Process SOP | TradVolt Cross-Border Battery Programme | Reference equipment: CATL LFP 280Ah prismatic module (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited) | Accessed 2026-09-21
Verdict. The end-of-line grading and CN→ES shipment of CATL LFP 280Ah prismatic modules runs as a 12-step SOP (intake → OCV → IR → capacity & grade → AQL → UN 38.3 + P908/P909 pack → documents → FIATA forwarder → ENS → Spanish customs → warehouse → archive), with an expected ~14-day end-to-end timeline by air and ~30 days by sea, based on the EU Customs Trader Portal ENS pre-arrival window, UN 38.3 + UNRTDG P908/P909, and IEC 62619:2022 / EN 62619:2022 referenced below. The buyer must produce the OEM datasheet (CATL 280Ah), UN 38.3 test summary, MSDS, AQL plan per ISO 2859-1, commercial invoice, packing list, AWB/B/L and the ENS data set; the customs broker of record must confirm HS 8507.60, duty (TARIC lookup) and Spanish VAT (Agencia Tributaria) at the time of shipment. Limitations: this page uses CATL's publicly marketed 280Ah LFP prismatic cell family and its public product page as the reference equipment; specific test thresholds (OCV band, IR in mΩ, torque values, SOC window) must be taken from the CATL service manual revision supplied with the lot, and duty/VAT values are PENDING — broker lookup at time of shipment.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Equipment / OEM | CATL LFP 280Ah prismatic module — Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited |
| Location / horizon | CN → ES trade lane; ~14 days end-to-end by air, ~30 days by sea |
| Reference standards | UN 38.3, UNRTDG 21st ed. (P908/P909, SP 188), IEC 62619:2022, EN 62619:2022, ISO 2859-1, Incoterms 2020 |
| Buyer must produce | OEM datasheet, UN 38.3 test summary, MSDS, AQL plan, commercial invoice, packing list, AWB/B/L, ENS data set |
| Limitation | Test thresholds = OEM service manual revision; duty/VAT = PENDING broker lookup at shipment date |
| Evidence date | 2026-09-21 |
The SOP applies to LFP battery modules in finished form, packaged for road and ocean transport on the China–Spain trade lane. The reference equipment family for this SOP is the CATL LFP 280Ah prismatic module family; equivalent LFP prismatic modules from other OEMs (e.g., EVE Energy LF280K, BYD Blade-based LFP modules) can be processed under the same 12-step sequence provided their own OEM datasheet, UN 38.3 test summary and service manual revision are substituted in the document checklist. It applies to both air freight and sea freight. Damaged or prototype modules are handled under special packing rules stated below. The SOP does not apply to cells in bulk (Class 9 dangerous goods under a different packing instruction set).
| Step # | Action | Owner | Input doc | Output doc | Done-when |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Receive module batch and match to work order (WO) | Production Supervisor | WO, packing list, CATL 280Ah datasheet | Goods receipt note (GRN) | Batch quantity reconciled and WO confirmed within 2 hours of arrival at the grading cell. |
| 2 | Verify open-circuit voltage (OCV) per cell | Test Technician | GRN, calibrated BMS tester log | OCV record file | OCV recorded for every cell and is within the CATL 280Ah datasheet OCV band at 25 °C (±2 °C). Specific mV thresholds = CATL service manual revision supplied with the lot (model assumption flagged). |
| 3 | Perform internal resistance (IR) test | Test Technician | OCV record file | IR record file | IR recorded in milliohms (mΩ) at 1 kHz AC injection per CATL 280Ah datasheet. Specific mΩ threshold = CATL service manual revision (model assumption flagged). |
| 4 | Conduct capacity test and assign grade | Test Technician + Quality Engineer | IR record file, CATL 280Ah datasheet | Capacity report and grade tag | Charge-discharge cycle complete; capacity retention ≥ CATL 280Ah nominal Ah (280 Ah at 1C to 2.5 V cut-off, per the public CATL 280Ah product page) assigns Grade A; below threshold assigns Grade B (rework) or Grade C (scrap). Specific SOC window for cycling = CATL service manual revision (model assumption flagged). |
| 5 | Run AQL visual and dimensional inspection | Quality Engineer | Capacity report, AQL plan | AQL inspection record | Sampling per ISO 2859-1 normal inspection Level II at the agreed AQL (typical AQL 1.0 for major, 2.5 for minor) is recorded. Torque values on busbar / terminal fasteners are taken from the CATL service manual revision supplied with the lot (model assumption flagged). |
| 6 | Apply UN 38.3 marking and pack per P908 or P909 | Packaging Operator | UN 38.3 test summary (CATL 280Ah), AQL inspection record | Packing record and photo set | Each carton carries the UN 38.3 mark and, for damaged/prototype units, packing instruction P908 (transport) or P909 (production) is applied per the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, 21st revised edition. |
| 7 | Issue commercial and transport documents | Export Documentation Clerk | Packing record, commercial invoice, MSDS | Commercial invoice set + AWB or sea waybill | Commercial invoice, packing list, MSDS and master AWB/B/L issued and countersigned by the named FIATA member freight forwarder. |
| 8 | Hand over to FIATA-registered freight forwarder | Logistics Coordinator | Commercial invoice set | Forwarder receipt | A FIATA member forwarder accepts the consignment with confirmed Incoterm 2020 term (typically CIP Madrid or DAP Barcelona). |
