DG Cargo Detained at Chinese Customs: Causes, Costs, and How to Get It Released
A customs hold on a dangerous goods shipment is not a seizure. It is a formal detention with a clock running on port fees from the moment it is triggered.
In 2026, an increasing share of DG holds at Chinese ports are initiated automatically. China's customs screening system cross-references HS codes, cargo descriptions, and attached documents in real time. A missing MSDS or a single mismatched UN number can flag a shipment before a human customs officer ever reviews the file. By the time your freight forwarder notifies you, demurrage may already be accumulating.
This article addresses the three questions that matter when your DG cargo is held:
Why did it happen?
What will it cost?
What needs to happen to get it released?
It also covers what to put in place so the same hold does not occur on the next shipment.
Documentary Check vs. Physical Inspection: Which Type of DG Hold Do You Have?
There are two distinct types of customs examination for DG cargo in China. The type you are dealing with determines your timeline, your cost exposure, and your immediate actions. Identifying which one applies is the first thing to confirm — and you cannot do that by calling the port directly.
Documentary Check
Customs has flagged an inconsistency in the paperwork and is withholding release until it is corrected. The container has not been touched.
Resolution path: identify the specific discrepancy, submit corrected documents through your licensed customs broker, wait for re-review
Target resubmission within 24 hours of receiving the hold notice
Every additional day without corrected documents is a day of demurrage added to your total cost
Physical Inspection
Customs will open and examine the container. Additional charges are triggered immediately:
Container shifting fees to move the box to the inspection bay
Handling fees at the inspection facility
DG-designated warehouse charges if the container must leave the terminal entirely
Accept at the outset that the timeline is now measured in days, not hours. Instruct your freight forwarder to confirm the inspection location and obtain a cost estimate before the inspection begins.
The hold type is accessible only through China's customs system. Your licensed customs broker is the only party with system access. If you do not have a broker in China already coordinating this, that is the first gap to close.
Common Reasons Dangerous Goods Are Detained at Chinese Customs
Most DG holds trace back to a small number of recurring failure points. Understanding which one applies to your shipment determines how quickly it can be resolved.
Document Inconsistency Across the Shipping File
This is the most frequent trigger, and it is almost entirely preventable.
China's customs screening does not evaluate documents in isolation. It compares values across the full document set simultaneously. The following must align exactly across all documents:
UN number: Must match between the MSDS, DG Declaration, Bill of Lading, and package label
Proper shipping name: Must be identical on the DG Declaration and the B/L
Packing group: Must be consistent between the MSDS and the DG Declaration
One field different across any two documents is enough to trigger a hold. The system reads for exact match, not intent.
A specific development in 2026: automated screening now checks MSDS format, not just content. Your MSDS will be rejected if:
It does not follow the standard 16-section GHS format
It is in English only for chemical categories that require a bilingual version
An MSDS that cleared customs last year may not pass the same screening today. Do not accept an MSDS from your supplier without verifying it is current, in 16-section format, and that every value matches your DG Declaration before the shipment is booked.
Classification Disputes
Customs sometimes disagrees with how the cargo has been classified. Common scenarios:
Adhesives or coatings declared as non-hazardous where the flash point falls near the Class 3 threshold
Lithium battery shipments where the cell configuration (UN 3480 vs. UN 3481) has been incorrectly identified
Products where the formulation has changed since the last shipment but the original classification is still being used
When customs disputes a classification, a physical inspection is almost always required — and in ambiguous cases, a lab test. This extends the hold to 10–20 business days. A formal ruling request must go through your customs broker, supported by technical data sheets or a third-party test report.
Missing or Expired Export Permits
Certain DG categories require a Chinese export license before a shipment can proceed. Under China's Hazardous Chemicals Safety Law and its ongoing regulatory revisions, the list of chemicals requiring export permits has expanded in recent years.
This type of hold cannot be resolved with document corrections
The cargo remains held until the permit is approved, or the importer decides to return the shipment
A product that moved without a permit on the last shipment may now fall within a regulated category
Identifying permit requirements before booking is the only reliable way to avoid this situation.
Packaging and Labeling Non-Compliance
Physical inspection may reveal:
Packaging without a valid UN certification mark
Inner packaging quantities exceeding IMDG or IATA per-package limits
DG hazard labels that are incorrectly sized, incorrectly placed, or missing a required subsidiary risk label
If repacking or relabeling is required, it must be carried out at a DG-certified facility in China — not at the port terminal. Your freight forwarder needs to arrange this, and the cost needs to be factored into your remediation decision before authorizing the work.
The Real Cost of a DG Customs Hold: Demurrage, Inspection Fees, and the Stop-Loss Decision
Cost is what most importers want to know immediately, and what most logistics articles leave vague. The figures below are indicative ranges — confirm exact rates for your specific port and carrier with your freight forwarder when the hold is triggered.
