China runs the same kind of rule as Japan's AFR: an advance manifest that must reach customs before the box is loaded. The China Customs Advance Manifest (CCAM) has to be submitted 24 hours before cargo loading for all import, export and transshipment cargo via mainland China ports, and it needs full shipper and consignee details, including the Chinese enterprise code. Nexport Logistics files the CCAM data for your China shipments in the Nexportal platform.
What CCAM is
The China Customs Advance Manifest has been mandatory since 1 June 2018. The manifest data must be accurate and complete for all goods on the bill of lading, and submitted 24 hours prior to loading on vessels sailing to or from mainland China ports. It applies to import, export and transshipment alike, across long-haul and short-sea services.
The data, and the enterprise code
Full shipper and consignee details must be given in the shipping instruction (SI), or the Notify Party if the consignee is "To Order". The part that catches people out is the enterprise code for the Chinese party:
- if the shipper or consignee in China has a Unified Social Credit Code (USCC), give it as
USCI + USCC code; - if there is no USCC, give the organization code as
OC + organization code.
Plus contact details for the parties. Incomplete or wrongly-formatted enterprise codes are a common reject reason.
Per bill of lading
Like the US AMS and the Japan AFR, the filing follows the bills: the carrier covers the Master B/L, and the NVOCC the House B/L. The data has to be consistent across both.
What non-compliance costs
Missing, late or mis-formatted data leads to manifest amendments, penalties from China Customs, and cargo that may not be loaded. Chasing a correct enterprise code takes your supplier five minutes; chasing a manifest amendment while the container sits on the quay takes days, and the bill keeps running.
How Nexport Logistics handles it
We collect the full shipper/consignee details and the correct USCI/OC enterprise codes, and file the CCAM 24 hours before loading on the master and house bills, so your China cargo manifests and loads without a hold. It runs with your B/L, Customs and booking in Nexportal.
Shipping to or from China? Email info@nexportlogistics.nl.
Source: China Customs (GACC) Announcement No. 56 (2017), in force 1 June 2018 — the China Customs Advance Manifest requirement, implemented by all ocean carriers and NVOCCs. Related: Japan Afr · Usa Import Filings · Customs