| 9 | Pre-arrival filing via ENS (EU Customs Trader Portal) | EU Customs Agent | Commercial invoice set, ENS data set | MRN (Movement Reference Number) | ENS filed before arrival of the goods in the EU via the EU Customs Trader Portal; MRN received. ENS time limits per UCC Article 127: air = minimum 30 minutes before arrival; sea = minimum 24 hours before arrival at the first EU port of entry (model assumption flagged for chosen mode). |
| 10 | Customs clearance in Spain (Agencia Tributaria) | EU Customs Agent | MRN, supporting documents | Customs release note | Customs decision is communicated by Agencia Tributaria; any documentary or physical inspection is closed. |
| 11 | Final acceptance at EU warehouse | Warehouse Supervisor | Customs release note, packing list | Warehouse receipt and discrepancy report (if any) | Carton count and condition verified; any transit damage is recorded within the carrier's claim window. |
| 12 | Archive records and close WO | Quality Engineer | All artefacts from steps 1–11 | Closed WO file | All SOP records stored for the CATL 280Ah OEM warranty period (per CATL warranty document supplied with the lot; model assumption flagged: typically 5 years for industrial ESS modules) and the WO is closed in the ERP. |
WO_<number>_CATL_LFP280Ah.xlsx — work order issued by TradVolt programme officeCATL_280Ah_datasheet.pdf — CATL LFP 280Ah product / datasheet (public product page reference) [URL: https://www.catl.com/en/products/energy-storage/]CATL_280Ah_service_manual_rev<rev>.pdf — OEM service manual revision supplied with the lot; contains the OCV band, IR mΩ threshold, capacity retention threshold, SOC cycling window, and busbar torque values used in steps 2–5UN38.3_test_summary_CATL_280Ah.pdf — UN 38.3 test summary per the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, 7th revised editionMSDS_CATL_LFP280Ah.pdf — material safety data sheet for the CATL LFP 280Ah moduleAQL_plan_ISO2859-1_LevelII.xlsx — AQL sampling plan per ISO 2859-1:1999OCV_IR_Capacity_record_<batch>.csv — raw test data from step 2, 3 and 4Commercial_Invoice_<invoice_no>.pdf — issued in step 7Packing_List_<batch>.pdf — issued in step 7AWB_or_B/L_<number>.pdf — air waybill or sea waybill issued in step 7ENS_MRN_<number>.pdf — EU Entry Summary Declaration receipt issued in step 9Customs_release_note_<MRN>.pdf — issued in step 10Warehouse_receipt_<batch>.pdf — issued in step 11Request Quote for CATL LFP 280Ah EOL Grading + CN→ES — replies in 48h
| Day | Activity | Depends on | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| D0 | Receive batch, run OCV and IR tests | Goods arrival at grading cell | Test Technician |
| D0 + 4 h | Capacity test (charge + discharge cycle) | Step 2 and step 3 completion | Test Technician + Quality Engineer |
| D1 | AQL inspection, UN 38.3 marking and packing | Capacity test pass | Quality Engineer + Packaging Operator |
| D1 + 4 h | Document set ready (invoice, packing list, MSDS, AWB/B/L) | Packing record signed off | Export Documentation Clerk |
| D2 | Handover to FIATA-registered forwarder | Document set issued | Logistics Coordinator |
| D2 – D6 | Air freight CN→ES (indicative) | Forwarder pickup at CN origin | Forwarder |
| D2 – D30 | Sea freight CN→ES (indicative) | Container loading at CN origin | Forwarder |
| Pre-arrival (≥ 30 min air / ≥ 24 h sea before landing) | ENS filing via EU Customs Trader Portal | Master AWB or B/L | EU Customs Agent |
| Landing day | Customs clearance with Agencia Tributaria | MRN issued | EU Customs Agent |
| Landing + 1 day | Warehouse acceptance and discrepancy report | Customs release | Warehouse Supervisor |
| Landing + 2 days | WO closure and record archiving | Warehouse receipt | Quality Engineer |
| Item | Reference | Value |
|---|---|---|
| HS code candidate for LFP battery modules (industrial) | WCO Harmonized System, current edition | 8507.60 — Lithium-ion electric accumulators, including separators, whether or not rectangular or square (module-level classification; verification required by the customs broker of record) [Claim | Src: World Customs Organization, Harmonized System nomenclature | URL: https://www.wcoomd.org/en/topics/nomenclature.aspx | accessed 2026-09-21]. |
| Import duty rate (Spain, third-country tariff, autonomous) | European Commission TARIC database | PENDING — lookup at the time of shipment via TARIC for code 8507.60 with applicable measures [Claim | Src: European Commission, TARIC Consultation | URL: https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds2/taric/taric_consultation.jsp?Lang=en | accessed 2026-09-21]. |
| VAT rate (Spain) | Agencia Tributaria, IVA | PENDING — lookup at the time of shipment; standard Spanish VAT applied to the customs value plus duty [Claim | Src: Agencia Tributaria, IVA | URL: https://sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es/en/Aduanas/ | accessed 2026-09-21]. |
| UN dangerous goods classification | UNRTDG 21st revised edition | Class 9, UN 3480 (lithium-ion batteries) or UN 3481 (lithium-ion batteries packed with equipment / contained in equipment) per the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. |
Disclaimer: HS classification, import duty and VAT must be confirmed by the customs broker of record against the TARIC database and the latest Agencia Tributaria notices at the time of each shipment. The values above are placeholders for lookup, not commitments. TradVolt does not provide legal or fiscal advice.
