Importing Electronics from China by Container: NOMs, Batteries

Earbuds, speakers, chargers, smartwatches, cameras, phone accessories. Electronics and gadgets are among the fastest-moving categories in trade, and among the easiest to get tangled at customs: an uncertified standard, a wireless device without approval or a misdeclared lithium battery can hold an entire container.

This guide covers what to check before your cargo leaves China or another Asian port bound for Mexico or Latin America.

Regulatory information current as of October 6, 2026. Mexican trade rules change by decree and by resolution: confirm your tariff line, its duty rate and your requirements before you ship or clear.

Why do electronics containers get held?

• Unproven standards (NOMs). Many electrical and electronic devices must show compliance with Mexican safety and commercial-information standards at import.
• Wireless devices without approval. Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, radio or cellular devices need equipment approval (homologation) in Mexico.
• Undeclared lithium batteries. They are dangerous goods for ocean freight; if they aren't declared, the carrier can reject or hold the cargo.
• Wrong tariff classification. A charger, an earbud and a tablet sit in different tariff lines, with different regulations and duties.
• Paperwork that doesn't match across invoice, packing list and bill of lading.

Most of this can be resolved before sailing.

Technology cargo we have already moved

Our track record lists, under "Technology and telecom," three kinds of cargo Kold Gold has already moved:

• Sagem mobile-phone production line: assembly machinery for Sagem, the French communications-equipment maker.
• Mobile phones: high-value finished devices.
• Computing and communications equipment: servers, computing and networking.

The same page notes the controls that usually come into play in this sector: standards, type approval and lithium-battery handling, the three subjects of this guide. It does not publish routes, dates, volumes or costs for those shipments, and we don't add any here; nor does it say they shipped from China or by container. It is a record of what has moved, separate from our catalog of cargo we handle, which lists capabilities.

For lithium batteries in a container, our rule is on the electronics shipping by container page: if your cargo includes them, we first confirm which sailings accept them. If what you are moving is a plant or a full production line rather than finished goods, the service is technology and telecom logistics.

20', 40' or consolidated?

Electronics pack a lot of value into little space. A dedicated container lets you control who opens and handles the goods from origin to destination. With LCL you pay only for your space, but your cargo is consolidated and deconsolidated alongside others', so pack and label with that in mind. Either way, cargo insurance makes sense given the value involved. See our ocean freight service.

If your cargo includes lithium batteries, ask about carrier acceptance before choosing a mode: not every sailing or consolidation service accepts dangerous goods.

Which NOMs apply to electronics in Mexico?

It depends on the product and its tariff line, but these three come up most often:

NOM-001-SCFI-2018: electronic equipment safety

Sets safety requirements and test methods for electronic devices such as audio and video equipment. It was published in the DOF on September 17, 2019, took effect on May 14, 2020 and replaced NOM-001-SCFI-1993. It's listed as in force in the Ministry of Economy's catalog.

NOM-019-SCFI-1998: data processing equipment safety

Applies to IT equipment such as computers and peripherals. The Ministry of Economy's catalog lists it as in force, published on December 11, 1998, and its 2024 systematic review recommended amending it. A replacement draft exists, PROY-NOM-019-SE-2020, published in the DOF on January 31, 2020; the catalog still lists the 1998 standard as in force, so confirm with your broker which one applies to your goods on the import date.

NOM-024-SCFI-2013: commercial information

Covers commercial information on packaging, instructions and warranties for electronic, electrical and household appliances. It was published in the DOF on August 12, 2013 and remains in force. In practice: packaging and manual with information in Spanish, the importer's details and a warranty.

Key point. How compliance is demonstrated (a certificate from an accredited body, labeling, supporting records) depends on the standard and the tariff line. Have your customs broker review your product before you close the purchase. See our customs brokerage service.

Who approves wireless equipment in Mexico today?

If your product transmits by radio, such as Bluetooth earbuds, wireless speakers, routers, connected watches or drones, it needs equipment approval (homologation) to be sold in Mexico.

Under Mexico's Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law (Ley en Materia de Telecomunicaciones y Radiodifusión), published in the DOF on July 16, 2025, equipment approval moved to the Comisión Reguladora de Telecomunicaciones (CRT), which took over the functions of the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT). The former IFT website now presents itself as a historical archive and points users to the CRT for current procedures and services. During the handover, in October 2025, approval procedures were suspended for a few days, according to TÜV Rheinland; confirm the status of your certificate or application before shipping.

Ask the manufacturer for its test report and check whether the exact model already has approval under someone's name in Mexico. A certificate for a different model or version doesn't count.

