Commercial invoice — what the goods are, how many, unit price, total value and the currency. This is what Singapore Customs assesses GST on.
How it works
From your first message to cargo on your floor. Most shipments follow exactly this path.
- 1
Send your details
Route, mode, what the goods are, roughly how big and how heavy, and when they're ready. Attach the commercial invoice and packing list if you have them. You get a reference number immediately.
- 2
We quote — same business day
A written quote with the all-in figure, the transit band and the next sailing or flight. Nothing is booked and nothing is payable until you say yes.
- 3
Collection and consolidation
We collect from your supplier, or they deliver to our Foshan hub. We check carton counts against the packing list and tell you if the numbers don't match — before it sails, not after.
- 4
Departure and transit
Your cargo departs on the next available sailing or flight. You get the departure confirmation and an arrival estimate.
- 5
Clearance and delivery
We lodge the import permit, clear customs and deliver to your Singapore address. Pay on delivery or by PayNow.
Documents you need
Two documents cover almost every shipment:
Packing list — carton count, dimensions and weights. This is what we check your cargo against when it reaches the hub.
Some goods need more: a certificate of origin to claim a preferential duty rate, an MSDS for anything with a battery or a liquid, or a product-specific permit. We tell you which apply before you ship, not after.
Invoices that understate value to reduce GST are your risk, not a service we provide. Singapore Customs can and does query them, and the shipment stops while they do.
GST on imports
Singapore charges GST on the CIF value of imported goods — the cost of the goods plus freight and insurance — at the prevailing rate. It is payable regardless of shipment size and regardless of whether you are GST-registered. If you are GST-registered you can generally claim it back as input tax. We pay it on your behalf at clearance and it appears on your invoice at cost.
Duty applies to only four categories in Singapore: liquor, tobacco, motor vehicles and petroleum products. Everything else is duty-free but still GST-liable.
If your goods are inspected or held
Singapore Customs and other agencies inspect a proportion of shipments, sometimes at random. If yours is selected we handle the documentation, tell you the same day, and give you a realistic release estimate. Inspection charges are passed on at cost. Goods held for a regulatory reason — a missing permit, a product that needs approval — stay held until the paperwork is right, and no forwarder can shortcut that.