Shipping Advice: Metal Goods United States
Customs Inspections in the US: New Requirements for Metal Goods
The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has recently introduced additional inspections on shipments containing metal. As a result, deliveries to and from the United States may take longer than usual.
Shipments with specific HS codes are particularly subject to these stricter rules. The inspections focus on the origin and composition of metals to enforce international trade and sanction regulations.
For which HS Codes do the stricter requirements apply?
The increased scrutiny mainly applies to goods with HS codes starting with:
66, 72, 73, 76, 83, 84, 85, 87, 88, 90, 94, 95 and 96.
Below is an overview of the relevant product categories. Shipments in these categories are increasingly being manually inspected by US Customs.
Product category | HS-Code starting with |
|---|---|
Steel and iron | 72 and 73 |
Aluminium | 76 |
Machinery and electronic components | 84 and 85 |
Vehicles and aircraft parts | 87 and 88 |
Tools, measuring instruments and metal accessories | 90, 94, 95 and 96 |
What you are now required to declare
For all metal goods, US Customs now requires additional origin information. You must be able to specify:
Where the metal was smelted
Where the metal was cast
Who the supplier of the metal is
This information is required to demonstrate that the metal does not originate from sanctioned countries or prohibited sources. By providing this information before shipment, you can prevent your delivery from being delayed upon arrival in the United States.
How to prepare for stricter inspection
Shipments between Europe and the United States are increasingly facing delays due to stricter customs procedures and additional queries.
Fortunately, you can prepare for this effectively. The key? Accurate data.
With Select Courier, you can handle it all easily:
Freedom to choose from multiple carriers
Real-time, all-in rates and transit times
Schedule shipments with a single click
Personal advice at every stage
The correct HS code via our AI-powered search tool
Confidence with compliance checks
Extra tip: Allow for longer processing times
Due to the increased inspections, processing times for shipments to the United States may be several days longer. Plan your shipments in advance and use Track & Trace to monitor progress. Select Courier will automatically keep you informed of all important status updates.
SCHEDULE A FREE DEMO
DISCOVER WHAT SELECT COURIER CAN DO FOR YOU
Our shipping platform can be customised to meet your every need. From delivering your packages with increased speed and reliability to operating your business more efficiently. Schedule a demo to see how you can:
- Ship all your deliveries within just a few clicks.
- Manage your entire logistics process in one place.
- Seamlessly integrate with your current software.
- Access analytics and reports for better decision-making
SCHEDULE A FREE DEMO
DISCOVER WHAT SELECT COURIER CAN DO FOR YOU
Our shipping platform can be customised to meet your every need. From delivering your packages with increased speed and reliability to operating your business more efficiently. Schedule a demo to see how you can:
- Ship all your deliveries within just a few clicks.
- Manage your entire logistics process in one place.
- Seamlessly integrate with your current software.
- Access analytics and reports for better decision-making

