Gross weight — what it is: net weight, UKT ZED and a glossary of customs terms for business

Gross weight — what it is and how it differs from net weight

Gross weight is the weight of the goods together with all packaging. Net weight is the weight of the goods themselves without packaging. For example, if a product sample weighs 2 kg and 2.6 kg together with the box and protective material, the net weight is 2 kg and the gross weight is 2.6 kg.

Why this matters:

• the gross weight must match in the invoice, the packing list and the air waybill;
• the net weight is used in the goods description and may affect the calculation of payments for certain goods;
• a weight discrepancy between documents is one of the typical reasons for additional questions from customs.

It is also worth remembering that the carrier may calculate the delivery cost by volumetric weight if the cargo is light but bulky. This is a matter of the carrier's tariff, not customs, so volumetric weight should not be confused with either gross or net weight.

UKT ZED code: why it is needed

UKT ZED is the Ukrainian Classification of Goods for Foreign Economic Activity. During customs clearance, each item receives a code under this classifier, and the code determines the duty rate as well as whether additional permit documents are required for the goods.

The code is determined by the composition, purpose and characteristics of the goods, not only by their name. Therefore, a generic description such as "spare parts" or "samples" does not allow the goods to be classified correctly. The more precisely the sender has described what it is, what it is made of and what it is used for, the lower the risk that customs will ask for clarification.

Determining the UKT ZED code is part of a customs broker's work. SEMERO operates under its own customs broker licence UACBR125000640.

Invoice, proforma and customs value

An invoice is a document in which the sender states what is being shipped, to whom and at what value. A commercial invoice is issued when goods are sold; a proforma invoice — when there is no sale, for example for samples. A value is still stated in the proforma for customs purposes. More on typical mistakes — in the article what an invoice is and why its mistakes get cargo held.

The goods description is the text in the invoice explaining what exactly is being shipped: name, material, purpose, quantity. The broker and customs begin classification with the description, so wording such as "goods", "gift" or "spare parts" without details almost always leads to additional questions.

The customs value is the value of the goods from which duty and VAT are calculated. It is based on the invoice and accompanying documents, so an understated value or one inconsistent with the contract is a direct path to an additional inspection.

AWB, packing list and customs declaration

The AWB (air waybill) is the express carrier's transport document with the shipment number by which the cargo is tracked. The weight, number of pieces and description in the AWB must match the invoice.

The packing list is a list of what is packed and how: number of pieces, net and gross weight of each piece. For shipments with several boxes it noticeably simplifies the check.

The customs declaration is the document submitted to customs for the release of goods. It is prepared by the customs broker based on the invoice, AWB and other documents, so the quality of the declaration depends directly on the quality of the source data. How this process works step by step — in the article DHL and FedEx customs clearance step by step.

Duty, VAT and customs warehouse

Duty is a payment whose rate depends on the UKT ZED code. Import VAT is charged additionally. For individuals there is a 150 euro threshold: up to this amount a shipment passes without customs payments, and on the excess 10% duty and 20% VAT are paid. This threshold applies specifically to individuals — it should not be applied to companies' commercial cargo without consulting a broker.

A customs warehouse is a place where cargo is stored until clearance is completed. SEMERO carries out customs clearance of DHL and FedEx shipments through the Kyiv hub; free storage at the SEMERO customs warehouse is 3 days.

How terminology helps avoid delays

Most delays arise not from complex rules but from discrepancies: different weight in the invoice and AWB, a generic goods description, a value that does not match the contract. A shipment of any weight — even from 0.1 kg and valued at less than 150 euros — sent without prior consultation with a broker carries a significantly higher risk of delay and additional costs.

SEMERO covers exactly the need the client has: you can order customs clearance of DHL or FedEx cargo only, DHL or FedEx delivery booking only, or a package — delivery together with customs clearance. If you ship product samples, also see the sample delivery service.

To have your documents checked and get a cost estimate, contact us via the contacts page — email, WhatsApp or phone.

Frequently asked questions