GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 18, 2026
processing time
When a shipment arrives at its processing point, the clock starts on processing time: the total elapsed duration from cargo receipt to official release, covering document review, customs clearance, physical inspection where required, and final authorization.
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Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zollabfertigung
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When a shipment arrives at its processing point, the clock starts on processing time: the total elapsed duration from cargo receipt to official release, covering document review, customs clearance, physical inspection where required, and final authorization. Duration varies significantly depending on commodity type, documentation quality, applicable customs procedure, and the workload of the handling authority. Freight forwarders factor processing time into transit calculations because delays at one node cascade downstream. It is broader than customs clearance alone – terminal handling steps and multi-agency controls (e.g. phytosanitary, veterinary) count toward the total.
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