minimum billing unit of 1 cai (0.0283 CBM). Across 2,419 HowBridge billing records, 28.7% of parcels ended up charged on volumetric weight, and the billable weight averaged 9.4% above the actual weight.
HowBridge sea consolidation (sea express and sea line combined), measured across 2,369 real parcels: from billing in China to sign-off by the Taiwanese carrier, the median was 7 days and the 90th percentile 13 days, with 94.1% delivered within 14 days (method: billing date to Taiwanese carrier sign-off date, excluding records with negative sequences; period 2025-11-10 to 2026-08-24, verified 2026-08-31).
Actual weight, volumetric weight and CBM are the core concepts behind most quotes.
Air / sea express / commercial sea express (our billing rule)
Actual weight = scale weight in kgVolumetric weight kg = L x W x H cm / 10000Billable weight = max(actual weight, volumetric weight) For a small appliance measuring 60 x 40 x 30 cm with an actual weight of 5 kg, the volumetric weight is 7.2 kg, so sea express bills roughly 7.2 kg. The divisor is each operator's own commercial rule: HowBridge uses ÷10000 for its sea products, while international couriers mostly use ÷6000 or ÷5000, so the same box yields a different volumetric weight at different providers.
Sea freight by CBM
CBM = L x W x H m1 CBM = 35.315 cai (1 cubic foot = 0.02831685 cubic metres)Sea freight = CBM x unit price, minimum billing unit 1 cai = 0.0283 CBM Furniture, appliances and bulky items are usually cheaper by sea, and the larger a single piece is, the more it pays to work out the CBM first. "Cai" is the freight trade's colloquial term for one cubic foot; the legal unit of measurement remains the cubic metre.
You can use the instant freight calculator
Who pays the import duties?
HowBridge only provides consolidation, warehousing and customs brokerage: freight is freight only — we do not buy goods on your behalf, do not advance payment for goods and do not pay in RMB on your behalf. The taxpayer for import duty and business tax is the recipient; under the sea express clearance mechanism, the broker first pays the duties from the prepaid duty deposit account held with customs, and HCT then collects the amount in cash from the recipient on delivery, with no mark-up taken by HowBridge.
| Cost item | Who pays | When it is paid |
|---|---|---|
| Consolidation / international freight | Sending member | Settled on the platform before dispatch |
| Export and import customs brokerage fee | Sending member (already included in the freight quote) | Settled on the platform before dispatch |
| Import duty | Recipient (the taxpayer) | Collected in cash by HCT Logistics on delivery |
| VAT 5% | Recipient (the taxpayer) | Collected in cash by HCT Logistics on delivery |
Avoid grey customs clearance
Choose providers with regular customs processes. Under-declaration, concealment or mixed cargo can cause seizure, fines and legal risk.
Tax exemption reminder
- Where the customs value of a single (same) consignment is NT$2,000 or less, Article 49(2) of the Customs Act and the limit announced by the Ministry of Finance exempt it from customs duty, commodity tax and business tax; above the threshold, tax is charged on the full customs value, not only on the excess.
- Where the same taxpayer has goods released under the NT$2,000 exemption more than 6 times within the same half-year period, the exemption no longer applies from the 7th time onwards. A half-year period means January to June and July to December, counted by the import date shown on the declaration and restarted on 1 January and 1 July each year.
- Tobacco and alcohol, agricultural products under tariff quotas, controlled items and frequent importers are not covered by the general exemption rules.
Legal basis: the taxpayer for business tax on imported goods is the consignee or holder (Value-added and Non-value-added Business Tax Act, Article 2); Article 10 of the same Act sets the rate range and authorises the Executive Yuan to fix the levy rate, currently 5% (text). The exemption threshold follows Article 49(2) of the Customs Act and the limit announced by the Ministry of Finance.
You can also use the tax calculator / CCC tariff lookup
Taiwan Customs Process
1EZ WAY identity verification and advance authorization
Since 1 March 2026 (1 March of ROC year 115), advance authorization has applied across the board to personal imports of express goods under simplified declarations: the customs broker pushes the shipment details through the EZ WAY app, the recipient checks the item description and declared value and taps "declaration matches" to complete the authorization online, and only then can the broker proceed with the declaration. Without that authorization the goods cannot be filed or released.
