Every change that affects shipments on our routes, newest first: what changed, when it applies, what to do and the source. Updated by our customs team.
Updated
No changes match these filters.
Kazakhstan and EAEUDocumentsAnnouncedHigh impact
Kazakhstan to require marking codes on clothing and textiles
Kazakhstan plans mandatory digital marking of light industry goods such as clothing and textiles in three stages: 1 December 2026, 1 March 2027 and 1 October 2027. Unmarked goods will not be allowed on the market once each stage applies. The product lists for each stage are set by government order.
What to do: Garment importers should register in Kazakhstan's marking system and agree code application with Chinese factories before December 2026.
SASO: Saudi supplier name and CR number must be on products
A SASO circular to SABER users requires, from 1 October 2026, that products under 10 technical regulations show the Saudi supplier's name and commercial registration number on the product. Covered items include trailers, tanks, watercraft, e-scooters and hoverboards, child car seats and strollers, small solar PV systems, pressure vessels and building lifts.
What to do: If you import these products, give your Chinese factory the importer name and CR number to mark on the product itself.
Iraq links import bank transfers to advance duty payment
Iraq approved advance collection of estimated customs duties and tax deposits from 1 October 2026. Importers deposit funds in licensed Iraqi banks, and the transfer to the supplier is held until estimated duties and taxes are paid through ASYCUDA, based on the invoice, shipping papers, HS classification, origin and declared value.
What to do: Agree payment timing with your Iraqi buyer early, because the bank transfer to China is released only after duties are paid.
Oman amends customs regulations: e-documents and new thresholds
Royal Oman Police Decision 110/2026, effective 3 August 2026, amends Oman's rules under the GCC Common Customs Law. Customs may accept authenticated electronic documents, machinery can be temporarily admitted for up to three years, traveller and postal duty reliefs were set at OMR 300 and OMR 100, and fines range from OMR 50 to OMR 1,000.
What to do: Ask your broker whether you can now submit invoices and certificates electronically through approved channels.
Dubai: no customs duty on e-commerce goods up to AED 1,000
Dubai Customs Notice 16/2026, issued 30 July and effective 3 August 2026, exempts cross-border e-commerce goods valued up to AED 1,000 from customs duty. Tobacco, e-smoking devices, nicotine liquids, alcohol and food containing alcohol are excluded. Duty-paid B2C returns within 60 days are also exempt.
What to do: Use this only for registered e-commerce channels; normal commercial sea or air cargo still pays standard duty and VAT.
EAEU e-commerce rules: new declaration, EUR 200 duty-free limit
From July 2026 goods bought by individuals on foreign marketplaces are declared as e-commerce goods by special operators on a new declaration covering up to 999 items. In Kazakhstan, purchases up to EUR 200 stay duty-free and the 31 kg limit was abolished; above EUR 200, 5% duty plus 16% VAT applies.
What to do: Ship B2B cargo to Kazakhstan under normal commercial declarations; do not split it into personal parcels.
Saudi Arabia raises duties on 51 food and farm tariff lines
A schedule published in the Umm Al-Qura gazette on 26 June 2026 set new duty rates of 5% to 15% on 51 agricultural and food lines. Examples: selected meats 6 to 7%, salmon 8%, shell eggs 10%, trout and fresh strawberries 12%, and live poultry, roses, raspberries and mulberries 15%.
What to do: If you ship food or plants to Saudi Arabia, recheck duty on the exact HS code before pricing new orders.
Saudi ArabiaProcedureIn forceMedium impactApplies from
Saudi Arabia updates customs procedures and bonded zone rules
ZATCA Governor Decision 13-99-1448, effective 26 June 2026, amends the Customs Procedure Controls and Bonded Zone Rules. ZATCA may request extra documents based on risk, CN22 and CN23 postal forms can serve as declarations, pre-declaration inspection rules changed, and deferred duty applies to eligible goods from duty-suspended zones.
What to do: Keep full supporting documents ready, as ZATCA can now ask for more paperwork on risk-selected shipments.
