South Korea Mold Import Customs Clearance Record: Complete Process of Used Mechanical & Electrical Products Import via Nansha Port

I. Case Background: The Particularity of Mold Imports in South Korea

In September 2022, we successfully handled the import of a batch of industrial molds manufactured in South Korea. As typical second-hand mechanical and electrical products, such molds are generally classified under HS codes 8462 or 8480, making their import procedures more complex compared to ordinary goods. Due to the special regulatory requirements for importing used mechanical and electrical products, the entire customs clearance process requires particular attention to key aspects such as pre-shipment inspection and the accuracy of declaration details.

The batch of molds ultimately chose Nansha Port as the entry port, primarily based on three considerations: first, Nansha Port, as a core port in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, ranks among the top in customs clearance efficiency in the South China region; second, its well-established inspection and quarantine facilities for electromechanical products; and third, our long-term professional customs clearance team has extensive operational experience in the area.

II. Core Challenges in the Import of Used Mechanical and Electrical Products

In this case, the main challenges we encountered were concentrated in three aspects:

1. Special requirements for pre-shipment inspection
According to the "Administrative Measures for the Inspection and Supervision of Imported Used Mechanical and Electrical Products," used mechanical and electrical equipment valued over $100,000 must undergo pre-shipment inspection. We coordinated with a South Korean inspection agency three weeks in advance to complete the on-site inspection, ensuring the acquisition of the "Pre-shipment Inspection Certificate for Imported Used Mechanical and Electrical Products" that complies with Chinese standards. This "pass" is directly related to whether the goods can clear customs smoothly.

2. Accurate Grasp of Declaration Elements
The declaration elements for mold products include 12 key pieces of information such as product name, intended use, working principle, brand, model, material, etc. We particularly note that the HS code declaration for Korean molds must accurately reflect their machining precision (usually requiring specification of whether it reaches the 0.01mm level), which directly affects the tariff rate (ordinary molds are subject to approximately 8% tariffs, while high-precision molds may enjoy a preferential rate of 5%).

3. Completeness of documentation.
In addition to the conventional bill of lading, invoice, and packing list, the import of used mechanical and electrical equipment also requires the preparation of:
– It is recommended to verify through the following methods:Ming (China-Korea FTA Certificate of Origin eligible for tariff preferences)
- Equipment status description (including service life, maintenance records)
- Safety Compliance Declaration
During the document review phase, our team identified that the technical parameter sheet provided by the client lacked a Chinese translation, and we promptly rectified the issue to prevent subsequent delays.

III. Comprehensive Record of Customs Clearance Operations at Nansha Port

The entire customs clearance process takes approximately 3-4 weeks (including inspection time), with the specific timeline as follows:

Phase 1: Preliminary Preparation (7 working days)
- Confirm the product code and regulatory conditions
- Arrange pre-shipment inspection (Korean agency issues certificate within 3 working days)
- Pre-review declaration materials (focus on verifying the consistency between the certificate of origin and invoice information)

Phase 2: Port Clearance (2-3 working days)
- Submit the customs declaration immediately upon the ship's arrival (using the "advance declaration" mode).
- Pay the taxes (customs duty + VAT, totaling approximately 13%) after the system review is approved.
- Arrange operations such as yard crane lifting and weighing

Phase 3: Inspection and Quarantine (15-18 working days)
This is the most time-consuming step. Nansha Customs conducts a 100% unpacking inspection for used mechanical and electrical products, primarily checking:
1. Whether the physical goods match the declared information.
2. Are the safety warning signs complete?
3. Does the hygiene condition meet the requirements?
We prepared detailed equipment photos and inspection reports in advance, minimizing the inspection time to its lower limit.

IV. Five Value-Added Services of Professional Agency

Through this case, we have summarized the professionalImport Representationcore value:

Risk anticipation capability
Identify potential issues related to used mechanical and electrical products in advance.3CCertification issue (this batch of molds was exempted from certification due to not meeting the power standard), saving the customer approximately 2 weeks of certification time.

2. Tariff Optimization Plan
By utilizing the China-Korea FTA Certificate of Origin, we secured a 2% tariff reduction for the client. Additionally, through accurate declaration of processing precision, we avoided the risk of tax reassessment due to classification errors.

Emergency response mechanism
During the inspection process, it was found that some molds had insufficient rust prevention treatment. Professional companies were immediately coordinated to conduct on-site treatment, thereby avoiding the risk of return shipment.

4. Logistics coordination capability
Based on the weight of the molds (with the heaviest single piece reaching 8 tons), a low-bed trailer was specially arranged, and an oversized transport permit was obtained in advance.

5. Full-process visual tracking
Through our independently developed customs declaration system, customers can check the customs clearance status of their goods in real time, including key milestones such as inspection progress, tax payment, and release notifications.

V. Practical Recommendations for Importing Enterprises

Based on 15 years ofEquipment ImportsExperience, we recommend that businesses pay attention to the following key points:

1. Plan your schedule in advance.
For the import of used mechanical and electrical products, allow at least 6-8 weeks of lead time, especially as pre-shipment inspection requires thorough communication with the foreign seller.

2. Pay attention to the details of documents.
Common issues include:
– The consignee information on the Certificate of Origin does not match the Bill of Lading.
- The invoice does not reflect the machining accuracy of the mold.
- The packing list does not indicate the status of used items.
It is recommended to use a professional document review checklist for item-by-item verification.

3. Choose the appropriate port of entry.
For precision molds, it is recommended to prioritize ports equipped with professional inspection equipment (such as Nansha, Shanghai Yangshan, etc.), which can significantly reduce inspection time.

4. Establish long-term agency cooperation relationships
Signing an annual service agreement with a professional agency not only secures more favorable service rates but also grants access to value-added benefits such as priority handling and dedicated customer support.

This case demonstrates that professional import agents are not merely "one-man bands," but rather solution providers that integrate resources across customs, logistics, taxation, and other aspects. Especially against the backdrop of today's complex and ever-changing international trade environment, choosing an experienced partner often enables the completion of import tasks with twice the result and half the effort.