Dalian (Dayaowan)
North-east China's battery gateway at Dayaowan, with a small but growing lithium export flow, a local MSA that has named misdeclaration as its main problem, and both winter ice and spring fog.
South & Southeast Asia · sea freight from Dalian
Shipping from Dalian to Colombo
Dalian to Colombo
Yellow Sea · East China Sea · Taiwan Strait · South China Sea · Malacca Strait · Andaman Sea · Indian Ocean
- DalianChina origin
- Yellow Sea
- East China Sea
- Taiwan Strait
- South China Sea
- Malacca Strait
- Andaman Sea
- Indian Ocean
- ColomboSri Lanka
Lithium batteries for Colombo go out of Dalian, the north-east's gateway on the Yellow Sea. On the way they face a corridor across the Indian Ocean, and they arrive at the port of Colombo.
On the Sri Lankan side the manifest is filed in ASYHUB and the CusDec is digitally signed. The 6 points below are particular to this lane; each comes with what we do and the paperwork it touches.
What we need to start
- Winter ice & spring fog
- Dalian Dayaowan export
- ASYHUB manifest
- Paperless CusDec
- SLSI scope
Route profile
What sets Dalian → Colombo apart
Asia – Indian Ocean
An Indian Ocean crossing whose season depends on the side: the southwest monsoon and two cyclone seasons in the north, a November–April cyclone season in the south-west, and piracy off Somalia.
Where this route gets difficult
Where Dalian → Colombo shipments get held up: 6 points
Listed from loading in Dalian to import into Sri Lanka, each with what we do about it.
- Origin port
Dalian's MSA says misdeclared battery cargo is common
According to Dayaowan MSA in April 2024, lithium battery cargo was often under-declared or misdeclared because the rules are complicated. It responded with a dedicated desk and hotline, priority for EV batteries, and AI-based document comparison intended to reduce container openings, which means any mismatch between the declaration and its supporting papers gets flagged.
What Anxin does: We reconcile the UN number, classification, packing group, quantity and SDS across every document before filing, which is exactly what an automated comparison will test.
- Origin port
Sea fog off Dalian, April to July
Sea fog is one of the main marine hazards of the Yellow and Bohai Seas according to the China Meteorological Administration, concentrated between April and July and with a serious effect on shipping. A vessel held at anchor by fog can arrive late enough to push a box beyond the sailing its documents name.
What Anxin does: In the fog season we avoid tight stuffing-to-cut-off gaps and keep the filing data ready to amend if the vessel changes.
- Sea corridor
June to September: south-west monsoon seas
From June to September the south-west monsoon brings rough seas to the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. A container heading for Colombo in those months meets heavy rolling, which loosens a poorly braced load.
What Anxin does: In monsoon months we check blocking and bracing strictly on stuffing photos before sealing.
- Import country
Paper declarations end on 1 October 2026
From 1 October 2026 Sri Lankan customs declarations are digitally signed and filed electronically, and manual submission at the Long Room ends. Importers at Colombo and their brokers need digital signatures in place for the first shipments after the change.
What Anxin does: We check with the importer's broker that its digital signature set-up is working before the container arrives at Colombo.
- Import country
Manifests go through ASYHUB
Since 7 May 2025 Sri Lanka Customs has required manifests to be submitted through ASYHUB. The battery description and DG details the carrier files for Colombo come from the booking made in Dalian, so they have to be right from the start.
What Anxin does: We give the carrier final cargo and DG data at booking, so the ASYHUB manifest does not need amending after arrival.
- Import country
Classification decides whether SLSI inspection applies
SLSI's compulsory inspection list covers primary cells (HS 8506.10 and 8506.80) and lead-acid starter batteries, but not lithium-ion batteries under 8507.60. The HS code on the documents for Colombo therefore decides whether an SLSI inspection is needed, especially for mixed shipments.
What Anxin does: We check the HS codes on the invoice with the importer, and flag any primary cells in the shipment that would bring SLSI inspection.
Documents & compliance
Checklist for Dalian → Colombo
Anxin reviews documents supplied by the shipper, manufacturer and importer; it does not issue test reports, safety data sheets or import certificates.
Before loading in Dalian
- UN number, class, quantity and SDS reconciled across all documents before the Dalian filing
- Transport-condition classification report where applicable
- Load plan showing even weight distribution (no more than 60% of the cargo weight in either half of the container length)
- Safety data sheet and dangerous goods safe-carriage declaration for the MSA cargo report
- Customs packaging use-appraisal result for the dangerous goods packaging (with the maker's performance appraisal)
Carrier and voyage
- Carrier's revised arrival reconfirmed in the cyclone season before booking onward transport
- Lithium battery mark (SP188 cargo) or class 9 labels and placards
- Condition statement: new, used, damaged/defective (SP376) or for recycling (SP377)
At the Sri Lanka end
- Broker's digital signature ready for electronic CusDecs
Before you book
Send the file once, complete
Most delays on this route start with a document that exists but does not match: a UN number, a model name or a package count that differs between the Dalian filings, the carrier booking and the Sri Lanka import file. We check the three against each other before the booking is confirmed.
Carriers we book with
Our booking panel; availability on this lane and acceptance of the declared UN numbers are confirmed for each booking. It does not mean that a listed carrier runs a direct service on this route. Carrier choice depends on the trade lane, cargo classification and each carrier's dangerous-goods acceptance at booking. The final carrier is confirmed on the booking.
Risk & mitigation
What could go wrong from Dalian to Colombo, and who acts
| Risk | Where | Mitigation | Who acts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Declaration flagged by document comparison; container opened | Dayaowan | Cross-document reconciliation before filing | Anxin with the declarant |
| Fog hold delays the vessel; filings need amending | Yellow Sea, Apr–Jul | Amendment-ready filing data | Anxin with the declarant |
| Clearance delayed after the switch to paperless declarations | Colombo / Hambantota | Broker's set-up checked before arrival | Importer's broker |
Questions
Common questions on the Dalian → Colombo route
Through ASYHUB, which Sri Lanka Customs has required since 7 May 2025.
The India Meteorological Department describes two North Indian Ocean seasons, April–May and October–December, the latter being the main one.
Dayaowan MSA reported in 2024 that omissions and misdeclarations of lithium battery cargo were frequent because the rules are complex, and it uses AI document comparison. Consistent data across the declaration, SDS and packing documents is the main defence.
References
Regulations and port sources cited
- Mandatory submission of manifests via ASYHUB system, effective 7 May 2025 (Sri Lanka Customs)
- Items covered under the SLSI import inspection scheme (Sri Lanka Standards Institution)
- Frequently asked questions on tropical cyclones (India Meteorological Department, RSMC New Delhi)
- The Indian Monsoon (southwest monsoon June–September) (Press Information Bureau, Government of India)
- Sea fog in the Yellow and Bohai Seas (fog season mainly April–July) (China Meteorological Administration (from Guangming Daily))
- Export dangerous goods packaging inspection: service guide (Chinese) (General Administration of Customs of China (Lanzhou Customs service guide))
Next step
From enquiry to import
- 1EnquiryCargo, origin, destination
- 2Documents checkUN 38.3, SDS, packing
- 3BookingAfter carrier acceptance
- 4HandoverAt Dalian
- 5ImportClearance at Colombo
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After you send it
We check carrier acceptance for Dalian → Colombo before any booking, and ask for missing battery documents first.
All destinations from Dalian · Sri Lanka ports
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