Port of Long Beach logistics, Southern California markets and nationwide trucking.
Get a quoteCustoms Bonded Warehouse in Long Beach
Defer duty on Port of Long Beach imports, withdraw goods as you sell them, and export the rest without U.S. duty, minutes from the terminals.
Our bonded warehouse in Long Beach
We operate a CBP customs bonded warehouse Long Beach importers and forwarders use, a short drive from the Port of Long Beach terminals. Imported goods come in under bond, stay with duty and taxes deferred for up to five years from importation under 19 U.S.C. 1557, and leave either as a withdrawal for consumption, with duty paid at the rate in effect that day, or as a withdrawal for export with no U.S. duty.
What makes our bonded warehousing Long Beach operation different from a stand-alone storage site is that we also hold bonded carrier authority. We pull the container from the terminal under our own bond, report its arrival to CBP and receive it into bonded storage ourselves. Importers and their brokers deal with one provider and one chain of custody from the gate to the shelf.
Released goods do not need another pickup. Inside the same Long Beach operation they can be palletized, relabeled after release, cross-docked, transloaded into domestic trailers or shipped by full truckload or LTL.
How goods move through our Long Beach bonded warehouse
- 01Pre-arrival setup
Your broker files the in-bond to our facility's FIRMS code and prepares the warehouse entry (ACE type 21). We set up the entry in our warehouse management system with the expected SKUs, cartons and pallets from the packing list.
- 02In-bond pickup from the port
We pull the container from the terminal on our own chassis under our Long Beach bonded drayage service and verify the seal at the gate.
- 03Arrival and receiving
We report arrival to CBP within two business days, then unload, count and barcode each carton or pallet. Every receipt is tied to the entry number, as 19 CFR 19.12(c) requires, and any difference from the entry is reported.
- 04Putaway and storage
Goods are stored by entry and lot with location, quantity and running balance recorded. Bonded inventory is kept identifiable and separate from duty-paid stock in our general warehouse.
- 05Permitted handling
If you need goods sorted, repacked or relabeled while still under bond, the work needs a prior CBP permit on Form 3499. We help scope the request so CBP can confirm the work is manipulation and not manufacturing.
- 06Withdrawals
Your broker files each withdrawal: for consumption (type 31), for export, or for transportation to another bonded warehouse. We pick, stage and load exactly the quantity on the withdrawal and update the balance.
- 07Close-out
When the last units leave an entry, the record is closed and the file is ready for CBP review. Proprietors keep these records and prepare an annual CBP Form 300 or reconciliation under 19 CFR 19.12.
Withdrawal options from our Long Beach facility
Every unit that enters bonded storage leaves by one of these routes. The broker files the withdrawal; we handle the physical release and outbound move.
| Withdrawal type | Duty | Typical outbound move from Long Beach |
|---|---|---|
| For consumption (ACE type 31) | Paid on the withdrawn quantity at the rate in effect on the withdrawal date | FTL or LTL to your DC, local delivery in Southern California, or transload into a 53' trailer |
| For consumption, quota or AD/CVD goods (types 32, 34) | Paid with quota or antidumping/countervailing duty requirements applied | Same outbound options, released only once the specific requirement is satisfied |
| For export | No U.S. duty under 19 U.S.C. 1557, subject to special USMCA rules for some goods sent to Canada or Mexico | Back to a Long Beach or Los Angeles terminal for an outbound vessel, or a bonded move toward the border |
| For transportation and rewarehousing | Still deferred | Bonded move to another bonded warehouse at a different port |
| Transfer of the right to withdraw | Deferred; the buyer pays on its own withdrawals | Goods stay in place; the new owner's broker withdraws them later |
Why bonded warehouse location in Long Beach matters
Distance from the terminal changes how bonded storage works in practice. A short in-bond leg means the container can come out the same day it is available, arrive inside the two-business-day reporting window with plenty of margin, and be unloaded so the empty returns to the ocean carrier quickly. Long in-bond hauls add time, chassis days and more points where seals and paperwork can go wrong.
