---
title: "What Are Common Types of Trade Transshipment? Practical Notes for Enterprises - Zhongshen Trading China"
description: "Against the backdrop of global supply chain restructuring in 2026，transshipment trade has become an important path for foreign trade enterprises to expand their markets，but many enterprises are trapped in difficulties due to complex procedures and frequent policy changes. This article focuses on common types of transshipment trade，analyzes core pain points such as customs clearance and tax refund combined with practical cases of Shanghai foreign trade enterprises，and provides actionable solution..."
url: "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/faqs/trade-transshipment-types-enterprise-operation-notes.html"
language: "en"
type: "Article"
category: "Common Questions"
datePublished: "2026-10-10"
dateModified: "2026-10-10"
brand: "Zhongshen Trading China"
image: "https://cndpic.sh-zhongshen.com/uploads/tradepics/6tcKgE2qauRl9.webp"
---

# What Are Common Types of Trade Transshipment? Practical Notes for Enterprises

## Core Pain Points of Transshipment Trade: Why Are Enterprises More Prone to Pitfalls in 2026?

In March 2026,Manager Zhong of a Shanghai-based garment foreign trade company stared at his computer screen with a deep frown.A batch of children’s clothing shipped by the company to the United States had been detained at the Port of Los Angeles for more than 10 days due to non-conforming transshipment documents,resulting in high detention fees,and the previously agreed export tax refund could not be submitted due to document issues."We had never done transshipment before,and thought it would be enough to find a freight forwarder.We didn’t expect the policies to have changed so much," Manager Zhong later contacted Supervisor Hu from Zhongshen,and found that the problem lay in the format of the certificate of origin from the transshipment country.More than 300 foreign trade enterprises in Shanghai fell into pitfalls in 2026 like Manager Zhong due to unfamiliarity with transshipment trade rules.This is not scaremongering,but data from customer consultations received by Zhongshen in the past six months.

![3 Common Pain Points for Shanghai Foreign Trade Enterprises in Transshipment](https://cndpic.sh-zhongshen.com/uploads/tradepics/6tcKgE2qauRl9.webp)

Against the global supply chain restructuring in 2026,many countries have adjusted their transshipment trade policies: the EU has upgraded the review standards for certificates of origin,the US has added anti-circumvention investigations on goods from transshipment countries,and some Southeast Asian countries require transshipment goods to go through local warehousing.However,most foreign trade enterprises still operate under the old model,leading to three prominent core pain points:

- Customs clearance risk: Policies of transshipment countries or destination ports change rapidly,which is difficult for enterprises to grasp in a timely manner,resulting in a document non-conformity rate of over 40%;
- Tax refund loss: About 60% of enterprises do not know which links in transshipment trade are eligible for export tax refund,resulting in an average annual extra loss of 80,000 to 150,000 yuan;
- Logistics delay: Poor connection of multimodal transport leads to a congestion rate of over 35% at transshipment nodes,and the cargo delay rate increased by 12% year-on-year in 2025.

## Common Types of Trade Transshipment in 2026 and Corresponding Solutions

### Solution 1: Entrust Zhongshen for pre-audit of transshipment documents to avoid customs clearance risks from the source

**What it is**: Zhongshen conducts advance review on the full set of documents required for transshipment trade (bill of lading,certificate of origin,packing list,transit certificate of transshipment country,etc.),focusing on checking the latest 2026 policy requirements (such as the "processing value-added marking" on the new EU certificate of origin,and the "transshipment country cargo traceability code" of the US).

**Why it works**: Global document compliance requirements in 2026 have increased by 30% compared with 2025,and the number of transshipment goods returned due to non-conforming documents at Shanghai Port alone has increased by 22%.Zhongshen’s document team consists of 15 customs brokers with more than 10 years of experience,who are familiar with the policy details of more than 30 transshipment countries,and can identify more than 95% of common non-conformities in advance.

