GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 24, 2026
In-Bond Shipment
Unlike regularly cleared cargo, an in-bond shipment moves through a customs territory under official supervision and against a posted surety bond, with import duties deferred until the goods reach their designated port of entry or bonded facility.
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Source: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/in-bond-shipments
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Definition & Explanation
Unlike regularly cleared cargo, an in-bond shipment moves through a customs territory under official supervision and against a posted surety bond, with import duties deferred until the goods reach their designated port of entry or bonded facility. At that point, the consignee chooses the next step: formal entry for consumption, re-export, warehousing, or continued transit. The key benefit is working-capital relief—duties are not collected at the border but only when goods actually enter free circulation. The arrangement is common in through-transit operations and cross-border trade between neighbouring customs territories. It differs from a bonded warehouse, where goods are stored in place rather than transported under bond.
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