How to Reduce Customs Delays for China-to-Mexico Shipping

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This strategy reduces the time for containers to be released from port in Mexico from 7–10 days to 48 hours or less. Want to know more? Let’s dive in. Why is China Mexico trade on the rise? The growth China Mexico trade is largely the result of the “301 tariffs” on Chinese imports imposed during the first Trump administration. Companies seeking relief from the tariff looked to shift some of their manufacturing from China to Mexico, which shares a border with the US and enjoys favorable trade status under the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA). Shipping rate benchmarking company, Xenata, says China to Mexico is probably the world’s fastest growing trade lane, with figures from early 2024 showing container volume from China to Mexico up 60% versus the previous year. Growth creates challenges for China-to-Mexico shipping This China Mexico trade growth comes with a downside. The volume of freight has strained Mexico’s port infrastructure to the point where arriving containers are taking as long as 15 days to be released from Mexico’s largest seaport in Manzanillo. That makes it near impossible to effectively manage inventory and production schedules. The reasons for these delays include an outdated port infrastructure and a complex customs clearance process in Mexico that requires all imports to go through government-approved Mexican customs brokers for inspection and clearance. These brokers wield significant authority, but their efficiency is poor. And when questions arise during the inspection process – maybe the broker needs added detail on a product from the exporter – a 13-hour time difference and language barriers prevent fast answers. As a result, containers sit. Consignees get frustrated. And you wait longer to turn your products into cash. How can you avoid delays in Mexico customs clearance? One way to avoid customs clearance delays in Mexico is to do the required inspections at origin – in this case, China. Mexican law allows approved customs brokers to coordinate an inspection process to import goods at origin. As part of that process, an approved inspection company generates an inspection report that verifies that the container arriving in Mexico is the same one that was loaded in China; that the cargo matches the documentation; and that all documents meet Mexico’s import requirements. The report is sent to a local customs broker in Mexico who can use it to avoid additional inspections at the port. Result: container clearance within 48 hours versus 7–10 days. The following chart shows timeframes with and without pre-clearance inspection (PCI). *Forecasting 10-15 days in 2025 NOTE: doing inspections at origin is not a new strategy. Mexican companies have used it for 20 years. But given the rise in China-US trade tensions and the related increase in China-to-Mexico shipping, the strategy has taken on new, more urgent importance. VIDEO: See how it works Curious about how pre-clearance inspection in China streamlines customs clearance in Mexico? Watch this short video to see the process in action and discover how it can reduce port delays from over a week to under 48 hours. Where can I arrange customs inspection at origin in China? Some logistics companies offer this pre-clearance inspection service in China. Dimerco Express Group is one. Dimerco offers this service in combination with a complete door-to-door global shipping solution. This single-source logistics service eases the administrative burden of managing multiple logistics partners. Dimerco has partnered with a Mexico-based inspection company in Asia, which handles the inspections, photos, and writing of the final inspection report. We then forward the report to the Mexican customs broker through our long-time agent partner in Mexico. The process results in container customs clearance in Mexico within 48 hours or less. Need to streamline China-to-Mexico shipping? Trade tensions and geopolitical strife are causing companies to shift sourcing and production to new countries, including Mexico. This shift can severely impact shipping and customs clearance processes as shippers endure the learning curve of doing business in a new country (check out our eBook on The Logistics of China Plus One). If you need help streamlining China-to-Mexico shipping with pre-clearance inspection services in China, contact a Dimerco expert today to start a discussion. Post Tags: China | Customs Clearance and Compliance | USA We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 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