2Customs declaration
Provide invoice, waybill, product name, material and usage details.
3Customs channel assignment
The expert computer system of the Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance, assigns the declaration to C1 (no review or inspection), C2 (document review) or C3 (physical inspection) according to screening criteria such as the trader's clearance record, the origin of the goods, the nature of the goods and the customs broker.
4Tax payment and release
After documents are completed or tax is paid, cargo is released for delivery; import duty and VAT are borne by the recipient and collected in cash on delivery by HCT Logistics.
C1 means release without review or inspection: once duties are paid, the goods can be collected. If a declaration is assigned C2, the paper declaration and original documents must be submitted before the end of customs office hours on the day after the online declaration; with C3, for import goods an inspection together with the customs inspector must be applied for within ten days of the declaration date. Both extend the clearance time.
Related guides: Taiwan customs guide / EZWay guide
The Taiwan last mile: home delivery or convenience-store pickup
Customs release marks the start of the Taiwan leg. HowBridge currently works with three options for this final leg: HCT home delivery, 7-ELEVEN store pickup and FamilyMart store pickup — store pickup and home delivery cost exactly the same, with no surcharge, but there are size limits: they apply to the whole consolidated bag rather than each parcel — up to 4.9 kg net (5 kg including the packing bag), the bag's length + width + height ≤ 105 cm and the longest side ≤ 45 cm. Exceeding any one of these means switching to home delivery.
Why is the HCT leg quicker? Because HCT is inside Taipei Port
Sea express consignments clear customs in the sea express cargo zone at Taipei Port, and HCT's "International Logistics and Northern Taiwan Transit Center" was built inside the Second Industrial Zone of Taipei Port (Bali, New Taipei City): ground was broken on 17 April 2023, with an investment of NT$1.9 billion and a total floor area of about 6,110 ping, and the plan expressly covers 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". So once goods are released they do not need another cross-region trunk haul back to a transit station in a different county before sorting begins; they can enter the nearby facility and join a delivery route the same day — what disappears is that single handover between "release" and "on the road".
HowBridge's own measurements let you compare this leg: across 894 customs declarations, 78.1% left the warehouse within 24 hours of customs release and 85.5% within 48 hours (period 2025-09-30 to 2026-08-31, verified 2026-08-31). These are HowBridge's operational figures, not an official published standard; holidays, typhoons or an inspection will still push it later.
Sources: 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.
Which Goods Cannot Use Taiwan Line Shipping?
Prohibited imports
Narcotics, weapons, protected wildlife, counterfeit currency and counterfeit goods cannot be shipped.
Permit required before import
- Medicine and medical devices require authority approval.
- Live animals, plants and seeds require inspection approval.
- Strategic high-tech goods require government approval.
- Alcohol and tobacco must follow Taiwan rules.
Conditionally allowed
- 3C goods with lithium batteries must meet BSMI or transport specs.
- Cosmetics must follow TFDA ingredient and labeling rules.
- Food must follow Taiwan labeling and import rules.
- Toys and children apparel must meet safety standards.
Full list: Taiwan restricted import list
How to Choose a Taiwan Line Provider
- An owned warehouse improves responsibility and parcel traceability.
- Confirm the dual-clearance process is regular and legal, avoiding grey clearance, under-declaration and smuggling risks.
- Confirm support for C2 review, C3 inspection, document requests and return handling.
- Multilingual support lowers cross-border communication cost.
- The system should provide tracking, freight estimates, tariff lookup and notifications.
Why Choose HowBridge Logistics Taiwan Line?
Owned Shenzhen warehouse
Clear responsibility and stable inbound tracking.
Legal dual clearance
Lower grey-clearance risk.
Tariff lookup
Check CCC and tax information.
14-language support
Easier cross-border communication.
EZWay notifications
Keep declaration steps visible.
Support team
Help with exceptions and documents.
Related Guides
China to Taiwan freight calculator
Compare air, sea express and sea freight.
Taobao to Taiwan guide
Ordering, warehousing, consolidation and declaration.
