Buying a shipping container from a U.S. exporter and having it delivered internationally means the container clears customs in your country before it reaches you. The paperwork is more predictable than it sounds — here’s the general process, and where to find country-specific notes.
The Documents Involved
- Commercial invoice — states the container’s value, used for calculating any duty or import tax owed
- Bill of lading — the ocean carrier’s shipping document, proof of what’s being transported and to where
- Packing list — describes the container itself (size, condition grade, any accessories)
- Import declaration — filed with your country’s customs authority, often through a licensed customs broker
We prepare the export-side documentation (commercial invoice, bill of lading) for every international order — you or your customs broker handle the import declaration on the receiving end.
Duties and Import Tax Vary by Country
Whether a used shipping container owes import duty, and at what rate, depends entirely on your country’s customs classification and current trade rules — we don’t publish a general duty rate because it varies too much to be reliable. What’s consistent everywhere: your customs broker or authority will classify the container by its HS (Harmonized System) code and assess any duty or import VAT/GST based on the commercial invoice value we provide.
Working With a Customs Broker
For anything beyond a small parcel, most buyers use a licensed customs broker to file the import declaration rather than doing it themselves — this is standard practice, not a sign of a complicated shipment. Freight forwarders and customs brokers at your destination port can usually quote their clearance fee before the container arrives, so it’s worth confirming that separately from our export quote.
Country-Specific Notes
We’ve published country-specific guides with import notes for several of our common export destinations, including Ireland, Singapore, New Zealand, the UAE, South Africa, and EU/EEA markets including Portugal, Poland, Sweden, Belgium, and Norway. If your destination isn’t listed, request a quote and we’ll walk you through what documentation your country typically requires.
Request an Export Quote
Tell us your delivery country and we’ll confirm container availability, export documentation, and estimated freight cost to your nearest port.