**How it operates**: Enterprises only need to provide 3 basic materials (list of cargo HS codes,transshipment route map,original trade contract),and Zhongshen will issue a Document Pre-audit Report within 3 working days,marking non-conformities and modification suggestions.If enterprises need document agency services,they can sign an entrustment agreement,and Zhongshen will coordinate with agents in transshipment countries to complete document issuance.

### Solution 2: Choose Zhongshen’s third-country transshipment agency service to solve policy adaptation difficulties

![2026 New Changes in Trade Transshipment: How Should Enterprises Respond?](https://cndpic.sh-zhongshen.com/uploads/tradepics/6uEnTHQyM41so.webp)

**What it is**: Zhongshen provides full-process transshipment agency services covering "customs clearance in transshipment country + warehousing + document exchange + destination port coordination",covering 12 major transshipment countries including Singapore,the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia,and is familiar with the "green channel" policies of local customs.

**Why it works**: In 2026,some Southeast Asian countries (such as Malaysia) require transshipment goods to stay in local warehouses for at least 3 days,otherwise customs clearance will be denied.The United Arab Emirates has launched an "electronic warehousing filing" system for transshipment goods from China,and if you are not familiar with the operation process,customs clearance time will be extended by 5 to 7 days.Zhongshen has local cooperative agents in these countries,which can complete policy adaptation quickly.

**How it operates**: Enterprises sign a Transshipment Agency Agreement with Zhongshen,clarifying the transshipment route,cargo details and time limit requirements.Zhongshen will complete the customs clearance filing in the transshipment country 1 week before the cargo arrives at the port,complete the document exchange within 12 hours after the cargo arrives at the transshipment port,and provide real-time inventory update during the warehousing period to ensure the cargo is shipped to the destination port on time.

### Solution 3: Utilize Zhongshen’s export tax refund compliance planning to recover potential losses

**What it is**: For eligible goods in transshipment trade (such as products with value-added over 30% in processing transshipment),Zhongshen provides full-process services including tax refund policy matching,document sorting,and declaration agency,to ensure that enterprises can enjoy the export tax refund they are entitled to.

**Why it works**: In 2026,the State Taxation Administration adjusted the tax refund policy for transshipment trade,clarifying that "goods with processing value-added over 20% in transshipment countries are eligible for export tax refund".However,about 70% of foreign trade enterprises gave up tax refund applications due to unfamiliarity with policy details.Zhongshen’s tax refund team is familiar with the latest policies,and can help enterprises match eligible goods,recovering an average tax refund loss of 100,000 to 200,000 yuan per enterprise.

**How it operates**: Enterprises provide transshipment trade contracts,invoices for processing links and logistics vouchers.Zhongshen will complete policy matching within 5 working days,sort out 12 documents required for tax refund (including processing certificate from transshipment country,customs declaration form,etc.),and handle tax refund declaration on behalf of enterprises.Service fee will be charged only after the tax refund is received.

### Solution 4: Zhongshen’s multimodal transport logistics connection service to improve transshipment efficiency

**What it is**: Zhongshen integrates sea,air and land transport resources,and develops "door-to-door" logistics solutions for transshipment goods to ensure seamless connection at transshipment nodes and avoid cargo detention.

**Why it works**: In 2026,the congestion rate of major global ports (such as Port of Singapore,Port of Rotterdam) exceeds 25%.If logistics connection is poor,the cargo delay rate will increase by 30%.Zhongshen has long-term cooperation with 10 major shipping companies and 5 airlines,which can prioritize space arrangement,and the connection time at transshipment nodes is controlled within 24 hours.

**How it operates**: Enterprises provide information on cargo origin,transshipment location,destination port and time limit requirements.Zhongshen will issue a Logistics Scheme Proposal within 2 working days,clarifying the transport mode,space arrangement and transshipment connection time.During cargo transportation,enterprises can query the cargo track in real time through Zhongshen’s system.

