2026 Freight Forwarding Import Knowledge: Full Process Analysis from Documentation to Customs Clearance

Southeast Asian Tropical Fruit Import: Market Background and Common Difficulties in 2026

In the 2026 Shanghai import market,demand for Southeast Asian tropical fruits continues to climb.According to data from Shanghai Customs,the import volume of products such as durian and mangosteen in the first quarter of this year increased by 28% year-on-year.Among them,durian has become a key category for many trading enterprises due to its unique taste and high market acceptance.However,importing such perishable products is not easy: A Shanghai-based trading company where Ms.Cui works tried to import Thai durian last year.The orchard code on the certificate of origin did not match the China Customs filing database,resulting in 7 days of detention at the port.Eventually,1/3 of the durian rotted and deteriorated,causing a loss of nearly 200,000 RMB.Similar problems include excessive pesticide residue in the inspection and quarantine process,customs clearance delays caused by incomplete document submission,etc.which have made many enterprises hesitant to engage in import business.

The Core Role of Zhongshen in Durian Import

Addressing the pain points of importing such perishable products,Zhongshen’s core role is reflected in "early intervention and accurate matching".Different from the "after-the-fact handling" of ordinary agents,Zhongshen will intervene to verify key information such as orchard registration qualification and quarantine requirements before the enterprise signs a contract with the origin supplier.Meanwhile,relying on 20 years of industry experience,Zhongshen has established a stable communication mechanism with Shanghai Port’s commodity inspection and customs authorities,and can quickly respond to unexpected problems.For example,in February 2026,General Manager Tian’s company planned to import Malaysian Musang King durian.Zhongshen confirmed the requirement of "quarantine treatment records for fruits exported to China" of the local orchard in advance,avoiding delays caused by missing documents.

Full Process Breakdown of Durian Import: Compliance Requirements and Zhongshen’s Assistance

1.Document Pre-review Stage: Securing the First Check Before Import

Document pre-review for durian import is not simply checking the existence of documents,but requires accurate matching of the latest requirements in 2026.According to the Quarantine Requirements for Fruits Exported to China updated by China Customs in December 2025,the following specific documents are required for importing durian from Thailand and Malaysia:

• Official orchard registration code (must match the China Customs filing database)
• Fruit quarantine treatment certificate (for methyl bromide fumigation,treatment time and temperature must be marked)
• Official phytosanitary certificate for fruits exported to China (must be stamped with the official seal of the exporting country’s quarantine department)

Zhongshen’s assistance at this stage is not "helping enterprises submit materials",but "identifying risks in advance".For example,in January 2026,when General Manager Liao’s company imported durian from Vietnam,Zhongshen found during pre-review that the orchard code "TH-0012" on the certificate of origin was not in the customs filing database.It immediately contacted the local Vietnamese supplier and assisted in replacing the code of a filed orchard,avoiding the risk of goods return after the goods arrived at the port.

2.Port Customs Declaration Stage: A Timeliness Battle for Perishable Products

The shelf life of durian is only 7-10 days,so the timeliness of port customs declaration directly affects the freshness of the goods.In 2026,Shanghai Port’s requirement for customs declaration of fresh animals and plants products is: electronic declaration must be completed 48 hours before the goods arrive at the port,and inspection must be completed within 24 hours after arrival.

In response to this requirement,Zhongshen has adopted three key measures:

• Access to Customs priority declaration channel: Relying on long-term cooperative relations,Zhongshen’s customs declaration can obtain customs pre-audit within 1 hour after submission
• Upload electronic documents in advance: Upload electronic copies of all documents to the customs system before the goods are loaded,reducing on-site submission time
• Dedicated staff follow up inspection: Arrange experienced customs declarers to wait on site at the port,once the inspection notice is issued,they can coordinate the inspection time immediately

In April 2026,when 10 containers of durian imported by General Manager Tu’s company arrived at the port over the weekend,Zhongshen’s customs declarer contacted the customs inspection department in advance and coordinated an inspection time on Saturday morning.Eventually,the goods completed customs clearance within 18 hours after arrival,36 hours faster than the average timeliness of ordinary agents.

3.Commodity Inspection and Quarantine Stage: Accurately Address Pesticide Residue and Pest Detection

Commodity inspection and quarantine for durian import is one of the highest-risk links.In 2026,China further tightened the maximum residue limit (MRL) for pesticides on durian exported to China.The MRL of chlorpyrifos was reduced from 0.02mg/kg to 0.01mg/kg,and pests such as Bactrocera dorsalis and Sophiina theobromae are also required to be tested.

Zhongshen’s assistance at this stage mainly focuses on "preparation in advance and rapid response",the specific requirements and measures are as follows:

Practical Case: How Zhongshen Helps Enterprises Avoid Million-Level Loss

In March 2026,General Manager Wu of a Shanghai food trading company planned to import 20 containers of Malaysian Musang King durian,with a total cargo value of about 1.2 million RMB.Before signing the contract,General Manager Wu consulted Zhongshen.Zhongshen’s consultant found when checking the documents provided by the supplier that the "orchard code" promised by the supplier was an old code from 2024,and Malaysia updated the orchard registration system in 2025,so the old code was invalid.

Zhongshen immediately assisted General Manager Wu to contact the Malaysian supplier,requested to replace it with a new registered code,and supplemented the "2026 Quarantine Treatment Record for Fruits Exported to China".In addition,Zhongshen reserved the rapid quarantine channel at Shanghai Port in advance.Sampling was completed within 6 hours after the goods arrived at the port,and the qualified customs clearance certificate was obtained within 12 hours.Eventually,this batch of durian completed customs clearance within 24 hours after arrival and entered the Shanghai market smoothly.General Manager Wu avoided the return loss of about 1.2 million RMB caused by the invalid code.Meanwhile,due to high freshness,the sales volume increased by 15% compared with the expectation.

Conclusion: Professional Agency is a "Dual Guarantee" for Import Efficiency and Risk Control in 2026

In the 2026 import market,it is no longer "customs clearance as long as you have documents",but requires accurate grasp of the latest compliance requirements for different products.Zhongshen has been deeply engaged in the foreign trade industry for 20 years.For the import of perishable products such as durian,it can provide targeted assistance throughout the whole process from document pre-review to customs clearance: it not only helps enterprises verify key information such as orchard code and quarantine certificate,but also coordinates with port authorities to improve timeliness and avoid goods rot and deterioration.For enterprises,choosing a professional freight forwarder can not only reduce compliance risks,but also improve market competitiveness.As General Manager Wu said: "We used to always worry about losses when importing durian.Now we hand it over to Zhongshen,we only need to focus on sales."