---
title: "The difference between a metric ton and a ton"
description: "When we export goods, the contract states 'USD 500 per ton', but the customs declaration form lists the unit as 'ton', while the freight forwarder quotes the price based on 'metric ton'. Recently, the client questioned the weight unit, saying they require 'short ton'. What are the differences between these three units? Could this affect customs declaration and payment collection?"
url: "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/metric-ton-ton-difference.html"
language: "en"
type: "Q&A"
category: "其他问题"
datePublished: "2026-03-06"
dateModified: "2026-03-06"
brand: "Zhongshen Trading China"
answerCount: 3
---

# The difference between a metric ton and a ton

## Question

 When we export goods, the contract states "USD 500 per ton", but the customs declaration form lists the unit as "ton". The freight forwarder, however, quotes the price based on "metric ton". Recently, the client questioned the weight unit, saying they require "short ton". What are the differences between these three units? Could this affect customs declaration and payment collection? 

## Answers
                            
### Answer 1 — Best Answer

The issue you encountered poses a significant compliance risk during customs declaration. According to Chinese customs law，the unit of weight is "metric ton" (symbol t)，which equals 1,000 kilograms. However，the term "ton" is easily confused in international trade: the U.S. short ton (symbol st) is only 907 kilograms，while the British long ton (symbol lb) is 1,016 kilograms. If you declare "ton" on the customs declaration form but actually deliver goods based on the short ton，you may be deemed to have made an inaccurate declaration，facing order corrections，tax supplementation，or even administrative penalties. It is recommended to clearly indicate "1 ton = 1,000 kg (metric ton)" in the "Specifications and Models" column or the remarks section of the customs declaration form，and check the legal unit of measurement corresponding to the HS code to ensure that the declaration matches the actual goods and avoid subsequent inspection risks.

**status:** accepted
**Author:** Eric Zhou
**Date:** 2026-03-06

### Answer 2

Your freight costs are quite high! The cost of sea freight for LCL or bulk cargo is directly related to the charging tonnage (RT). If the freight forwarder quotes based on metric tons but you interpret it as short tons, you'll be undercharged by 93 kilograms per "ton". Operationally, it's essential to specify in the booking letter that "the charging weight is calculated at 1000kg/MT", and require the bill of lading to display "GROSS WEIGHT: X, XXX KGS" instead of vague tonnage. When using FOB terms, if the buyer specifies that the freight forwarder use short ton standards, you need to convert the costs in advance, otherwise the port of destination fees will exceed expectations. Remember: Confirm with the freight forwarder via email "How many kilograms does one ton equal?" and keep the correspondence on record. This is the simplest and most effective way to avoid disputes.

**status:** suggested
**Author:** Linda Gao
**Date:** 2026-03-06

### Answer 3

The most important thing you need to do now is to immediately send an email to the client, not to defend yourself, but to "confirm professional details". The wording could be as follows: "To ensure the accurate execution of the contract, we would like to confirm with you that the 'ton' in the quote refers to Metric ton (1000kg)?" Our standard contract template defaults to using MT units. If your company has different conventions, we will adjust it immediately." This way, you can shift the responsibility back to the client while demonstrating your professionalism. In the future, when signing contracts, it's essential to add a clause stating "All weights mentioned herein refer to metric tons (1 MT = 1000 kilograms)" or to quote prices directly in USD/MT. This will completely prevent clients from using unit conversions to negotiate lower prices, and it will also showcase your international operating standards, instantly establishing trust.

**status:** suggested
**Author:** Daniel Xu
**Date:** 2026-03-06

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