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North America · sea freight from Dalian

Shipping from Dalian to Baltimore

Dalian to Baltimore

Yellow Sea · Korea Strait · Tsugaru Strait · Eastern Pacific · Panama Canal · Caribbean Sea · Windward Passage · US East Coast

Sea corridor illustration: Dalian to Baltimore, United States Simplified map with a curved corridor from Dalian via Yellow Sea, Korea Strait, Tsugaru Strait, Eastern Pacific, Panama Canal, Caribbean Sea, Windward Passage, US East Coast to Baltimore. Illustration only; not a vessel track or schedule. CHINANORTH AMERICASOUTH AMERICAPACIFIC OCEAN Tsugaru StraitNorth PacificPanama Canal DalianCHINA ORIGIN BaltimoreUNITED STATES DalianBOHAI SEAYELLOW SEASHANDONGDEPARTURE AREA
  1. DalianChina origin
  2. Yellow Sea
  3. Korea Strait
  4. Tsugaru Strait
  5. Eastern Pacific
  6. Panama Canal
  7. Caribbean Sea
  8. Windward Passage
  9. US East Coast
  10. BaltimoreUnited States
Geographic corridor illustration only, not a vessel track, port-call list or sailing schedule. The loading terminal, carrier, transshipment and dates are confirmed per shipment.

This route runs out of Dalian, the north-east's gateway on the Yellow Sea, then follows the Pacific, the Panama Canal and the Caribbean; at the far end is the port of Baltimore.

Baltimore means US customs filings that are due while the container is still in Dalian, and a supply chain CBP may ask to see. Below are 5 route-specific points to plan for, what we do about each, and the documents to have ready before booking.

What we need to start

  • Winter ice & spring fog
  • Dalian Dayaowan export
  • Supply-chain tracing file
  • HTS code 8507.60
  • ISF filer
Ask about this route United States ports from Dalian

Route profile

What sets Dalian → Baltimore apart

Sea corridor

Asia – Americas via the Panama Canal

A Pacific crossing, a Panama Canal transit that depends on lake levels, and a Caribbean passage in hurricane season.

Import country

United States

A duty line set by the exact 8507.60 code, lithium supply-chain questions under UFLPA, and ISF and AMS filings that are due before the box is loaded.

Blue harbour crane booms above a quay building in Dalian harbour
A cargo ship at anchor in calm water under a clear sky

Where this route gets difficult

What to watch between Dalian and Baltimore: 5 points

Loading port first, then the sea leg, then Baltimore and the United States market.

  1. Origin port

    Winter sea ice near Dayaowan

    The Bohai Sea and the northern Yellow Sea freeze every winter. For 2021/22 China's marine forecast centre expected floating ice around 15 nautical miles offshore in the northern Yellow Sea, where Dayaowan is, and around 60 in Liaodong Bay, with the peak between mid-January and mid-February.

    What Anxin does: For January–February sailings from Dalian we allow extra time between stuffing and the DG cut-off and reconfirm the vessel schedule the week before loading.

  2. Sea corridor

    Gatun Lake sets the Neopanamax draft

    How deep ships can load through Panama's new locks depends on Gatun Lake. In September 2026 the Canal Authority's advisory A-33-2026 postponed a cut in the Neopanamax draft from 14.63 m to 14.48 m that had been due on 1 October, citing lake levels; a lower limit reduces what a ship bound for Baltimore can carry.

    What Anxin does: We check the canal advisory in force when we quote for Baltimore and ask carriers to confirm that the booked vessel's routing and any canal surcharge will not change before sailing.

  3. Import country

    Section 301 at 25% on lithium-ion non-EV batteries from January 2026

    USTR's 2024 review moved lithium-ion batteries of HTSUS 8507.60.0020 (the 'other', non-passenger-EV line) from a 7.5% to a 25% additional duty for entries from 1 January 2026; EV traction batteries under 8507.60.0010 reached 25% in 2024. Other China-specific duties can stack on top and change with little notice, so the landed cost depends on the exact classification and entry date.

    What Anxin does: We do not give duty rulings. We make sure the invoice describes chemistry, configuration and application precisely enough for the importer's customs broker to classify it, and we flag the entry date when a vessel's arrival could straddle a duty change.

  4. Import country

    UFLPA: lithium became a high-priority sector in August 2025

    DHS added lithium to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act high-priority sectors in August 2025. By then CBP had stopped more than 16,700 shipments for UFLPA examination. For battery importers the practical effect is that CBP can ask where cells, cathode and lithium compounds came from, and a shipment waits while the importer answers.

    What Anxin does: We tell the importer at quotation stage that supply-chain tracing may be requested, and keep manufacturer names and addresses consistent across invoice, packing list and ISF so the paper trail does not contradict itself.

