
How to Choose ReliableExport agentThe company?
Customs inspection basis:Export agentWhen evaluating a company, it is recommended to assess from the following dimensions:
- Customs filing qualification: Check whether its "Customs Declaration Unit Registration Certificate" is within the validity period.
- Years of industry service: Priority should be given to enterprises with a stable operation record of more than 5 years, such as the one handled by a well-known agency in 2022.Export tax refundMore than 2,000 cases
- Service network coverage: Confirm whether its cooperative ports and overseas agents cover your target market
- Risk response capability: Inquire about the existence of emergency plans for handling customs inspections and logistics delays
What services do export agency companies mainly provide?
A standardized agency should provide full-process services:
- Basic Services:
- Preparation of Customs Declaration and Inspection Documents
- Mode of Transport Matching (Sea/Air/Rail Transport)
- Export tax refunddeclare
- Value Added Services:
- Trade termsConversion (e.g., EXW to FOB)
- Purchase of Port Assistance
- Exchange Rate Risk Management
How to calculate the agency fees reasonably?
2025 mainstream fee models include:
- Percentage of goods value: Usually 0.8%-1.5%, suitable for high-value goods
- Charged by service item: Customs declaration fee (500-2000 yuan per order), document fee (200-800 yuan per set)
- Annual fee package system:Enterprises with export value below 1 million US dollars can choose a package service of 30,000-50,000 yuan per year
Hidden charges should be警惕ed, such as expedited operation fees and special document production fees, which should be clearly stipulated in the contract.
How to verify an agency companys actual service capabilities?
It is recommended to take the following verification steps:
- Please provide the customs release records for the past 3 months (with customer sensitive information redacted)
- Conduct on-site inspections of the scale of its operation team and information systems (such as whether the latest version of the Customs Single Window is used)
- Consult its existing customers to understand key indicators such as the average tax refund arrival cycle
How does the agency handle it when encountering customs inspection?
Professional agency companies should have a complete emergency response mechanism:
- Prevention in advance:Reduce the probability of inspection through pre-verification of commodity classification
- Response during the event: Stationing on-site customs affairs specialists to assist with inspections, with an average processing time of no more than 2 working days
- Post-event improvement: Provide inspection analysis reports, such as a machinery export enterprise reducing the inspection rate by 40% through optimizing declaration elements
What are the considerations for export agent cooperation?
It is recommended to specify the following terms in the contract:
- Division of responsibilities (e.g., the party responsible for port demurrage caused by document errors)
- Service response standards (such as replying to emails within 2 hours and responding to emergency calls within 30 minutes)
- Data Confidentiality Clause (especially when involving patented products and technical parameters)
- Termination Conditions for Cooperation (It is recommended to set a 3-month probation period)
What should emerging market exports pay special attention to?
For emerging markets such as Southeast Asia and Africa, high-quality agency companies should provide:
- Destination Country Certification Consulting Services (e.g., Nigeria SONCAP Certification)
- Localized document preparation (e.g., Arabic commercial invoice)
- Support for special payment methods (such as cheque settlement in Dubai)
- Anti-dumping early warning service (such as Vietnam's safeguard measure investigation against Chinese steel products)
How to evaluate the risk control capability of an agency company?
The focus is on examining three levels:
- Policy level: Whether to establish an international trade policy tracking system (such as the new version of US import declaration requirements in 2025)
- Operational level: Is there a double-check mechanism to avoid document errors?
- A nivel financiero: Could you provide Sinosure docking services to avoid payment risks