| Cost item | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Unit production cost (CATL LFP 280Ah module) | indicative | Driven by OEM contract; not a TradVolt line item. |
| Grading and testing labour | indicative | Based on steps 2–5; depends on AQL level and lot size. |
| UN 38.3 marking and special packing (P908/P909) | indicative | Required only for damaged or prototype modules per the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, 21st revised edition. |
| Air freight CN→ES | indicative | Charged per kilogram or chargeable weight; subject to airline battery acceptance policy. |
| Sea freight CN→ES | indicative | Charged per TEU or per cubic metre; subject to carrier battery acceptance policy. |
| EU import duty | UNCERTAIN | PENDING — lookup at the time of shipment via TARIC for code 8507.60. |
| Spanish VAT | UNCERTAIN | PENDING — lookup at the time of shipment via Agencia Tributaria. |
| Customs broker fee | indicative | Set per broker; based on declaration complexity. |
| FIATA forwarder fee | indicative | Per forwarder tariff; multimodal coordination included. |
| Role | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Production Supervisor | Batch intake and WO reconciliation. |
| Test Technician | OCV, IR, capacity test execution against the CATL 280Ah service manual revision. |
| Quality Engineer | Grading decision, AQL inspection, record archival. |
| Packaging Operator | UN 38.3 marking and packing per UNRTDG P908 / P909. |
| Export Documentation Clerk | Commercial invoice, packing list, MSDS, AWB / B/L. |
| Logistics Coordinator | Handover to FIATA-registered forwarder, Incoterm selection under Incoterms 2020 [Claim | Src: ICC Incoterms 2020 | URL: https://iccwbo.org/business-solutions/incoterms-rules/incoterms-2020/ | accessed 2026-09-21]. |
| EU Customs Agent | ENS filing via the EU Customs Trader Portal and customs clearance with Agencia Tributaria. |
| Warehouse Supervisor | Final acceptance, discrepancy reporting. |
For an LFP module EOL grading and CN→ES shipment quotation, send the OEM model (e.g., CATL LFP 280Ah), target quantity, target AQL level, target Incoterm (CIP Madrid, DAP Barcelona or other) and target month. TradVolt replies within 48 hours with an indicative schedule and cost package.
Request Quote — replies in 48h
Damaged or defective modules are classified as Class 9 dangerous goods under UN 3480 and are packed to P908 (transport for disposal or recycling) or P909 (production, including for rework) per the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, 21st revised edition. Prototype modules follow the same P908 / P909 logic when the design has not completed UN 38.3 testing; otherwise the standard UN 38.3-marked carton set applies.
Air carriers and ocean carriers apply their own acceptance policies on top of the UN rules. Confirm acceptance with the named FIATA member forwarder before issuing the AWB or B/L.
Model assumptions flagged. The reference equipment family is the CATL LFP 280Ah prismatic module (public product page: https://www.catl.com/en/products/energy-storage/). Specific test thresholds used in steps 2–5 — OCV band in mV, IR in mΩ, capacity retention in %, SOC cycling window in %, and busbar / terminal torque values in N·m — are NOT reproduced here from the public product page; they must be taken from the CATL service manual revision supplied with the specific lot. The "5-year" archive period in step 12 follows CATL's typical industrial warranty convention and is a model assumption until confirmed against the warranty document for the lot.
This SOP is informational and is designed to be auditable against the named international standards. It does not replace professional customs, legal or fiscal advice. Confirm duty, VAT, HS classification and dangerous goods acceptance with the relevant authorities and carriers at the time of each shipment. Last reviewed: 2026-09-21.