  5. Import country

    ISF closes 24 hours before loading in Dalian

    The Importer Security Filing must reach CBP no later than 24 hours before the container is laden aboard the vessel abroad. CBP's liquidated damages guidelines provide for a claim per violation for late, inaccurate or incomplete filings. Two of the data elements, the container stuffing location and the consolidator, only exist once the box is packed.

    What Anxin does: We send the importer's ISF filer the stuffing location, consolidator and manufacturer details as soon as the container is packed in Dalian, ahead of the vessel's loading window.

Locator map of Baltimore, United StatesBaltimore
Locator map in the same projection as the corridor map; the dot marks the listed port position (39.27°N, 76.58°W).
Containers on rail wagons next to a terminal in Vancouver

Documents & compliance

What to have ready: Dalian to Baltimore

Test reports, safety data sheets and import certificates come from the shipper, factory and importer, not from Anxin; our part is to review them before booking.

Before loading in Dalian

  • 'Made in China' marking on articles or containers checked on photos
  • 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)
  • Container packing certificate signed by a certified packing inspector after supervised stuffing
  • Transport-condition classification report where applicable

For the shipping line

  • Canal routing and any canal-related surcharge confirmed for the booked vessel
  • Lithium battery mark (SP188 cargo) or class 9 labels and placards
  • Condition statement: new, used, damaged/defective (SP376) or for recycling (SP377)

For import into United States

  • ISF filer named; stuffing location and consolidator sent right after packing
  • Importer of record and the licensed customs broker who will file the entry
  • Supply-chain tracing file for cells and lithium inputs, in case of a UFLPA request
Cartons on a pallet being stretch-wrapped
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 United States 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 Baltimore, and who acts

RiskWhereMitigationWho acts
Ice delays berthing in mid-winterNorthern Yellow Sea, Jan–FebExtra time before cut-off; schedule reconfirmedCarrier, monitored by Anxin
Draft cut reduces capacity or adds surchargesPanama CanalAdvisory checked at quotation; carrier confirmationCarrier, checked by Anxin
UFLPA detention pending supply-chain evidenceCBP at entryImporter prepares tracing documents before shipping; consistent manufacturer data on all documentsImporter
Late or inaccurate ISFBefore loading abroadStuffing and consolidator data sent to the ISF filer immediately after packingAnxin with the ISF filer

Questions

Questions about shipping from Dalian to Baltimore

For lithium-ion batteries classified in HTSUS 8507.60.0020 and entered from 1 January 2026, USTR set the Section 301 additional duty at 25%; EV traction batteries in 8507.60.0010 have been at 25% since 2024. Other duties can apply on top. The importer's customs broker confirms the classification and total duty; we make sure the invoice gives the broker enough detail to do so.

1 June to 30 November, peaking around 10 September, according to the US National Hurricane Center.

Sea ice forms every winter in the northern Yellow Sea; in 2021/22 it was forecast to reach about 15 nautical miles out there, peaking mid-January to mid-February. We plan extra time for those weeks.

References

Official sources for this page

  1. 19 CFR 134.11: Country of origin marking required (Legal Information Institute (e-CFR text))
  2. 19 CFR 149.2 – Importer security filing: requirement and time of transmission (eCFR / CBP)
  3. Section 301 Modifications Determination (Federal Register notice, Sept 2024) (Office of the U.S. Trade Representative)
  4. DHS designates steel, copper, lithium, caustic soda and red dates as UFLPA high-priority sectors (19 Aug 2025) (U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
  5. Advisory to Shipping A-33-2026: Postponement of maximum authorized draft adjustment in the Neopanamax locks (Panama Canal Authority)
  6. Tropical Cyclone Climatology (NOAA National Hurricane Center)
  7. Sea ice arrives: what are the impacts? (Bohai and northern Yellow Sea, winter 2021/22) (China Meteorological Administration (from China Natural Resources News))
  8. Export dangerous goods packaging inspection: service guide (Chinese) (General Administration of Customs of China (Lanzhou Customs service guide))

Next step

From enquiry to import

  1. 1EnquiryCargo, origin, destination
  2. 2Documents checkUN 38.3, SDS, packing
  3. 3BookingAfter carrier acceptance
  4. 4HandoverAt Dalian
  5. 5ImportClearance at Baltimore
Each step is confirmed in writing; an enquiry does not create a booking.

Ask about Dalian → Baltimore

Origin and destination are filled in; add the cargo facts you have.

Sending this form starts a review; it does not confirm carriage. Full enquiry form

After you send it

We check carrier acceptance for Dalian → Baltimore before any booking, and ask for missing battery documents first.

All destinations from Dalian · United States ports

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