Asia – Americas via the Panama Canal
A Panama Canal corridor whose Neopanamax draft depends on Gatun Lake levels, followed by the Caribbean during hurricane season.
North America · sea freight from Dalian
Shipping from Dalian to Corpus Christi
Dalian to Corpus Christi
Yellow Sea · Korea Strait · Tsugaru Strait · Eastern Pacific · Panama Canal · Caribbean Sea · Yucatán Channel · Gulf of Mexico
- DalianChina origin
- Yellow Sea
- Korea Strait
- Tsugaru Strait
- Eastern Pacific
- Panama Canal
- Caribbean Sea
- Yucatán Channel
- Gulf of Mexico
- Corpus ChristiUnited States
Lithium batteries for Corpus Christi go out of Dalian, the north-east's gateway on the Yellow Sea. On the way they face a Panama Canal corridor whose draft limit depends on Gatun Lake, and they arrive at the port of Corpus Christi.
The US side starts with two filings due before loading and ends with a road leg that must carry a live emergency number. 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
- Supply-chain tracing file
- HTS code 8507.60
- ISF filer
Route profile
How Dalian → Corpus Christi differs from other lanes
United States
Two filings before loading, a Section 301 line set by classification, UFLPA supply-chain questions and a 15-day General Order clock after discharge.
Where this route gets difficult
6 points to plan for on the Dalian → Corpus Christi route
Listed from loading in Dalian to import into United States, each with what we do about it.
- 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.
- 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
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 Corpus Christi can carry.
What Anxin does: We check the canal advisory in force when we quote for Corpus Christi and ask carriers to confirm that the booked vessel's routing and any canal surcharge will not change before sailing.
- 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.
- Import country
'China' has to be marked on each article or its container
19 CFR 134.11 requires every imported article, or its container, to carry the English name of the country of origin in a conspicuous place, as legibly, indelibly and permanently as the article allows, at the time it is imported. Batteries and battery products reaching Corpus Christi without it can be held until they are marked.
What Anxin does: We check product and carton photos for a durable 'Made in China' marking before stuffing in Dalian, rather than leaving it for re-marking in a US warehouse.
- Import country
Product defects must be reported to CPSC within 24 hours
US importers, like manufacturers and retailers, must tell CPSC within 24 hours once they have information reasonably suggesting that a consumer product fails a safety rule or has a defect that could create a substantial hazard. Battery overheating reports from customers can trigger that duty, and CPSC expects any investigation to take no more than about 10 working days.
What Anxin does: We keep the manufacturer's batch records, UN 38.3 summaries and packing photos for each shipment to Corpus Christi, so the importer can answer CPSC questions quickly.
Documents & compliance
Checklist for Dalian → Corpus Christi
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
- Dangerous goods declaration with UN number (3480 / 3481 / 3090 / 3091), proper shipping name and packing instruction (P903, or P908/P911 for damaged)
- Lithium battery mark (SP188 cargo) or class 9 labels and placards
For import into United States
- Supply-chain tracing file for cells and lithium inputs, in case of a UFLPA request
- HTSUS classification from the broker (8507.60.0010 vs .0020 decides the Section 301 line)
- CPSC certificate data and eFiling arrangement, if the product is subject to certification
Before you book
Match the details first
We line up UN numbers, model names and package counts across the Dalian filings, the booking with the carrier and the documents for United States before the booking is confirmed, so that a mismatch is fixed at origin rather than discovered at Corpus Christi.
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
Risk table for Dalian → Corpus Christi
| Risk | Where | Mitigation | Who acts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fog hold delays the vessel; filings need amending | Yellow Sea, Apr–Jul | Amendment-ready filing data | Anxin with the declarant |
| Ice delays berthing in mid-winter | Northern Yellow Sea, Jan–Feb | Extra time before cut-off; schedule reconfirmed | Carrier, monitored by Anxin |
| Draft cut reduces capacity or adds surcharges | Panama Canal | Advisory checked at quotation; carrier confirmation | Carrier, checked by Anxin |
| UFLPA detention pending supply-chain evidence | CBP at entry | Importer prepares tracing documents before shipping; consistent manufacturer data on all documents | Importer |
Questions
Dalian → Corpus Christi: questions we are asked
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
Regulations and port sources cited
- 19 CFR 134.11: Country of origin marking required (Legal Information Institute (e-CFR text))
- Section 301 Modifications Determination (Federal Register notice, Sept 2024) (Office of the U.S. Trade Representative)
- Update: Certificates of Compliance and eFiling (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)
- DHS designates steel, copper, lithium, caustic soda and red dates as UFLPA high-priority sectors (19 Aug 2025) (U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
- Advisory to Shipping A-33-2026: Postponement of maximum authorized draft adjustment in the Neopanamax locks (Panama Canal Authority)
- Tropical Cyclone Climatology (NOAA National Hurricane Center)
- Sea ice arrives: what are the impacts? (Bohai and northern Yellow Sea, winter 2021/22) (China Meteorological Administration (from China Natural Resources News))
- 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 Corpus Christi
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After you send it
We check carrier acceptance for Dalian → Corpus Christi before any booking, and ask for missing battery documents first.
All destinations from Dalian · United States ports
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