Demurrage and Detention Start Immediately
For DG cargo at major Chinese ports including Shanghai Yangshan, Shenzhen Yantian, and Ningbo Beilun, the free period before demurrage begins is typically 1 to 3 days — shorter than for general cargo.
Once the free period expires:
Demurrage (container inside the terminal): USD 50–150 per container per day
Detention (container moved outside the terminal for inspection): similar daily rates apply
A 10-day physical inspection hold can generate USD 500–1,500 in demurrage and detention charges alone, before any inspection fees are counted.
Physical Inspection Fees
A physical inspection generates additional charges beyond demurrage:
Container shifting and positioning fee (charged by the terminal)
DG inspection handling fee (charged at the hazardous goods inspection facility)
Repacking or relabeling labor and materials, if remediation is required before release
Total physical inspection costs, excluding demurrage, typically range from USD 300–800. Combined with a 10-day hold, total port-related costs can reach USD 800–2,300 before the cargo is released.
The Stop-Loss Decision: Remediate or Return?
When a physical inspection reveals a serious violation, the importer faces a binary decision — and demurrage continues while it is being discussed.
Remediate in China (repack, relabel, re-declare)
Cost structure: inspection fees already incurred + extended demurrage + remediation labor and materials
Choose when total remediation cost stays below roughly 25–30% of cargo value and the timeline is operationally acceptable
Return shipment to origin
Cost structure: return freight cost + original freight already sunk; demurrage stops once the container is released for return
Choose when remediation cost exceeds the threshold, or when a required export permit cannot be obtained within an acceptable timeframe
Get the full remediation cost estimate from your freight forwarder before deciding. For lower-value cargo with a serious packaging violation, return is frequently the lower-cost outcome — even though it feels like the more drastic choice.
DG Customs Hold Remediation Checklist: Step-by-Step Actions to Get Your Cargo Released
Step 1: Confirm the Hold Type and Specific Reason — Within 24 Hours
Contact your freight forwarder in China immediately. Your freight forwarder coordinates with the licensed customs broker, who retrieves the official hold notice from China's customs system. This document states specifically whether the hold is a documentary check or a physical inspection, and identifies the deficiency that triggered it.
You cannot contact Chinese customs directly as a foreign importer. The first call goes to your freight forwarder — not the port, not the shipping line. Every hour spent reaching the wrong party is an hour of demurrage.
From the hold notice, confirm:
Hold type: Documentary check or physical inspection?
Specific deficiency: Which document, which field, which value is flagged?
Free period status: How many days of free demurrage remain?
Step 2: Documentary Check — Submit Corrected Documents the Same Day
Identify the exact mismatched field from the hold notice, then correct it at source. Work from the specific deficiency stated in the notice — do not guess.
Common corrections to check:
MSDS: Current version? 16-section GHS format? Bilingual version included if required? All values matching the DG Declaration exactly?
DG Declaration: UN number, proper shipping name, packing group, and net quantity aligned with both the MSDS and the Bill of Lading?
Bill of Lading / AWB: Shipping name consistent with the DG Declaration?
Submit corrected documents through your customs broker the same day. Verify accuracy first, then file. Every additional day of delay is a day of demurrage.
Step 3: Physical Inspection — Coordinate Before the Inspection Begins
Before the inspection takes place, confirm with your freight forwarder:
Location: Inside the terminal, or must the container move to a DG-designated facility outside?
Cost estimate: Shifting fees, DG facility charges, and daily storage rates — confirmed before inspection begins, not after
Attendance: Does a local representative need to be present?
If the inspection reveals packaging or labeling issues, remediation must be carried out at a DG-certified facility. The port terminal does not handle repacking by default. Get a cost estimate for the remediation work before authorizing it.
Step 4: Make the Stop-Loss Decision — Remediate or Return?
Calculate the total remediation cost before deciding:
Inspection and handling fees already incurred
Daily demurrage rate multiplied by estimated remediation duration
Cost of repacking, relabeling, or re-declaration work
If total remediation cost exceeds 25–30% of cargo value, or if a missing export permit cannot be obtained within a reasonable timeframe, return shipment is worth serious consideration. Make this decision with your freight forwarder based on actual cost estimates — not on instinct.
Step 5: After Release, Identify the Root Cause
A customs hold creates a compliance flag on the shipper's export record. Subsequent shipments from the same exporter face a higher examination rate.
Once the shipment is released, trace the specific failure point:
Did the supplier provide an outdated or incorrectly formatted MSDS?
Did the customs broker file the DG Declaration without cross-checking it against the MSDS?
Did the packaging source change without updating the UN certification on file?
A hold that is cleared without identifying the root cause will recur — usually faster, because the examination rate has already increased.
