China import agency · customs · freight
Your goods, cleared into China with one accountable partner.
SeeHog acts as your importer of record, classifies and declares your goods, settles duty and VAT and delivers to the door — for machinery, timber, chemicals, cosmetics, food and wine.
- Since 1997
- 9 offices across coastal China
- Licensed customs declarant
1997EstablishedWho we are
An import desk inside China, working for you.
Importing into China is less about transport than about who may declare the goods, which licences apply and what the tax will be. SeeHog has answered those questions for overseas exporters and Chinese buyers since 1997.
We sign the import contract, hold the customs registration and issue the Chinese VAT invoice, so you can sell into China without a local entity.
Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Tianjin, Qingdao and more — with our own declarants on the ground.
Freight, duty, VAT, port charges and delivery quoted together, so the cost you approve is the cost you pay.
Services
Everything between the foreign port and your warehouse door
Fourteen services in four groups. Use one, or let us run the whole import.
Import agency
- 01China Import Agent & Importer of RecordSell into China without opening a Chinese company — we import in our name and deliver to your buyer.Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Qingdao, Xiamen and more
- 02Machinery & Production Line Import to ChinaNew and used machines, complete production lines and spare parts — cleared, inspected and delivered to the plant.New and used
- 03Timber & Log Import to ChinaLogs, sawn timber and wooden furniture from Africa, the Americas, Europe and Southeast Asia — quarantine planned in advance.Containers and bulk vessels
- 04Chemicals, Coatings & Cosmetics Import to ChinaPaints, inks, raw chemicals and cosmetics — classified, labelled and registered correctly before they ship.Non-hazardous and selected DG classes
- 05Food, Wine & Beverage Import to ChinaWine, spirits, dairy, frozen and packaged food — registration, Chinese labels and inspection handled for you.Ambient, chilled, frozen
Customs & compliance
- 06Import Customs Clearance in ChinaDeclarations prepared before arrival, so your cargo moves through customs instead of waiting for paperwork.1–3 working days after documents are complete
- 07HS Classification & Duty PlanningThe right HS code and a lawful duty strategy — decided before you sign the contract, not at the port.China customs tariff and FTA rules
- 08Inspection, Quarantine & Chinese LabellingPrepare for China's inspection regime — certificates, registrations and labels right the first time.At port, in bonded zones or at origin
Freight & delivery
- 09Sea Freight to China — FCL, LCL & Break-bulkSpace with major carriers from more than 200 ports worldwide, booked and tracked by the team that also clears your cargo.About 3–40 days depending on origin
- 10Air Freight & Express to ChinaUrgent spare parts, samples and high-value goods — flown in and cleared at the airport within days.About 1–5 days door to door
- 11Door-to-Door & DDP Delivery to ChinaOne quotation from your supplier's door to your warehouse in China — duty and VAT included.DDP or DAP with clearance
- 12Bonded Warehousing & Distribution in ChinaStore goods in China with duty and VAT deferred — pay only when they are released, or re-export them tax-free.Duty and VAT deferred
Trade support
- 13L/C, Payment & FX SettlementPay foreign suppliers through our import contract — letters of credit and FX settlement handled with the shipment.USD, EUR, JPY and other major currencies
- 14Sourcing & Pre-shipment Inspection in ChinaFind, verify and inspect Chinese suppliers — then ship the goods with the same team.Quantity, workmanship, packing, labelling
Duty estimator
What will it cost to land your goods in China?
Enter the value, Incoterm and tax rates for your HS code. The estimator applies the Chinese order of calculation: customs value, duty, consumption tax, then import VAT.
Estimated taxes
| Customs value (CIF) | — |
|---|---|
| Insurance | — |
| Import duty | — |
| Consumption tax | — |
| Import VAT | — |
Indicative only. Rates depend on the exact HS code, origin and current tariff; port charges, brokerage and inland delivery are not included. A specialist confirms the figures with your quotation.
Specialist cargo
Goods that need more than a forwarder
These are the shipments where licences, inspection and classification decide whether goods clear in days or wait for weeks.
MachineryMachinery & production linesNew and used equipment, complete lines, pre-shipment inspection and heavy-lift delivery.
Food & wineFood, wine & spiritsImporter registration, Chinese back labels and inspection on arrival.
TimberLogs & sawn timberPhytosanitary and CITES checks, designated quarantine ports.
ChemicalsChemicals & cosmeticsHazardous goods declarations, MSDS review and cosmetics filing.
