A 2026 document checklist for importing chemicals

What to prepare before goods are shipped to avoid clearance delays and port storage charges.

Most delays in chemical imports come not from transport but from missing or inconsistent documents. Preparing everything before shipment is the simplest way to control time and cost.

Product information

• Trade name, chemical name and CAS number of each main component.
• UN number, hazard class and packing group (for dangerous goods in transport).
• The latest 16-section MSDS, preferably with a Vietnamese version.
• Packaging, net weight, number of packages and expected pallet count.

Labelling

Labels must show the correct GHS pictograms, hazard statements and precautionary statements. Checking labels with the supplier before dispatch is far easier than relabelling in Vietnam.

After clearance

• Confirm the receiving warehouse and a storage zone suited to the hazard class.
• Send the MSDS to the warehouse for review before arrival.
• Agree transport from port to warehouse and the delivery window.

TKT reviews MSDS and advises on suitable storage zones before goods arrive. This checklist is for reference; actual requirements depend on the product and current regulations.