The Profits and Risks of Lead Oxide Exports Are Only a Fine Line Apart

When Mr. Zhang first heard that the export unit price of lead oxide was as high as 2,000 US dollars per ton, he subconsciously touched his eyeglass lenses - this unremarkable industrial raw material was even more valuable than silver of the same weight. As a key material for global photovoltaic glass and battery manufacturing, what strict customs declaration rules are hidden behind the cross-border flow of lead oxide? Today, we will lift the veil of mystery of this "gray gold" market with an annual transaction value of over ten billion yuan.

The Three Compliance Pitfalls of Lead Oxide Exports

According to Zhongshitong Customs Declaration data, in the 2023 lead oxide export return cases, 67% are directly related to misreporting of HS codes. This chemical substance may fall under 2824.10 (lead monoxide) or 2824.90 (other lead oxides) in different forms, and the customs supervision requirements for the two are completely different:

• MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for crystal powder needs to be provided
• The lead content percentage must be marked for block raw materials
• Special export permits for special items need to be additionally applied for nano-level lead oxide

The lesson of Ms. Li is worth warning: Her company was not only detained with the entire container of goods at the Port of Rotterdam due to wrongly declaring battery-grade lead oxide as ceramic-grade, but also faced high fines under the EU REACH regulation.

The "Dual-track System" Solution of Customs Declaration Agency

Professional agency institutions usually adopt a strategy of "technical documents + logistics solutions" in parallel. Taking a successful operation as an example:

• Complete the SGS composition test in the exporting country 20 days in advance
• Apply for the RoHS compliance declaration of the importing country simultaneously
• Select shipping companies with chemical product qualifications to book shipping space
• Complete the dangerous goods declaration (if applicable) 72 hours before shipment

This model can compress the average customs clearance time from 14 working days to 5 days, especially suitable for orders with tight delivery deadlines.

The Password for Market Access in Emerging Markets

With the rise of the photovoltaic industry in Southeast Asia, the demand for lead oxide has surged in countries such as Vietnam and Thailand. However, these markets often have hidden technical barriers:

• Vietnam requires that the Chinese version of the quality inspection report be double-certified
• Thai customs adopts ASTM standards for lead content detection
• Malaysia compulsorily requires special customs clearance arrangements during the Muslim Ramadan

Zhongshitong's recently developed intelligent customs declaration system can automatically match the real-time regulatory changes of more than 60 countries, helping customers avoid 98% of compliance risks.

What Is "Choking" Your Lead Oxide?

When the EU includes lead oxide in the list of authorized substances (effective from January 2024) and when the 301 tariffs imposed by the United States on China remain at 7.5%, this seemingly traditional industry is undergoing drastic restructuring. Let's take a self-test:

• Are you clear about the adjustment of the latest version of the list of toxic chemicals strictly restricted in China?
• Can the existing customs declaration agent handle the fast customs clearance of AEO-certified enterprises?
• Does the emergency plan include the situation of temporary embargo of maritime dangerous chemicals?

Share your countermeasures in the comment section or send a private message to obtain a customized compliance assessment - after all, in this field, a successful customs declaration may create more profits than ten successful negotiations.