Being in Long Beach also puts the warehouse close to both San Pedro Bay ports. The Port of Long Beach handled roughly 9.9 million TEUs in 2025 and the neighboring Port of Los Angeles more than 10.2 million, so importers using either port can reach our bonded warehouse with a short cross-town or cross-harbor in-bond move. Withdrawals then head out on the same freeway network that serves the Inland Empire and the rest of Southern California.
Long Beach bonded storage scenarios
Hypothetical examples with round numbers, showing how importers typically use customs bonded storage in Long Beach.
| Example | How we would run it |
|---|---|
| A housewares importer lands 4 containers in August for holiday sales and expects to ship to stores in three waves from October to December. | All four boxes come in under bond and are stored by entry. The broker files three withdrawals for consumption, one per wave, and duty is paid on each wave as it ships. |
| A distributor brings in 20 pallets of goods; half will sell in the U.S., half may go to a buyer in South America. | Goods are stored under one warehouse entry. U.S. sales leave on consumption withdrawals; the export lot leaves on a withdrawal for export with no U.S. duty and returns to the port for loading. |
| An importer's cartons were marked with the wrong country of origin and cannot be entered as-is. | Goods move in bond to our warehouse. After CBP approves a Form 3499 permit, the cartons are remarked under bond, then withdrawn for consumption. |
| A forwarder's client is waiting on a classification ruling that could change the duty rate. | The container moves off the terminal into bonded storage. When the ruling arrives, the broker files the withdrawal at the correct classification. |
Example timeline: one container through our Long Beach bonded warehouse
An illustrative timeline with hypothetical days. Real timing depends on vessel discharge, terminal availability and how quickly the broker files.
| Day | Event | Clock that matters |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0 | Vessel discharges at a Long Beach terminal; broker files the in-bond to our FIRMS code | Terminal free time starts |
| Day 2 | We pull the container under bond and deliver it to our warehouse | Two business days to report arrival |
| Day 2 | Arrival reported in ACE; broker notified | 15 calendar days to file the warehouse entry |
| Day 3 | Container unloaded, counted, barcoded; empty returned to the ocean carrier | Detention stops when the empty is returned |
| Day 5 | Broker files the warehouse entry (type 21) | Five-year warehouse period runs from the importation date |
| Day 40, 70, 100 | Three withdrawals for consumption, each shipped by truck to the importer's DC | Duty paid on each withdrawal at that day's rate |
What you get with our bonded logistics Long Beach operation
- Bonded drayage and bonded storage with one provider, under our own bonded carrier authority and our own warehouse bond.
- Inventory tracked by entry in our warehouse management system with barcoding, so every carton ties back to its warehouse entry and withdrawal.
- Partial withdrawals in whatever quantities your broker files, picked and staged to your outbound appointment.
- Company-owned chassis in 20', 40' and triaxle configurations for pickups and export returns.
- Shipment status updates at pickup, arrival, receipt, each withdrawal and each outbound load.
- Broker coordination on in-bonds, warehouse entries, withdrawals and Form 3499 requests. We do not file customs entries; your licensed customs broker does.
- After release, access to our Long Beach warehousing, container freight station and nationwide trucking.
Our responsibilities to CBP as a bonded warehouse proprietor
A bonded warehouse proprietor answers to CBP for the goods in its custody. These obligations from 19 CFR 19.12 are what make bonded storage more controlled, and more costly, than ordinary warehousing.
| Obligation | What it requires | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Receiving reconciliation | Each receipt recorded against its entry number and reconciled to the quantity received | Count discrepancies surface on day one, while the supplier and carrier can still be asked about them |
| Inventory records | Location, value and a running balance by date and quantity for each entry | Accurate balances for each entry whenever your broker plans a withdrawal |
| Shortages and overages | Theft and extraordinary shortages reported to CBP immediately, with written confirmation within five business days | Problems are documented properly, which protects the importer as well as the warehouse |
| Physical inventory | An annual physical count, or cycle counts covering each category during the year, with notice to CBP | Independent confirmation that what the system shows is what is on the rack |
| Withdrawal traceability | Every withdrawal tied to a customs entry and to final disposition | A clean audit trail if CBP or your own compliance team asks questions later |
| Annual filing | CBP Form 300 within 45 calendar days after the business year ends, or an annual reconciliation within 90 days where allowed, kept for five years | The warehouse side of your bonded program stays in good standing with CBP |
Who uses customs bonded storage in Long Beach
- Importers deferring duty on inventory that sells over months rather than days.