How are lithium batteries shipped by sea?

Ocean freight is governed by the International Maritime Organization's International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, mandatory under the SOLAS Convention since 2004. Lithium batteries are Class 9 (miscellaneous dangerous goods) and are identified by UN numbers based on how they travel:

• UN3480: lithium-ion batteries shipped alone (power banks, for example).
• UN3481: lithium-ion batteries contained in or packed with equipment.
• UN3090: lithium-metal batteries shipped alone.
• UN3091: lithium-metal batteries contained in or packed with equipment.

What that means in practice:

• Declare them at booking, with the dangerous goods paperwork the carrier requires.
• Packing and marking under the IMDG Code, with the applicable Class 9 or lithium battery labels.
• UN 38.3 test summary from the manufacturer, which carriers and forwarders normally request.
• Carrier acceptance, which may come with its own rules or lane restrictions.

Some IMDG special provisions ease requirements for small batteries in certain cases; don't assume they apply. Your forwarder confirms using the battery's technical data sheet.

All of the above is for ocean freight. If part of the order flies, IATA's rules govern, and they are published every year: the 68th edition of its Dangerous Goods Regulations, the 2027 edition, is dated January 1, 2027, according to the list of changes IATA has published. Confirm with your forwarder which edition is in force on the day of the flight; our air-freight guide to lithium batteries by air is available in Spanish.

Do I need a sector-specific importer registration?

Annex 10 of the 2026 General Foreign Trade Rules lists 16 sectors in the Specific-Sector Importers Registry, and none covers consumer electronics. You do need SAT's general Importers Registry. Check each item in case one is classified in a sector that requires registration.

What about duties?

As of October 6, 2026, there are two broad changes to check if your goods originate in a country without a trade agreement with Mexico, such as China:

• Reform in force since January 1, 2026. The decree published in Mexico's Official Gazette (DOF) on December 29, 2025 changed the rates of "various tariff lines" in the country's import tariff schedule (the Tarifa of the LIGIE, the general import and export duties law). The decree gives no total: the figure of 1,463 tariff lines across 17 sectors was reported by Canal del Congreso, the Mexican Congress's channel, on December 10, 2025, when the Chamber of Deputies passed the reform; KPMG repeats the 1,463 figure, without the sector count. Both are secondary sources. Household appliances are among the sectors they list. A product that doesn't sound like an appliance is not out of scope for that reason: what counts is the tariff line.
• Decree in force since April 24, 2026. Published in the DOF on April 23, 2026, it sets the duty on 185 tariff lines, at rates from 5% to 35%, and its transitional article sets no end date. Electrical material is among the goods it names, and its list includes lines in chapter 85 of the tariff schedule.

We quote no rate here for any product: every tariff line is different. Goods that originate in a country with a trade agreement with Mexico keep their preferential treatment if they meet that agreement's requirements. Before pricing, have your Mexican importer look up the tariff line in the two official change lists published by SNICE, the Ministry of Economy's trade portal (December 2025 and April 2026, both in Spanish), and have the customs broker handling the clearance confirm the rate. Our step-by-step guide to both decrees, Aranceles 2026 a países sin tratado, is available in Spanish only. Everything starts with classification.

If the destination is another Latin American country, each has its own customs authority, technical standards and telecom regulator. What complies in Mexico doesn't necessarily comply elsewhere.

Which documents should travel with the cargo?

What does a pre-loading inspection cover?

• Quality. Power-on and function check on a sample, complete accessories, and cables and chargers suited to the destination market.
• Quantity. Cartons and pieces per model against the purchase order and packing list.
• Labeling. Spanish packaging and manual, importer details and battery marks where applicable.

If something is off, it's fixed before the container is sealed.

Pre-shipment checklist

1. Classify every model and confirm its duty rate.
2. Check NOMs and equipment approval for the exact model.
3. Declare lithium batteries with the right UN number and confirm carrier acceptance.
4. Get the UN 38.3 test summary and battery data sheets from the factory.
5. Inspect before loading and reconcile invoice, packing list and bill of lading.
6. Customs review before sailing, not after the container arrives.

How Kold Gold handles it

• Pickup at the factory or warehouse in China and trucking to port.
• Inspection before loading: quality, quantity and labeling.
• Advance review of classification, NOMs, equipment approval and battery declaration.
• FCL 20', 40' or 40HC, or LCL consolidated from Asia's main ports.
• Customs clearance at any Mexican customs office and delivery to your warehouse.