Oman Customs made palletisation mandatory for imported goods: from 15 July 2026 at land border crossings and from 15 September 2026 at air and sea ports. Loadable cargo must be on wooden, plastic or metal pallets. Goods that cannot practically be palletised, such as liquids, heavy equipment, pipes, stone blocks and marble, are exempt.
What to do: Tell your Chinese supplier to load Oman-bound cargo on pallets, and confirm any exemption before loading.
The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) issued Circular 13 of 2026 postponing until further notice the mandatory use of pallets for inbound containerised cargo, which had been introduced in 2025. Enforcement is suspended, but Mawani may announce a new start date later.
What to do: Palletising is still good practice for Saudi inspections; keep pallets in your packing plan until a new date is confirmed.
Kuwait launches pre-clearance for goods arriving by land
Under Customs Instruction 24 of 2026, launched on 13 May 2026, importers or their representatives can submit data and documents in Kuwait's automated customs system before goods arrive at land ports, so clearance can be completed on arrival. If the goods do not arrive within 30 days, the declaration is cancelled automatically.
What to do: For trucks from Saudi Arabia, have your broker file the pre-clearance before the truck reaches Nuwaiseeb or Salmi.
Kuwait moves customs stamp fees to electronic payment
Kuwait Customs Circular 23 of 2026, issued 10 May 2026, cancels electronic stamps on deposit statements and export declarations. Stamp duties are now collected as General Administration of Customs revenue through approved electronic payment channels or POS terminals. It takes effect five days after publication in the official gazette.
What to do: Make sure your Kuwaiti broker or consignee can pay customs fees online or by card at the customs office.
US naval blockade of shipping to and from Iranian ports
From 13 April 2026, 10:00 US Eastern time, US Central Command began enforcing a blockade on vessels of all nations entering or leaving Iranian ports in the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Ships transiting Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports were not targeted. The blockade's status has changed since, so check current advisories.
What to do: Do not book any cargo to or via Iranian ports; check current maritime advisories before routing Gulf shipments.
Baghdad and Erbil agree to unify customs and extend ASYCUDA to Kurdistan
On 6 April 2026 the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government agreed to unify customs policy, including tariffs and protection of local products, and discussed rolling out ASYCUDA at Kurdistan crossings. Full integration was still under review in September 2026, with no firm start date published.
What to do: Plan Kurdistan-bound cargo on the assumption that federal rules and checks can apply; we confirm current practice per booking.
Saudi Arabia drops bank guarantee for transit cargo
On 5 April 2026 ZATCA allowed transit through Saudi Arabia without a bank guarantee during the current phase, and let carriers move goods in internal transit between Saudi air and sea ports without metal transit plates. This eases routing via Jeddah to the UAE, Kuwait, Iraq and other Gulf markets.
What to do: If your cargo for Kuwait, Iraq or the UAE lands in Jeddah, ask us about Saudi transit and the carrier conditions that apply.
Dubai Customs Notice 04/2026 (14 March 2026) opened a temporary Green Corridor for cargo diverted to Omani ports and airports, moving in sealed bonded trucks via Hatta and Al Wajajah. Notice 06/2026 (4 April) extended it to Dubai cargo leaving through Oman, with a letter of guarantee replacing cash deposits for approved operators.
What to do: If your container is diverted to Sohar or another Omani port, ask us to book the bonded Green Corridor move to Dubai.
Dubai extends transit declaration period to 90 days
Dubai Customs Notice 05/2026 temporarily extended the time allowed for goods on transit customs declarations to 90 days from clearance to the exit point, effective 31 March 2026 and until further notice. It applies only to transit declarations and aims to keep supply chains moving during route disruption.
What to do: For cargo passing through Dubai to a third country, plan the transit within the 90-day window and keep the declaration open until exit.
Oman: Bayan manifests 36 hours before vessel arrival
Oman Customs Update No. 3, issued on 31 March 2026 under Royal Decree 28/2026, requires shipping and navigation agents to file cargo manifests electronically in the Bayan system at least 36 hours before a vessel arrives at an Omani port. The rule took effect on 3 May 2026.