- Freight forwarders moving a client's cargo off the terminal while an entry problem is solved.
- Customs brokers who need a bonded carrier and warehouse that report arrivals and reconcile receipts correctly.
- Retailers staging seasonal goods ahead of store waves.
- Manufacturers holding imported components or finished goods that may be re-exported to plants or customers abroad.
Information to send before your first bonded warehouse Long Beach shipment
- Customs broker name and contacts for entries and withdrawals
- Bill of lading, container number, terminal and last free day
- Packing list with SKUs, carton counts, carton dimensions and pallet configuration
- Expected storage period and withdrawal pattern (single release, waves or ongoing small lots)
- Any handling planned under bond, so a Form 3499 request can be prepared in advance
- Outbound plan for released goods: consignees, delivery appointments and preferred modes
- Export plans, if any of the goods may leave the U.S. without entry
Common bonded storage mistakes we help Long Beach importers avoid
| Mistake | How we prevent it |
|---|---|
| In-bond filed to the wrong facility | We confirm our FIRMS code with the broker before pickup |
| Warehouse entry not ready when the container arrives | Our arrival notice gives the broker the date the 15-day window started |
| Unpermitted relabeling while goods are under bond | Relabeling under bond waits for an approved Form 3499; work that can wait until after release is scheduled then |
| Withdrawing loose units from repacked goods | We plan repack sizes so each withdrawal covers whole repacked packages, as 19 CFR 19.11 requires |
| Losing track of the five-year warehouse period | Entry dates are in our system, and we flag aging entries to the broker well before the limit |
Frequently asked questions
How long can goods stay in your Long Beach bonded warehouse?
Up to five years from the date of importation under 19 U.S.C. 1557 and 19 CFR 144.5. CBP can allow longer only on a proper request showing good cause.
Do I pay duty on goods that are exported from the warehouse?
Goods withdrawn for export generally leave without paying U.S. duty. Some goods exported to Canada or Mexico fall under USMCA rules that can limit that benefit, so confirm with your broker before planning North American re-exports.
Can goods be repacked or relabeled in a bonded warehouse?
Yes, with a prior CBP permit on Form 3499. Goods may be cleaned, sorted, repacked or otherwise changed in condition, but not manufactured. Once goods are released for consumption, relabeling and kitting no longer need a manipulation permit.
What is the difference between a bonded warehouse and a foreign-trade zone?
Both defer duty. A bonded warehouse has a five-year limit and allows only manipulation. A foreign-trade zone has no time limit and can host production with FTZ Board approval, but it requires a separate zone designation and compliance program.
Do I need a customs broker?
Practically, yes. Your licensed customs broker files the in-bond, the warehouse entry and each withdrawal. We work alongside your broker and do not file customs entries ourselves.
Can you store cargo that arrived at the Port of Los Angeles?
Yes. We pull in-bond containers from Los Angeles terminals and bring them across the harbor into our Long Beach bonded warehouse.
What is the smallest withdrawal you can release?
Whatever your broker files, as long as it matches how the goods are packed. If goods were repacked under bond, each withdrawal must cover at least one entire repacked package.
Can bonded and duty-paid goods be stored in the same building?
Yes. Our Long Beach operation runs bonded storage and general warehousing, and bonded inventory is kept identifiable by entry in our warehouse management system. Once goods are withdrawn for consumption, they can move into general storage or ship directly.
Can a buyer take over goods while they are in your warehouse?
Yes. The right to withdraw can be transferred under 19 U.S.C. 1557(b) once the buyer files a bond. The goods stay in place, and the buyer's broker files future withdrawals.