If your freight is stuck at the port in 2026, the problem might not be shipping delays or customs backlogs. It could be your customs bond.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection just flagged 27,479 customs bond insufficiencies in fiscal 2025, valued at nearly $3.6 billion. That's double the number from 2019, and the highest total value ever recorded.
The cause? Tariff collections surged to $30 billion in January 2026 alone, up 304% from the same period in 2025. When tariffs spike, your customs bond requirements spike with them. And if your bond doesn't cover your new duty liability, CBP holds your freight until you fix it.
Here's what every importer needs to understand about the 2026 customs bond crisis, and how to avoid getting caught in it.
What Is a Customs Bond and Why Does It Matter?
A customs bond is a financial guarantee to U.S. Customs and Border Protection that you'll pay all duties, taxes, and penalties on your imported goods. Think of it as insurance for the government.
There are two types:
Single entry bond: Covers one shipment at one port. You pay per transaction.
Continuous bond: Covers all your shipments at all U.S. ports for a calendar year. The minimum is $50,000.
Most regular importers use a continuous bond because it's simpler and more cost effective. The bond amount must equal at least 10% of the total duties and fees you paid to CBP over a rolling 12-month period.
Bond premiums typically cost 1% of the bond limit. So if you need a $100,000 bond, you pay around $1,000 annually.
Why Bonds Are Suddenly a Problem in 2026
The math is simple but painful. If your duties double, your bond requirement doubles.
Under current tariff policies, the effective tariff rate on many Chinese goods shipped to the U.S. now sits above 30%. Some products face rates as high as 47.5%. That's a massive jump from the 10-11% baseline that existed before the tariff escalations began.
Surety companies have seen bond increases upward of 200% due to the current tariff environment. Importers who previously needed a $50,000 bond are now being asked for $150,000 or more. Some companies are facing customs bond requirements as high as $450 million.
Here's the problem: a bond is flagged as insufficient when your duty liability exceeds 100% of your current bond capacity. Once flagged, CBP holds your freight until you increase your bond coverage.
And getting a new bond takes at least 10 days, which means your inventory sits at the port accruing demurrage and detention charges while you scramble to fix the issue.
Who's Getting Hit Hardest?
This isn't just a problem for large importers. Small and mid-sized businesses that import regularly are getting caught off guard.
If you're importing from China, the impact is especially severe. The October 2025 trade agreement lowered the reciprocal tariff rate to 10% for one year, but other existing duties keep the effective rate well above 30% for many products.
And in January 2026, new tariff threats emerged targeting countries that do business with Iran. This could push rates even higher and create more bond insufficiencies.
The industries most affected include:
Consumer electronics
Apparel and textiles
Home goods and furniture
Automotive parts
Industrial equipment
If you're sourcing products from China in any of these categories, you need to review your bond coverage immediately.
How to Check If Your Bond Is Sufficient
Don't wait for CBP to flag you. Here's how to stay ahead of the problem:
1. Calculate Your Current Duty Liability
Add up all the duties and taxes you've paid to CBP over the past 12 months. This is your baseline.
Now factor in the current tariff rates on your products. If you're importing from China, assume rates are at least 30% higher than they were in 2024. Multiply your import value by the new rate.
2. Compare to Your Bond Amount
Your bond must cover at least 10% of your annual duties. If your current bond is $50,000, it covers up to $500,000 in annual duties.
If your new duty liability exceeds this, you need to increase your bond.
3. Work With Your Customs Broker
Your customs broker can run a bond sufficiency analysis for you. They have access to your import history and can calculate exactly how much coverage you need.
Most brokers will proactively flag this issue, but if yours hasn't, ask them to review your bond now.
4. Monitor Your Bond Usage Regularly
Tariffs can change quickly. Set a reminder to review your bond coverage every quarter, especially if you're importing high-volume or high-value goods.
What to Do If Your Bond Is Insufficient
If CBP flags your bond as insufficient, you have two options:
Option 1: Increase Your Continuous Bond
Contact your surety company and request a bond increase. You'll need to provide updated financial information and import projections.
Processing time is typically 10-14 business days, though some surety companies can expedite for an additional fee.
The new premium will be 1% of the increased bond amount. If you're going from $50,000 to $150,000, expect to pay an additional $1,000 annually.
Option 2: Use Single Entry Bonds for Urgent Shipments
If you can't wait for a continuous bond increase, you can purchase a single entry bond for the specific shipment that's being held.
Single entry bonds cost more per transaction (usually 2-3% of the duty value), but they can be issued faster, sometimes within 24-48 hours.
This is a short-term fix. You still need to increase your continuous bond for future shipments.
How Cubic Helps Importers Navigate the Bond Crisis
At Cubic, we've helped dozens of importers avoid bond insufficiency issues in 2026. Here's how:
Proactive bond monitoring: Our platform tracks your duty liability in real time and alerts you before you hit your bond limit.
Expedited bond increases: We work directly with surety partners to fast-track bond adjustments when tariffs change.
Landed cost forecasting: Our AI calculates your total landed cost, including duties under current tariff rates, so you can budget for bond increases before they become urgent.
If you're worried about your bond coverage, reach out to our team. We can run a bond sufficiency check and help you get the coverage you need before your next shipment arrives.
The Bottom Line
Customs bonds used to be a background detail in the import process. In 2026, they're a critical supply chain risk.
If you're importing from China or other high-tariff countries, assume your bond needs to be higher. Don't wait for CBP to flag you. Check your coverage now, work with your customs broker to increase it if needed, and monitor it regularly as tariffs continue to shift.
The last thing you want is to have your freight sitting at the port because of a bond issue that could have been solved two weeks earlier.