What to do: Make sure the carrier or agent receives final B/L and cargo details early so the Bayan manifest is filed on time.
Iraq cuts average import values by 25% at southern and Kurdistan crossings
In early February 2026, after trader protests and trade shifting to the Kurdistan Region, the Iraqi government announced a 25% reduction in average import values used for customs at all crossings in southern Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. Decision 957 itself remains in force while its legality is disputed.
What to do: Ask your broker which reference values apply at your chosen crossing before you compare routes to Iraq.
Kazakhstan: mandatory digital marking for beer and motor oils
From 1 February 2026 beer, beer drinks and motor oils sold in Kazakhstan must carry digital identification codes in the national marking and traceability system. Brake fluids and antifreeze followed from 1 September 2026. Imported goods must be marked before they are put on the market.
What to do: If you export lubricants to Kazakhstan, ask the importer to order marking codes before your goods are produced or labelled.
China ends export VAT rebate on solar products and cuts battery rebate
China's Ministry of Finance and State Taxation Administration announced in January 2026 that export VAT rebates for photovoltaic products end from 1 April 2026, and the rebate for battery products falls from 9% to 6% from the same date. Supplier prices for these goods may rise.
What to do: Ask Chinese solar and battery suppliers whether quotes reflect the rebate change before you confirm orders.
China to scrap export VAT rebate on batteries from 2027
Under the same January 2026 announcement by the Ministry of Finance and State Taxation Administration, the export VAT rebate for battery products, already cut to 6% from 1 April 2026, will be eliminated entirely from 1 January 2027. Supplier prices for battery goods may rise as a result.
What to do: Plan battery and energy-storage purchases from China with a possible price rise from January 2027 in mind.
Iraq applies item-by-item duty at Umm Qasr under Decision 957
Council of Ministers Decision 957 of 2025 applies the full Customs Tariff Law 22 of 2010, with rates from 0.5% to 30%. By 8 January 2026 it was in force at Umm Qasr: fixed fees per 20ft or 40ft container were abolished and duty is now assessed per item by HS code and value through ASYCUDA.
What to do: Ask for a duty estimate per HS line before shipping to Iraq; do not rely on old fixed per-container clearance prices.
Turkey ends EUR 30 simplified entry for e-commerce parcels
Presidential Decree 10813, published 7 January 2026 and effective 6 February 2026, abolished simplified customs declarations for B2C express parcels up to EUR 30. Non-commercial goods up to EUR 1,500 now need regular declarations with full duties and permits. Fixed rates remain only for prescribed medicines and food supplements.
What to do: Do not ship samples or small orders to Turkey as low-value parcels; declare them normally with full documents.
Turkey's 2026 Import Regime, in force from 1 January 2026, applies additional customs duties of up to 48% on 4,344 products from non-EU origins such as China. New additional duties were added on 167 HS codes, rates rose on 219 codes, and import surveillance covers 172 products. Batteries and lithium cells keep duty-free quotas until 1 February 2027.
What to do: Send us the exact GTIP or HS code before quoting Turkey, as additional duty and surveillance can change the price sharply.
Saudi Arabia moves to four-tier excise on sweetened drinks
ZATCA replaced the 50% excise on sweetened drinks with a four-tier model from 1 January 2026, based on sugar per 100 ml: artificial sweeteners only, under 5 g, 5 to 7.99 g, and 8 g or more. The tax is now calculated by sugar content instead of retail price.
What to do: If you import drinks to Saudi Arabia, have the sugar content tested and declared correctly before shipment.
UAE switches to sugar-based excise on sweetened drinks
From 1 January 2026 the UAE replaced the flat 50% excise on sweetened drinks with tiers by sugar content: AED 1.09 per litre for 8 g or more per 100 ml, AED 0.79 for 5 to under 8 g, and no tax below 5 g or for drinks with only artificial sweeteners.
