I. What exactly is the service model of export trade agency?

Export trade agency refers to professional service institutions providing services for enterprises that do not possess import and export qualifications or operational capabilities.Comprehensive Foreign Trade ServicesThe business model. According to the latest statistics from China Customs in 2025, 78.6% of small and medium-sized enterprises nationwide completed their first export business through agents. The core value of this model lies in:

• Borrowing Qualification: Utilizing the Import and Export Operation Rights of the Agent
• Risk Transfer: The agent assumes the risk of foreign exchange collection
• Process Outsourcing:customs clearanceLogistics, tax refund, and other professional operations

II. What are the core differences between agency export and self-operated export?

We present the differences between the two through a comparison table:

• Qualification Requirements
  • Agent: No need for independent import and export rights
  • Self-operated: Full set of customs filing required
• Capital occupation
  • Agent: Only service fee required
  • Self-operated: Requires advance payment of customs duties, VAT, etc.
• Risk Bearing
  • Agent: The exchange collection risk shall be borne by the agent.
  • Self-operation: The enterprise bears all risks

III. What specific services does a professional agency company provide?

9 Standard Service Modules for High-Quality Agents:

• Conditions of TradeOptimize (EXW/FOB/CIF selection)
• Customs Declaration Document Pre-review and Compliance Check
• Cross-border logistics solution design
  • LCL/FCL Shipping Optimization
  • Multimodal Transport Route Planning
• Foreign Exchange Receipt and Payment and Settlement Services
• Export tax refundFull-process agency service

IV. How to Evaluate the Professionalism of an Agency Company?

It is recommended to evaluate from five dimensions:

• Industry ExperienceAt least 3 years of export records in the same product category
• Certification of QualificationAEO Certification, FIATA Membership, etc.
• Service networksNumber of overseas customs clearance partners
• Cost StructureAre there any hidden charges?
• Case dataAnnual Processing Volume and Error Rate

V. What risks should be considered when acting as an export agent?

According to the latest revision of the Foreign Trade Law in 2025, special attention should be paid to:

• Payment settlement method selection (recommended combination of T/T and L/C)
• Accuracy of Commodity Classification (Avoiding HS Code Errors)
• Retention of Trade Authenticity Certification Documents
• The liability allocation clause in the agency contract
• Foreign exchange verification timeliness management

Through professional agency services, enterprises can reduce export costs by more than 30% and shorten order processing cycles by 50%. It is recommended that companies new to foreign trade choose agencies with AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) certification to leverage their mature risk control systems and avoid trade risks.