As the year-end peak season approaches, many cross-border sellers are already stocking up for the U.S. market.

Yet logistics sources report that over 1,000 containers have been detained at U.S. ports, and some sellers worry their peak-season goods may also be held in clearance.

For sellers rushing to meet peak demand, goods are already shipped or at sea. If IOR or clearance documents have problems, can the goods still reach the warehouse?

More concerning, starting September 18, CBP will tighten verification of IOR information accuracy.

01. Over 1,000 containers held; BCO direct customers affected

Recently, U.S. import clearance circles have become busy.

Logistics practitioners and sellers say many containers have been detained or delayed at U.S. ports, with unconfirmed industry talk of up to 1,000 containers. This has affected not only traditional freight forwarder cargo, but also some BCO direct shipments.

A BCO (Beneficial Cargo Owner) signs directly with the carrier and obtains space as a direct customer. Many sellers expect this link to be more direct and clearance more stable.

But the reality is more complicated.

Some low-priced space comes from BCOs transferring surplus space through other channels. As a result, a seller's goods may be its own, but the booking name, trade entity, or later importer is not the seller's entity.

This mismatch may go unnoticed under normal conditions, but once importer information is scrutinized, problems can grow.

Some sellers report that some detained containers had no obvious cargo problems and seemingly complete documents, but still failed clearance. This shows sellers must watch not only product description and value, but also the relationship among the booking name, trade entity, and IOR.

For low-priced duty-inclusive or low-cost clearance channels, sellers often see only the quote. They rarely know which IOR is used, how many other entries are under that IOR, or who signed the customs authorization.

Once an IOR has problems, sellers worry other goods under the same importer may face added scrutiny. Industry discussions mention "IOR collective liability," "batch detention," and "returns"; some sellers fear demurrage, storage, and return costs could exceed cargo value.

This coincides with the upcoming September 18 tightening of IOR verification.

According to CBP, from September 18, 2026, if Form 5106 IOR information is inaccurate or incomplete, CBP will invalidate the corresponding IOR number.

Once invalidated, the IOR number cannot be used for import-related purposes.

So for peak-season cargo already at sea and arriving soon, sellers must reassess not only schedules and prices, but also whether the clearance entity can withstand scrutiny.

Recent CBP cases show the serious consequences of false IOR identity and declarations.

02. Fake IOR identity; Chinese goods seized

On August 27, CBP seized more than 8,500 sheets of Falcata plywood worth about $142,400.

The goods were inspected on July 9. Import declarations showed Indonesian origin, a value near $19,000, and a destination near Denver.

CBP investigation found several problems.

First, the IOR identity.

Import documents used a misappropriated importer identity. The person whose identity was used confirmed to CBP that they did not order the plywood and had no relationship with the importing company.

CBP also found related shipping invoices had been tampered with.

Further investigation revealed the plywood actually came from China, not Indonesia.

Because the Chinese-origin products are subject to antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD), CBP considers transshipment through a third country and concealing origin to evade duties unlawful.

More than 8,500 sheets were seized, and the case is still under investigation.

The case shows customs checks go beyond the goods themselves.

Who the importer is, declared value, actual origin, whether documents are authentic, and whether special duties apply may all become investigation focuses.

For U.S. sellers, the message is clear: importer identity and import declaration information are not minor clearance details.

With September 18 approaching and Black Friday and Cyber Monday stocking at a critical stage, sellers with goods already shipped or at sea should now recheck their clearance chain.

First, check the IOR identity. Confirm the IOR matches the importing entity, avoiding errors, misuse, or mismatches.

Second, check Form 5106 information. Company name, EIN, physical address, phone, and email should be accurate and current.

Third, check cargo declaration information. Product value, quantity, HS codes, and origin should match actual goods and commercial documents. For goods subject to AD/CVD or other special duties, confirm obligations in advance.

Finally, check customs authorization. If a broker or other provider handles U.S. imports, confirm the POA between IOR and broker is valid and declarations are verified by the company.

Currently, September 18 does not mean blanket detention of all Chinese goods, and there is no evidence that one problem entry under an IOR will automatically cause all goods under that IOR to be held or returned.

But CBP is clearly strengthening verification of importer identity and information accuracy.

For in-transit peak-season goods, rather than waiting until arrival to find document problems, recheck the IOR, address, contacts, authorization, and declaration information now.

Peak season is not only about order speed; smooth customs clearance and warehousing are also critical for sellers.

(Source: Cifnews Editorial Department)

Seller Home Review

With over 1,000 containers detained before peak season, clearance risks are hitting stocking plans. Sellers should immediately check in-transit container status, allow clearance buffer time, and prepare compliance documents to avoid stockouts.

Source: Cifnews
Original link: https://www.cifnews.com/article/188839