Taiwan consolidators TOP 7
Compare recommendations, rates, transit times and customs terms.
1688 wholesale to Taiwan
Seller sourcing and consolidation process.
Pinduoduo to Taiwan
Forwarding low-price products.
Import tax calculator
Estimate duty and VAT.
Taiwan customs guide
EZWay and C1/C2/C3 channels.
What is a Taiwan dedicated shipping route? How much does it cost? How do rates compare?
A "Taiwan dedicated shipping route" (Taiwan Dedicated Line) is an exclusive consolidatio
How to Pay Your Freight Bill: Methods and Full Process
Once your parcels have been consolidated and shipped, the system issues a freight bill for that batch. You can settle it online by card or bank transfer; a successful payment clears the bill automatically, so there is no need to report the last five digits of a transfer. Below are the payment methods currently available, every step of the process, and what online payment on this site may be used for.
Online payment covers freight service fees only
Online payment on this site is used solely to pay consolidated freight and related logistics service fees (international freight, forwarding, domestic delivery, customs clearance and warehousing-related service fees). We do not collect payment for your goods, we do not pay sellers on your behalf, and we are not a party to your transaction with the seller. Payment for items bought on Taobao, Tmall, 1688, Pinduoduo or any other platform must still be made to the seller through that platform as usual. We charge only for the logistics service of moving your goods from the warehouse to you.
Payment methods currently available
LINE Pay
Confirm in the LINE app or scan a QR code, using a linked card or balance.
Credited instantly
Credit card (VISA / Mastercard / JCB)
Single payment, authorised online in real time. Cards issued in Taiwan and overseas are both accepted; every charge is settled in TWD.
Credited instantly
Apple Pay
On iPhone, iPad or Mac using Safari, authorised with Face ID / Touch ID. Web-based Apple Pay is supported only in Safari; it will not appear in Chrome, Edge or Firefox.
Credited instantly
ATM transfer (virtual account)
A virtual account is issued for this bill; the amount must match exactly.
3-day window · cleared automatically once the bank posts it
Convenience-store code payment
You receive a payment code, print the slip at a 7-ELEVEN, FamilyMart, Hi-Life or OK Mart kiosk and pay at the counter; up to NT$20,000 per payment.
7-day window · cleared automatically once payment posts
Google Pay
On Android or in Chrome, paid with a saved card.
Credited instantly
Samsung Pay
On a Samsung device or in Samsung Internet, paid with a saved card.
Credited instantly
Taiwan Pay
Scan the QR code with the Taiwan Pay app or a supported bank app; up to NT$49,999 per payment. The page does not return to our site after payment — your bill updates automatically once the payment notification arrives.
Credited instantly
E.SUN Wallet
Scan the QR code with the E.SUN Wallet app. The page does not return to our site after payment — your bill updates automatically once the payment notification arrives.
Credited instantlyCredit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Taiwan Pay, E.SUN Wallet, ATM transfer and convenience-store code payment are collected through NewebPay; LINE Pay is handled by LINE Pay itself. We do not add any payment processing fee. The amount shown is exactly what you pay. Mobile wallets have device requirements: web-based Apple Pay works only in Safari, Google Pay needs Android or Chrome, and Samsung Pay needs a Samsung device or Samsung Internet; on unsupported browsers the checkout simply does not show that option.
Convenience-store barcode payment and WebATM are not yet available. Please use one of the methods above for now.
How online payment works
-
A freight bill is issued after your parcels ship
Once your parcels have been received at the consolidation warehouse, packed and shipped, the system issues a freight bill for that batch, covering international freight, forwarding and domestic delivery charges.
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Sign in and open "My Bills"
Sign in to your account and open My Bills to see the amount due, the number of parcels and a line-by-line breakdown of the charges before you pay.
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Tap "Pay Now" to open the secure checkout
The checkout shows the parcels being settled and the total due once more, and lists the available payment methods. Amounts are always calculated on the server, so they never vary by device or browser.
