The Beibu Gulf is China's southwest gateway. Container cargo is discharged at Qinzhou, dry bulk at Fangchenggang, and general and container cargo at Beihai. Between discharge and delivery an import moves through four steps — release of the bill of lading, entry filing, duty and VAT, and pickup — and then inland by truck, rail or inland barge.
Which cargo arrives where
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| Port | What the port is known for | Typical inbound cargo |
|---|---|---|
| Qinzhou | Container terminal and an automated rail–sea transfer; around 90 container services and the Western Land–Sea Corridor rail services behind it | Containers, machinery, chemicals and project cargo continuing inland by rail |
| Fangchenggang | Bulk handling: first in China for copper concentrate, second for manganese and chrome, the largest iron ore and coal import port in the south, and about 8–9% of China's imported soybeans | Ores and concentrates, coal, grain, soybeans, fertiliser and steel inputs |
| Beihai | General cargo and container calls for the northern side of the gulf | General cargo, containers and cargo whose consignee sits closer to Beihai |
From discharge to the consignee
1. Bill of lading released
Original bills, a telex release or a seaway bill decide when the cargo can be collected. This is the first thing checked, because nothing else can start until it is done.
2. Entry filed
The entry is filed at the port of discharge by a licensed broker, against the invoice, packing list and the manifest details of the arriving vessel.
3. Duty and VAT
Duty and VAT are assessed on the declared value and classification and are payable by the importer of record before release.
4. Inspection, where customs orders one
A percentage of entries are inspected. The container is moved to the inspection area and the broker attends; a query at this step is what delays a delivery.
5. Pickup and gate-out
Once released, the container is collected from the terminal and gate-out. Free time at the terminal is limited, so the pickup is planned before discharge rather than after.
6. Inland leg
Truck for short distances; rail on the Western Land–Sea Corridor or inland barge for cargo going far into the southwest.
Documents an import entry needs
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| Document | Issued by | What it decides |
|---|---|---|
| Bill of lading | Carrier or freight forwarder | Who may collect the cargo, and against what release |
| Commercial invoice | Seller | Declared value, and therefore duty and VAT |
| Packing list | Seller | Piece count, weights and any dangerous goods |
| Certificate of origin | Issuing authority in the country of origin | Preferential duty under a trade agreement; for ASEAN cargo this is normally the Form E |
| Phytosanitary or food-safety documents | Authority in the exporting country | Whether agricultural and food cargo can be released |
| Import licence or permit | Held by the importer | Required for restricted goods; it cannot be obtained by the freight forwarder |
Beibu Gulf import questions
Is the Beibu Gulf cheaper than routing through Shenzhen or Nansha?
Sometimes, and not always. The sea leg is usually the deciding cost, and a gulf port is at its strongest when the consignee is in the southwest, because the inland leg is short and the rail service is direct. For a consignee in Guangdong, a Pearl River Delta port normally wins. We quote both when the answer is not obvious.
Can a consignment be split between ports?
It can, when part of the cargo suits a bulk berth and part moves better in containers, but it is normally not worth doing: two discharge ports mean two clearance files, two sets of terminal charges and two inland legs.
How long does clearance take?
A routine entry with documents ready is normally released within one to three working days of discharge. An inspection or a classification query adds days, which is why the documents are checked before the vessel arrives.
Do you handle the import entry yourselves?
The entry is filed by a licensed broker at the port of discharge. We prepare and check the file, coordinate with the broker and with the terminal, and show the broker's fee as its own line on the quotation. Where an importer already has a broker in the gulf, we work with that broker.
Planning an import through the gulf?
Send the origin port, the cargo, the volume and the consignee city, and we will come back with the discharge port and the inland route that fit.