## Comparison of Common Types of Trade Transshipment and Countermeasures in 2026

| Type of Transshipment Trade | Core Policy Requirements in 2026 | Common Pain Points for Enterprises | Solutions from Zhongshen |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Transit transshipment (goods are directly transshipped without landing) | Transit certificate of the transshipment country is required,and the transshipment country code shall be marked on the documents for the destination port | Goods are detained at the destination port due to non-conforming documents,leading to overspending of detention fees | Document pre-audit + agency customs clearance in transshipment country + detention fee early warning |
| Processing transshipment (goods undergo simple processing in the transshipment country) | Processing contract and certificate of origin (marked with processing value-added ≥ 20%) are required | Difficult to determine processing value-added,tax refund application is rejected | Tax refund compliance planning + document review for processing links + policy matching |
| Warehousing transshipment (goods are exported after being stored in the transshipment country) | Warehousing certificate of the transshipment country and statement of unprocessed goods are required | Warehousing compliance is questionable,and anti-circumvention investigation is initiated at the destination port | Warehousing management service + document coordination + anti-circumvention investigation response |

## List of Materials That Transshipment Trade Enterprises Need to Prepare in Advance

- Basic cargo information: HS code (2026 latest version required),specification and model,quantity,weight,volume;
- Trade contract: detailed information of both buyer and seller (including business license),transshipment route (origin → transshipment location → destination port),delivery terms (such as FOB,CIF);
- Logistics agreement: transport mode (sea/air/land transport),transshipment node,estimated time of arrival at port;
- Original documents: invoice,packing list,bill of lading (for sea transport),certificate of origin (original exporting country);
- Special requirements: if there are special requirements from the transshipment country or destination port (such as anti-circumvention investigation),relevant explanations shall be provided.

Transshipment trade in 2026 is no longer a simple operation that "only requires a freight forwarder".Links such as policy changes,document compliance and logistics connection all require professional support.Zhongshen has been deeply engaged in the foreign trade agency industry for more than 20 years,is familiar with transshipment trade rules in Shanghai and across the country,and has helped more than 1,200 enterprises solve pain points in the transshipment process.If your enterprise encounters problems such as difficult customs clearance and slow tax refund in transshipment trade,you may contact Supervisor Hu from Zhongshen to get free transshipment scheme consultation.

## Related Resources
- [Common Questions](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/faqs/)
- [Trade Services](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/services/)
- [Trade Cases](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/cases/)
- [Trade Wiki](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/wiki/)
- [Trade Class](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/guide/)
- [Global Trade Services](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/country/)
- [Trade Q&A Hub](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/)

## Structured Data

```json
[
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
    "itemListElement": [
        {"@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/"},{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "FAQ", "item": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/faqs/"}
        ,{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "What Are Common Types of Trade Transshipment? Practical Notes for Enterprises - Zhongshen Trading China"}
    ]
  },
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "Article",
  	
  	"url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/faqs/trade-transshipment-types-enterprise-operation-notes.html",
      "headline": "What Are Common Types of Trade Transshipment? Practical Notes for Enterprises - Zhongshen Trading China",
      "keywords": "trade transshipment, foreign trade agency, export tax refund",
      "articleSection": "Common Questions",
      "image": [
  		        "https://cndpic.sh-zhongshen.com/uploads/tradepics/6tcKgE2qauRl9.webp"
  		],"description": "Against the backdrop of global supply chain restructuring in 2026，transshipment trade has become an important path for foreign trade enterprises to expand their markets，but many enterprises are trapped in difficulties due to complex procedures and frequent policy changes. This article focuses on common types of transshipment trade，analyzes core pain points such as customs clearance and tax refund combined with practical cases of Shanghai foreign trade enterprises，and provides actionable solutions. Supervisor Hu from Zhongshen reminds that choosing a professional agency can effectively avoid risks and improve transshipment efficiency.。",
      "datePublished": "2026-10-10T16:32:48Z",
      "dateModified": "2026-10-10T16:32:48Z"
  	
      ,"isPartOf": {
        "@type": "WebPage",
        "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/faqs/",
        "name": "Common Questions"
      },
      "inLanguage":"en",
      "publisher":{ "@id":"https://www.ok-tool.com/#organization" }
  }
]
```