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The weight on the bill of lading doesn't match the one on the packing list
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TRACKING NO. 20260314 / GLOBAL Zhongshen Trade · 23+ Years of Expert Trade Agency
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When our shipment arrived in the United States, we found that the weight on the bill of lading differed by 200 kilograms from the packing list. The goods are currently at sea, and the client has already made the payment. What should I do? Could the goods be detained by customs?
Jason WuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
International Logistics & Supply Chain ManagerStart a Chat
This situation must be addressed immediately，otherwise you may face customs inspections，fines，or even the risk of return shipment. First，confirm the cause of the discrepancy: is it a confusion between gross weight and net weight，an error in the unit of measurement，or an actual weight deviation? Immediately prepare a situation explanation letter，attaching supporting materials such as the weighing records at the time of packing and the weighbridge slips. If the ship has not yet arrived at the destination port，apply for a change of bill of lading as soon as possible，but this will incur change fees and require the consent of the customs at the destination port. If it has already arrived at the port，actively declare the discrepancy to the customs and strive to explain the actual situation. Remember: any weight mismatch may trigger deductions of points from the AEO certification of the customs，which will affect future customs clearance efficiency.
Lucas LiuYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Operations ConsultantStart a Chat
Don't panic yet—there's still a remedial window before the ship arrives at the port. Immediately contact your freight forwarder and shipping company to confirm whether the goods are still in transit. If they are, apply for a bill of lading amendment immediately, providing correct packing lists, weighing documents, and letters of guarantee. The amendment fee typically ranges from $100 to $300. At the same time, notify the destination port agent to prepare customs clearance plans. If the ship has already arrived at the port and the discrepancy is within 5% and the absolute value is not significant, some customs authorities may accept a situation explanation; but if it exceeds this range, it's likely that the container will need to be opened for re-weighing, resulting in additional inspection fees and demurrage charges. It is recommended that you always check for "consistency of the three documents" before shipping: the customs declaration, bill of lading, and packing list data should be locked on the same day as the container loading.
Victor SunYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Risk Control ManagerStart a Chat
When the client has already made the payment, transparent communication is crucial. Concealing the issue will only turn a minor problem into a major crisis. Immediately send a professional email to the buyer, explaining: "We discovered technical discrepancies in the weight during the final document verification and are urgently working with the logistics provider to rectify the issue to ensure no impact on customs clearance and delivery." Attach the correct packing list and commit to covering any costs arising from document corrections. This approach will actually demonstrate your professionalism and responsibility. Meanwhile, check the payment terms: if the full T/T payment has been received, the risk is relatively low; if it's a letter of credit, you must confirm whether the non-conformities in the documents are within the tolerance range. It is recommended to add a clause in future contracts: "Allow a ±3% weight discrepancy between documents without constituting a breach of contract," to avoid future disputes.