What to do: If you import beverages, get lab-tested sugar content and the required conformity certificate before shipping to avoid the top tax band.
China introduces export licences for steel products
MOFCOM and GACC Announcement No. 79 of 2025, issued 12 December 2025, made about 300 steel tariff codes subject to export licensing from 1 January 2026, covering the chain from raw materials to finished products. Exporters apply with export contracts and product quality inspection certificates.
What to do: For steel orders, confirm early that your Chinese supplier holds a valid 2026 export licence, or shipment may be delayed.
UAE VAT amendments: no self-invoice for reverse charge
Federal Decree-Law 16 of 2025, effective 1 January 2026, amends the UAE VAT law. Businesses using the reverse charge, including on imports, no longer issue self-invoices but must keep supporting documents. Refund claims for excess tax must be made within five years, and input tax can be denied in evasion arrangements.
What to do: Check with your tax advisor that your import VAT records and supporting documents meet the new rules.
Saudi Arabia amended its Integrated Customs Tariff effective 27 November 2025, raising duties on a wide range of products, with some lines now up to 20%. A new heading 98.04 covers goods moving between customs zones including free zones, and new sweetened-drink sub-headings apply from 1 January 2026.
What to do: Before quoting landed cost for Saudi Arabia, check the current duty for your exact HS code in the FASAH tariff.
AfghanistanProhibitionIn forceMedium impactApplies from
Afghanistan stops customs processing of medicines from Pakistan
Afghanistan's Ministry of Finance announced on 13 November 2025 that medicines imported from Pakistan would no longer be processed through customs after three months, following a directive from the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs. It later set 9 February 2026 as the deadline and urged traders to use other sources and routes.
What to do: Afghan pharmacy buyers sourcing from China should register products and plan routes via Central Asia now.
China's suspended battery and rare-earth export controls due back 11 Nov 2026
MOFCOM Announcement No. 70 of 2025 suspended until 10 November 2026 the October 2025 controls on certain high-energy lithium batteries, cathode materials, artificial graphite anodes, five more rare earths, rare-earth equipment and superhard materials (Announcements 55 to 58, 61 and 62). Unless extended, they apply again from 11 November 2026.
What to do: If you buy lithium batteries, battery materials, graphite or superhard tools from China, confirm licence status with the supplier before November shipments.
Oman requires pre-arrival registration of fresh produce
In November 2025 Oman's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources required importers to register each consignment of listed fresh produce, honey and dates with the Agricultural Quarantine Department before arrival. Listed items include tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, onions, garlic, peppers, carrots and watermelon. Unregistered shipments are refused.
What to do: If you ship listed food items to Oman, register the consignment with Agricultural Quarantine before the vessel arrives.
Pakistan suspends customs clearance at Afghan border crossings
After border clashes, Pakistan suspended customs clearance at Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Kharlachi and Angoor Adda from 12 October 2025 and at Chaman from 15 October, halting bilateral and Afghan transit trade. Pakistan said in August 2026 that crossings would reopen, but no official trade reopening had been confirmed.
What to do: Route Afghanistan cargo by rail via Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to Hairatan rather than through Pakistani ports.
US revokes sanctions waiver for Iran's Chabahar port
The US State Department revoked the 2018 sanctions waiver for Iran's Chabahar port, effective 29 September 2025. It said persons operating the port may face sanctions under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act. Chabahar had been used as a route to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
What to do: Do not plan Afghanistan or Central Asia cargo via Chabahar without a sanctions review; use Central Asian rail routes instead.
UN Security Council sanctions on Iran under resolutions 1696, 1737, 1747, 1803, 1835 and 1929 were re-applied from 27 September 2025, 8 p.m. New York time, after the snapback process. The EU restored its measures by Regulation 2025/1975, in force 30 September 2025, and the UK also reinstated sanctions.
What to do: Any cargo, transit or payment involving Iran needs a compliance review first; we do not offer Iran routes as a standard service.