How to Prevent DG Cargo Detention Before Your Next China Shipment
Pre-Declaration Document Review
The most reliable prevention is a pre-submission document audit — a qualified DG specialist reviews the complete document set before the customs declaration is filed. This includes:
MSDS: format compliance, current version, bilingual version if required
DG Declaration: cross-checked against MSDS and Bill of Lading
Packing certificate: UN certification current and matching declared packing type
Export permit status: verified for the specific product and destination
This is not a standard service offered by general freight forwarders. Catching a mismatch before filing costs nothing beyond the review time. Catching it after the container is at the port costs significantly more.
Keep Your DG Document Set Current
Regulations governing DG documentation are not static:
IATA DGR: Updated annually
IMDG Code: Revised every two years
China's Hazardous Chemicals Safety Law: Subject to ongoing revisions affecting export permit requirements
Review and update your DG document set before each shipment — not on an annual calendar basis. Also confirm that your UN packaging certificates are current; if your packaging supplier's certification has lapsed, the container will be physically inspected.
Do Not Rely on Your Supplier's DG Classification
Suppliers have a practical incentive to classify goods as non-hazardous — it simplifies their own paperwork. This is one of the most common upstream causes of classification disputes at Chinese customs.
Independent pre-classification by your freight forwarder, based on the actual MSDS and product data, is a basic risk control measure. If the supplier's classification and the forwarder's independent assessment disagree, resolve that disagreement before the shipment is booked.
Why DG Shippers Choose Gerudo Logistics for China Export Compliance
Gerudo Logistics specializes in dangerous goods and reefer shipping from China to global markets. DG compliance is the operational core of what we do.
DG expertise across all major classifications Our team manages cargo under IATA, IMDG, and ADR regulations across Class 3 through Class 9 — including lithium batteries, flammable liquids, corrosives, oxidizers, and hazardous chemicals. Classification review, MSDS verification, DG Declaration preparation, and export permit coordination are included in every DG shipment we handle.
Pre-declaration document review as standard practice Before any DG customs declaration is filed, our specialists audit the full document set for cross-document consistency, format compliance, and permit status. This review catches the mismatches that trigger holds before the container reaches the port and demurrage starts running.
China-based operations across multiple ports Gerudo is headquartered in Guangzhou with operational presence in Shenzhen, Shanghai, Ningbo, Qingdao, and Dalian. When a hold is triggered, we coordinate directly with the licensed customs broker and port operations on the ground — without the delay of instructions crossing time zones. If a physical inspection requires on-site coordination or DG-certified repacking, we manage that locally.
End-to-end execution under DDP terms From cargo classification and packing through customs clearance and final delivery, every shipment operates under a single point of accountability. For importers managing DG compliance across multiple product categories or markets, consolidated oversight reduces the documentation gaps that create customs problems.
If your current freight forwarder does not conduct pre-declaration DG document review as standard practice, that is a structural gap in your export compliance process. Contact Gerudo Logistics to discuss your next DG shipment before it reaches the port.
Dangerous Goods Chinese Customs: Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a Chinese customs DG inspection take?
Documentary check: 1–3 business days with prompt document resubmission. Physical inspection: 3–10 business days. Lab classification test required: 10–20 business days.
What does a DG customs inspection cost at a Chinese port?
Physical inspection generates USD 300–800 in inspection and handling fees, plus demurrage of USD 50–150 per container per day after the free period (typically 1–3 days for DG cargo). A 10-day hold can reach USD 800–2,300 in total port-related costs. Confirm exact rates with your freight forwarder immediately.
Can I contact Chinese customs directly to release my cargo?
No. All communication goes through a licensed customs broker registered in China. Your freight forwarder coordinates this chain. Attempting to contact customs directly does not accelerate the process.
What happens if my DG cargo fails physical inspection?
Customs issues a specific remediation requirement: corrected documentation, repacking into UN-certified containers, relabeling, or in serious cases, return shipment to origin. Get full cost estimates from your freight forwarder before deciding between remediation and return.
Why is my DG shipment being held when the same cargo cleared before?
Two common reasons: China's automated screening now catches cross-document inconsistencies that manual review previously missed; and regulatory updates have expanded MSDS format requirements and export permit categories. A document set that passed last year may not pass 2026 screening unchanged.
What is the fastest way to resolve a DG customs hold?
Confirm the hold type within 24 hours via your customs broker. For documentary holds, submit corrected documents the same day. For physical inspections, confirm location and cost estimate before the inspection begins. Every day without action is a day of demurrage.
Conclusion
The majority of DG customs holds at Chinese ports originate from documentation errors — mismatched values across the MSDS, DG Declaration, and Bill of Lading, or MSDS format issues that are now flagged automatically by screening systems. These are preventable. The cost of getting the document set right before filing is consistently lower than the combined cost of demurrage, inspection fees, and remediation after a hold is triggered.
When a hold does occur, the outcome is determined largely by how fast and accurately the exporter responds in the first 24 hours. Knowing the hold type, having a customs broker with system access already in place, and filing corrected documents the same day are the variables that separate a two-day delay from a fifteen-day one.
