Bonded storage through licensed facilities
Bonded storage holds goods under customs control before duties or declarations are settled. We arrange it through licensed bonded facilities. We do not operate the facility. We find the space, coordinate the paperwork with licensed customs brokers and pass on release instructions.
What it is
Goods in a bonded facility stay under customs control. Duty is not paid on them until they leave bond for local sale, or they leave the territory without duty.
Hong Kong is a free port, so most goods carry no import duty and do not need bond. In Hong Kong, bonded storage mainly applies to dutiable goods: liquor, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil and methyl alcohol. The rules differ for the mainland and other places. Only licensed facilities can hold goods in bond, so we work through them.
When to use it
- Goods wait for a customs decision.
- Goods are being re-exported and duty should not be paid in between.
- Dutiable goods arrive and will be released in lots.
- Goods move on under customs control to another place.
What we handle
- Finding and booking a licensed bonded facility
- Documents that move goods in and out of bond
- Coordination with licensed customs brokers
- Handover and release instructions
- Checking that goods and quantities match the entry documents
How it runs
- Quote: you send the goods, the customs status and the period, and we ask licensed facilities for space.
- Facility check: we confirm that the facility is licensed to hold this type of goods.
- Documents: a licensed customs broker prepares the entry documents, and we check them against the cargo.
- Receiving: the goods go into bond, and the facility records them.
- Holding and release: goods stay under control until they leave bond against the right documents, with duty settled or the goods re-exported.
What to send us for a quote
| Detail | Why we ask |
|---|---|
| Cargo description | Not every facility holds every type of goods |
| HS code, if known | The code decides the duty status and the rules |
| Value and quantity | Used for duty and for the entry documents |
| Storage period | Space and fees are priced over a period |
| Origin and destination | Tells us whether the goods are to be re-exported |
Good to know
- Bond is a legal status, not just a room. Goods may not leave without the right release documents.
- Rules for each type of dutiable goods are set by the authorities and change. Ask a licensed customs broker to confirm the current rules.
- Bonded space is often priced above ordinary storage because of the controls.
Questions
Do you hold the bonded licence?
No. The licence belongs to the facility. We arrange the space through licensed facilities and coordinate the paperwork with licensed customs brokers.
Do I need bond for ordinary goods in Hong Kong?
Usually not. Hong Kong is a free port with duty on only a few goods. A licensed customs broker can confirm for your cargo.