Bonded Warehouses vs Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ): What Importers Need to Know
How U.S. Customs bonded warehouses and foreign-trade zones let importers delay or reduce duties, the differences, and how to find one.
Updated October 25, 2026 · 6 min read
General information checked 2026-10-25, not legal or customs advice. Confirm the rules for your goods with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or a licensed customs broker.
Customs bonded warehouses
A bonded warehouse is a facility approved by U.S. Customs where imported goods can be stored without paying duty yet. You pay duty only when goods leave for the U.S. market — or none at all if you re-export them. Importers use them to spread out duty payments, hold stock until it sells, or store goods for re-export.
Foreign-trade zones (FTZ)
A foreign-trade zone is a secure area treated as outside U.S. Customs territory for duty purposes. Inside a zone, companies can store, mix, repackage and even manufacture goods. Duty is paid only when goods enter the U.S. market, sometimes at a lower rate for the finished product (“inverted tariff”), and nothing is due on goods re-exported.
Key differences
| Bonded warehouse | Foreign-trade zone | |
|---|---|---|
| Approved by | CBP | FTZ Board + CBP |
| Manufacturing allowed? | Limited (cleaning, sorting, repacking) | Yes, with approval |
| Time limit | Generally up to 5 years | No set limit |
| Best for | Holding imports before sale or re-export | Larger importers, processing or assembly |
How to find one
Ask your customs broker, contact the FTZ grantee for your port area, or browse our warehouse directory — listings whose name shows bonded or FTZ services carry a Bonded / FTZ label. Always confirm a warehouse’s current CBP status before you ship. For customs brokers and forwarders, see logistic.broker.
Find warehouse space near you
Browse warehouses, 3PL and fulfillment companies and cold storage by state and city, then contact them directly. Read our cost guide and use the pallet calculator first.
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Frequently asked questions
How long can goods stay in a bonded warehouse?
Under U.S. Customs rules, imported goods can generally stay in a bonded warehouse for up to 5 years from the date of import. Check current CBP rules for your goods.
Who runs foreign-trade zones?
FTZs are approved by the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board (part of the Department of Commerce) and supervised by CBP. Each zone has a grantee, often a port authority or economic-development agency.
Do I need a customs broker?
Usually yes. A licensed customs broker files the entries for bonded and FTZ goods. Find customs brokers on logistic.broker.
Related guides
- How Much Does Warehouse Space Cost? 2026 Estimates per Pallet and per Square Foot
- How to Choose a 3PL Warehouse: 12 Questions to Ask Before You Sign
- Cold Storage Warehousing: Temperature Zones, Costs and What to Ask
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and rates change — confirm permits with your city or county and get written quotes before you buy.