Turkey replaces China-specific car duties with blanket rates
Presidential Decree 10436, in force 22 September 2025, abolished Turkey's China-specific additional duties on cars and set new additional duties for all non-FTA origins including China: 25% or USD 6,000 for petrol, diesel and non-plug-in hybrids, 30% or USD 7,000 for plug-in hybrids, and 30% or USD 8,500 for electric cars, whichever is higher.
What to do: For vehicle shipments to Turkey, calculate both the percentage and the fixed USD amount and use the higher figure.
Kazakhstan and EAEUTaxIn forceHigh impactApplies from
Kazakhstan raises VAT from 12% to 16%
Kazakhstan's new Tax Code, signed by President Tokayev in July 2025, raised the standard VAT rate from 12% to 16% from 1 January 2026. Medicines and medical services pay 5% in 2026, rising to 10% in 2027, and the VAT registration threshold was lowered. Import VAT follows the standard rate.
What to do: Update your Kazakhstan landed-cost calculations to 16% import VAT and confirm any reduced rate with your broker.
Afghanistan raises import duties to protect local industry
Afghanistan's Ministry of Finance announced on 29 June 2025, after a Tariff Committee meeting, higher import duties on several goods: rebar from 16% to 30%, natural cotton from 3.5% to 20%, baby diapers and sanitary pads from 10% to 20%, leather shoes from 10% to 20%, and plastic footwear from 20% to 30%.
What to do: If you ship rebar, diapers or footwear to Afghanistan, recalculate landed cost with the new duty rates.
Iraq enforces unified tariff and valuation at all crossings, including Kurdistan
From 2 June 2025 Iraq's General Customs Authority applied a unified customs tariff and valuation system at all border crossings and customs centres, including those in the Kurdistan Region. Where an invoice value is below the average international price in ASYCUDA, the higher value is used for duty.
What to do: Declare realistic invoice values; under-valued invoices will be reassessed upward at any Iraqi border, including in Kurdistan.
Iraq COSQC updates standards for Certificates of Conformity
Iraq's standards body COSQC set an updated list of product standards under the pre-import inspection programme, effective 17 June 2025. Examples include clay bricks, steel reinforcing bars, sugar, olive oil and dental gypsum. A Certificate of Conformity against the current standard is mandatory for customs clearance of regulated products.
What to do: Before production, ask your inspection body which Iraqi standard applies so the factory tests to the current version.
Saudi ArabiaProcedureIn forceHigh impactApplies from
Saudi Arabia: advance manifest and declaration mandatory for sea cargo
ZATCA announced on 2 May 2025 that from 29 October 2025 the cargo manifest and customs declaration for goods arriving at Saudi seaports must be filed in advance, before the shipment reaches port. Importers, sea-freight agents and customs brokers must follow the Rules for Submitting Advance Cargo Information at seaports.
What to do: Send your Saudi broker the invoice, packing list and B/L before departure so the FASAH declaration is filed before arrival.
China requires export licences for 7 medium and heavy rare earths
MOFCOM and GACC Announcement No. 18 of 2025, dated 4 April 2025, placed export controls on samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium and yttrium, including their metals, alloys, oxides, compounds and some magnets. Exports need a dual-use licence. This control was not included in the later suspensions.
What to do: If your order contains rare-earth magnets or materials, check with the Chinese supplier that an export licence is in place before booking.
Under Cabinet Decision 119/2024, announced on 1 January 2025, the UAE expanded its customs tariff codes from 8 to 12 digits in line with the GCC Integrated Customs Tariff. Dubai Customs rolled the change out in phases under Notice 10/2025, keeping 8-digit codes during a transition period.
What to do: Ask your supplier and broker to confirm the 12-digit HS code for every product and update your product master data.
From 1 January 2025 Iraq replaced paper customs declarations with electronic declarations in the ASYCUDA system and adopted web payment, according to the Ministry of Finance. A valuation module followed on 1 June 2025, and pre-arrival declarations were scheduled to start on 1 December 2025.
What to do: Give your Iraqi broker complete, consistent invoice, packing list and B/L data, because ASYCUDA cross-checks every field.