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Choose a payment method and complete payment
You are then taken to the payment page for the method you chose. Credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay are completed on the NewebPay page; choosing LINE Pay takes you to the LINE Pay payment page, where you simply confirm in the LINE app; choosing ATM transfer gives you a dedicated virtual account, bank code and payment deadline; choosing convenience-store code payment gives you a payment code to print the slip at a store kiosk and pay at the counter. Please complete non-instant payments before the deadline. If you choose Taiwan Pay or E.SUN Wallet, a QR code appears — pay by scanning it in the matching app; the page will not return to our site afterwards, and your bill updates once the payment notification arrives.
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The bill clears automatically
On successful payment the gateway notifies us immediately and the bill switches to paid, so there is no need to report the last five digits of a transfer. ATM transfers update automatically once the bank posts the funds.
Payment security and things to note
All payments are completed on the NewebPay or LINE Pay payment page. We never receive or store your full card number or security code, and every connection is TLS-encrypted. If you have paid but the bill has not updated yet, please do not pay again: methods that are not instant take time to clear by design. Contact customer service and we will check it for you.
Taiwan Line Shipping FAQ
What is Taiwan line shipping?
It is a China to Taiwan logistics route that often includes consolidation, export and import customs brokerage, and final delivery.
What service types are available?
Common options are air, sea express, commercial sea express and sea freight. Choose by time, weight, size and budget.
What is dual clearance?
It means export and import declaration are handled together by the logistics provider. HowBridge's freight charge is purely freight: import duty and VAT are borne by the recipient and collected in cash on delivery by HCT Logistics.
How is freight calculated?
Air and sea express usually use the greater of actual or volumetric weight. Sea freight often uses CBM.
Do I need EZ WAY? When do I have to tap "declaration matches"?
Yes. Since 1 March 2026, advance authorization has applied across the board to personal imports of express goods under simplified declarations: first complete EZ WAY identity verification, then, when the app pushes the shipment details, check the item description and declared value and tap "declaration matches" so the broker can file. If the data is wrong or you suspect your identity has been misused, tap "declaration does not match" and contact the broker. Never lend your verification data, ID documents or mobile number to anyone else.
Which goods cannot ship?
Narcotics, weapons and counterfeits are prohibited. Medicine, food, lithium batteries, alcohol and tobacco need rule checks.
What if customs holds the cargo?
You may need to provide invoices, product details or cooperate with inspection. A provider with document support helps.
Sea express or sea freight?
Use sea express for general Taobao goods. Use sea freight for furniture, appliances or bulky cargo.
What is the difference between Taiwan dedicated line and Taiwan container shipping?
Taiwan's dedicated line is a transportation route and customs clearance solution from China to Taiwan; Taiwan's container shipping includes warehousing, consolidating, billing, customer service and delivery. In practice, most Taobao container shipping will use Taiwan's dedicated line to complete cross-border transportation.
What is commercial sea express, and how does it differ from sea express?
Both are sea express and both clear in the sea express consignment zone; the difference is the declaration method. Standard sea express is mostly handled on a simplified declaration form, whereas commercial sea express is declared on a regular import/export declaration (G1 import declaration for foreign goods), which yields a formal import declaration. Under Article 12 of the Regulations Governing Customs Clearance of Sea Express Consignments, high-value goods with a customs value above NT$50,000, goods subject to import/export regulations, and goods liable to commodity tax must use a regular import/export declaration in any case.
Does commercial sea express require a registered company?
The rules themselves govern the value and nature of the goods, not the customer's status - high-value goods and goods subject to import/export regulations always take a regular import/export declaration. In practice company details are needed because sellers usually want to issue uniform invoices, book input tax and obtain a formal declaration. An individual whose goods fall into the high-value or controlled categories must equally go through a formal declaration.
Is there a weight limit per parcel?
Yes. Article 3 of the Regulations Governing Customs Clearance of Sea Express Consignments provides that goods with a gross weight over 70 kg per piece (bag) may not be cleared in the sea express cargo zone, and neither may goods imported in non-enclosed containers. Oversized or overweight items have to go through general sea cargo clearance instead. The same article also requires that all inbound and outbound sea express goods pass X-ray inspection (except where the nature of the goods makes X-ray unsuitable and customs has granted approval).
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