BondedBonded storageDuty deferred until release, partial withdrawals, re-export.
Trade lanes
Inbound routes we run every week
Sea, air and rail into Chinese ports and inland hubs — with clearance planned before departure.
- EU Europe → ChinaSea, rail and air from Northern and Southern Europe.SeaRailAir
- AMER Americas → ChinaFrom US, Canadian and South American ports.SeaAir
- JP·KR Japan & Korea → ChinaShort-sea services and air in days, not weeks.SeaAir
- ASEAN Southeast Asia → ChinaSea, road and rail from ASEAN.SeaRoadRail
- AF·ME Africa & Middle East → ChinaLogs, minerals, chemicals and food from Africa and the Gulf.SeaAir
Case studies
Cargo we regularly bring into China
Seven typical projects, and how we line up documents, inspection and transport for each.
Used machinery
A used printing line from GermanyHamburg → Shanghai Yangshan · sea freight, flat-rack and open-top containersUsed machinery must pass pre-shipment inspection before it leaves the origin. A dismantled line means many pieces, and some units are over-width and over-height.
Learn more
Timber
Tropical hardwood logs from AfricaWest African ports → designated ports at Zhangjiagang / ShanghaiLogs may only enter through designated ports under strict quarantine, and some species are CITES-listed — certificates must match the cargo exactly.
Learn more
Cosmetics
Cosmetics: filing and clearanceFrance → Shanghai Pudong airport / YangshanImported cosmetics must be registered or filed before they can be declared, and a non-compliant Chinese label can hold the whole shipment.
Learn moreHow it works
From first enquiry to delivery
One coordinator follows your shipment through every step.
- 01Product review
HS code, licences, inspection and labelling checked against your product.
- 02Landed-cost quote
Freight, duty, VAT and local charges in one figure.
- 03Contract & payment
Import contract, L/C or FX payment to your supplier if required.
- 04Booking & documents
Freight booked; invoices, packing list and certificates aligned.
- 05Declaration & inspection
Customs declaration, tax payment and any inspection at the port.
- 06Delivery & invoice
Door delivery, Chinese VAT invoice and copies of all records.
Our commitments
What you can hold us to
Every enquiry is answered by a customs specialist, with the documents your product will need.
We confirm the HS code and licences before the goods leave origin, not when they are already at the port.
Port, terminal, inspection and delivery charges are listed in the quotation.
Declarations, tax receipts and VAT invoices are copied to you for your accounts and audits.
FAQ
Questions importers ask
Short answers from our customs team. Ask anything else in the enquiry form.
Can a foreign company import into China without a Chinese entity?
Not in its own name — only companies registered with Chinese customs can declare imports. An import agent such as SeeHog acts as importer of record, declares the goods and delivers them to your buyer with a Chinese VAT invoice.
How are import taxes calculated in China?
Duty is charged on the CIF customs value. Consumption tax, where it applies, is calculated on customs value plus duty grossed up by the tax rate. Import VAT (13% or 9%) is charged on the customs value plus duty and consumption tax. Our duty estimator follows exactly this order.
How long does customs clearance take?
Most shipments clear within one to three working days once documents are complete. Goods selected for inspection, or products subject to quarantine, can take longer; we plan for that before the goods arrive.
Which documents do I need?
At minimum a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill and the sales contract. Depending on the product: certificate of origin, licences, inspection certificates, MSDS, health or phytosanitary certificates and Chinese labels.
Can you import used machinery?
Yes. Most used equipment can be imported; listed categories need pre-shipment inspection at origin and some are restricted. We check your equipment list before anything is dismantled.
Do you offer door-to-door DDP delivery?
Yes. We quote one price from the supplier’s door or port to your address in China, including freight, duty, VAT and delivery, and we act as importer where the buyer cannot.
Insights
Customs, duty and trade insights
Tariff changes, import rules and practical guides for shipping into China.
China customs clearance: trade and customs update (Nov 10, 2026)5 recent developments on china customs clearance, with links to the original reports and what they mean for companies importing into China.
China import duty, consumption tax and VAT: how they are calculatedCustoms value, duty, consumption tax and import VAT build on each other. Here is the order, the formulas and a worked example for a container of wine.
Importing used machinery into China: a step-by-step checklistFrom checking whether the equipment may be imported to pre-shipment inspection, valuation, heavy-lift transport and installation — the steps in the right order.Start here
Planning a shipment to China?
Tell us the product, origin and destination. You get a document checklist and a landed-cost quotation within one working day.
