Last month, we received the updated customs fee sheet for a garments shipment destined for Dammam. The line that caught every forwarder’s eye was not the base customs tariff but a secondary charge: “Advanced Cargo Information (ACI) registration fee” — quietly increased from SAR 85 to SAR 135 per bill. That 50 SAR hike may look small, but for a 40HQ container of apparel, it adds up when multiplied by frequent clearances. Let’s break down the whole fee table and see which other charges have shifted.
Many shippers and even some local agents still assume that Saudi customs fees are stable year after year. But the garments customs clearance in Saudi Arabia has seen silent adjustments in at least three categories this quarter. We’ve compared the latest official tariff sheet with last year’s version, and the differences reveal a pattern: the government is gradually shifting the cost burden from ad-valorem duties to fixed per-shipment service fees.
Fee Breakdown – Garments Clearance at Saudi Ports
The table below shows the key line items for a standard FCL shipment of garments (HS 62) arriving at Jeddah or Dammam. The “Old” column refers to the previous fiscal year’s rate; “Current” is the rate as of this month.
| Fee Item | Description | Old (SAR) | Current (SAR) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customs Declaration (Manifest) Fee | Per bill of lading | 120 | 120 | No change |
| ACI Registration Fee | Per bill (Advanced Cargo Information) | 85 | 135 | +50 SAR |
| Inspection & Examination Fee | Per container if selected for scan | 250 | 300 | +50 SAR |
| Port Storage – First 5 Days | Per container per day | 45 | 50 | +5 SAR |
| Duty Calculation (5% ad-valorem) | Based on CIF value | 5% | 5% | No change |
| SABER Certificate Verification | Per product category registration | 200 | 200 | No change |
| Document Amendment Fee | Per amendment (e.g., weight, HS code) | 50 | 75 | +25 SAR |
The Quietly Changed Charge – Why It Matters for Garments
The ACI registration fee increase might seem minor, but for garments customs clearance in Saudi Arabia, this fee applies to every bill of lading, regardless of container size or shipment value. Garments shipments often split into multiple LCL lots or frequent small FCLs. A trader who moves 50 containers of apparel each quarter suddenly faces an extra 2,500 SAR in new charges — without any duty change.
Another hidden shift is the document amendment fee. Garments invoices and packing lists frequently need corrections after the SI cut-off due to last-minute quantity adjustments. Previously SAR 50 per amendment, now SAR 75. For forwarders handling 20+ amendments a month, this quietly eats into margins. The takeaway: double-check your documentation before submitting to avoid this extra cost.
What Drives These Changes? (And How to Protect Your Shipment)
The Saudi Ports Authority and ZATCA (Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority) are digitising clearance processes. The ACI system introduced mandatory pre-arrival data submission in 2021; now they’re raising the fixed fee to cover system maintenance. Garments customs clearance in Saudi Arabia requires mandatory SABER certification for textile products, and while the SABER fee itself hasn’t changed, the increased ACI and document amendment fees create a higher cost floor.
- Account for the ACI hike in your DDP quotations. Add at least 15 USD equivalent per bill to destination charges.
- Use a single consolidation for small garment parcels to reduce the number of bills subject to the ACI fee.
- Pre-review all documents before SI cut-off to avoid amendment fees — a minor delay can now cost 25 SAR more than last year.
“I saw the new fee sheet only after my client complained about a higher final invoice. The ACI line jumped from 85 to 135 — no public notice, just an update on the customs portal.” — Operations Manager, Saudi customs broker
Comparing Saudi Ports – Does the Fee Differ by Port?
Our research shows that the base customs fees are standardised across Jeddah Islamic Port, Dammam’s King Abdulaziz Port, and the new King Abdullah Port. However, local inspection rates and port storage charges vary slightly. For garments, Dammam tends to have faster clearance for textile products due to dedicated lanes, but the Jeddah port has more frequent random inspections for apparel, which triggers the inspection fee more often. Factor in an additional 300 SAR contingency if your shipment is routed to Jeddah.
Practical Checklist Before Your Next Garments Shipment to Saudi
- Download the latest customs fee sheet from the ZATCA portal (ask your Saudi broker for the current version).
- Confirm the ACI registration fee with your forwarder — do not rely on last year’s quote.
- Include a buffer of at least 50 SAR per bill in your total destination charges estimate.
- Prepare accurate packing lists before SI cut-off; even one amendment now costs 75 SAR.
- Check if your garments require SABER product certification — it’s still 200 SAR per category but the lead time is 5–7 days.
Finally, the strongest advice we can give: ask your forwarder for a detailed cost breakdown on the very first quotation. The garments customs clearance in Saudi Arabia ecosystem is slowly making fixed fees more expensive, and the only way to keep your DDP pricing competitive is to stay ahead of these silent increases. Compare the ACI fee line specifically — if your quote still shows SAR 85, request an updated confirmation in writing before the cargo arrives.