We operate in the world's busiest international ports and at every customs office in Mexico. We speak your language: multilingual agents who coordinate with your supplier and with you.

Explore our electronics shipping by container service or get a quote with our freight quote tool. Message us on WhatsApp or call +52 55 8897 4255 (Mexico) or +1 (619) 359-6567 (United States). You can also email direccion@kold.gold.

Frequently asked questions

Which NOMs apply to electronics imported into Mexico?

It depends on the product and tariff line. The most common are NOM-001-SCFI-2018 (electronic equipment safety), NOM-019-SCFI-1998 (data processing equipment safety, with a replacement draft published in 2020) and NOM-024-SCFI-2013 (commercial information, manuals and warranties). Your broker confirms which apply before shipping.

Who approves wireless equipment in Mexico today?

The Comisión Reguladora de Telecomunicaciones (CRT), which took over the IFT's functions under the Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law of July 2025. Products with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, radio or cellular need approval for the exact model. Confirm the status of your certificate or application before shipping.

Can I ship lithium batteries by container?

Yes, as Class 9 dangerous goods under the IMDG Code: UN3480 or UN3090 when shipped alone, UN3481 or UN3091 when contained in or packed with equipment. They must be declared at booking with correct packing, marking and paperwork, and the carrier must accept them.

Do I need a sector-specific registration to import electronics?

Annex 10 of the 2026 General Foreign Trade Rules has no consumer electronics sector, but the importer does need SAT's general Importers Registry. Check each item in case one is classified in a sector that requires registration.

Did Mexico change duties on electronics from China in 2026?

There are two broad changes to check, current as of October 6, 2026: the tariff schedule reform published on December 29, 2025, in force since January 1, 2026, and the decree published on April 23, 2026, which sets the duty on 185 tariff lines and has applied since April 24. Whether they affect you depends on your tariff line, not on the product's trade name. We quote no rates: have the importer look up the tariff line in SNICE's two change lists and have the customs broker handling the clearance confirm it.

Should I use a 20', 40' or consolidated container?

With volume, a 20', 40' or 40HC FCL gives you control and less handling of high-value goods. For small orders or tests, LCL lets you pay only for your space. If there are lithium batteries, first confirm which sailings accept them.

What does Kold Gold check before electronics ship?

We pick up at the factory or warehouse, inspect quality, quantity and labeling before loading, and review classification, NOMs, equipment approval and the lithium battery declaration. The aim is to get problems fixed at origin. The tariff line is confirmed by the customs broker handling the clearance.

Has Kold Gold moved technology cargo before?

Yes. Our track record lists three kinds of cargo already moved under Technology and telecom: the Sagem mobile-phone production line, mobile phones, and computing and communications equipment. It does not publish routes, dates, volumes or costs for those shipments.

Sources

Checked on October 6, 2026. Mexican official sources are in Spanish.

• Mexico's Ministry of Economy, standards catalog entries: NOM-001-SCFI-2018, NOM-019-SCFI-1998 and NOM-024-SCFI-2013, live pages.
• Official Gazette (DOF), via SIDOF (Ministry of the Interior): PROY-NOM-019-SE-2020, January 31, 2020.
• Chamber of Deputies, Ley en Materia de Telecomunicaciones y Radiodifusión, published in the DOF on July 16, 2025.
• Former Federal Telecommunications Institute website, now a historical archive that points to the Comisión Reguladora de Telecomunicaciones.
• TÜV Rheinland, notice on the transition from the IFT to the CRT, undated.
• International Maritime Organization, dangerous goods and the IMDG Code, live page.
• IATA, 2026 lithium battery guidance document, revision of January 1, 2026; Dangerous Goods Regulations page; and "Significant Changes and Amendments in the 68th Edition (2027)", edition dated January 1, 2027.
• SAT (Mexico's tax authority), Annex 10 of the 2026 General Foreign Trade Rules, published in the DOF on January 14, 2026, and Importers Registry: enrollment.
• Official Gazette (DOF), via SIDOF: decree of December 29, 2025 and decree of April 23, 2026, evening edition.
• SNICE, Ministry of Economy: 2025 changes to the tariff schedule and 2026 changes to the tariff schedule, live pages.
• Canal del Congreso, "Avalan reforma a la Ley de Impuestos Generales de Importación y Exportación que afectan 17 sectores estratégicos", December 10, 2025.
• KPMG Mexico, flash on the 2026 General Foreign Trade Rules and the LIGIE reform, January 2026.
• Kold Gold, track record and electronics shipping by container.

Last reviewed: October 6, 2026.