I. What is the difference between export agency and self-operated export?

Export agency refers to a manufacturing enterprise entrusting a professional?Foreign trade?companyin the name of the trusteeto handle the full set of export procedures, including customs declaration,?Forex Settlement?, and tax rebates. The core difference from self-operated export is:

• Contracting party: The agent is the signing party of the export contract
• Document flow: The agency company is responsible for preparing the full set of export documents
• Fund settlement: Foreign exchange is received and paid through the agent's account
• Risk assumption: The agent bears the risk of document compliance

II. Why do SMEs need export agency services in 2025?

According to the latest data from the General Administration of Customs in January 2025, the number of SMEs using export agency increased by 27% year-on-year, with the main benefits including:

• Reduce Operational Costs: No need to build an in-house foreign trade team (annual savings of about 150,000-300,000 in labor costs)
• Compliance risk avoidance: Professional handling of complex matters such as HS code classification and certificate of origin certification
• Rapid customs clearance advantage: The AEO certification of the agency company can shorten customs clearance time by 30%
• Ensuring fund security:?L/C?Document review error rate is less than 0.5% (average of 3.2% for self-operated enterprises)

III. How to choose a reliable export agency company?

It is recommended to focus on evaluating the following four dimensions:

• Qualification certification: Must have both?Import/export?rights + filing with the State Administration of Foreign Exchange
• Industry experience: The area of focus must match your product (e.g.,Medical Devicescategory requires drug administration filing)
• Service network: Must have local customs clearance partners in major exporting countries
• Risk control system: Should includean exchange rate locking mechanism + a credit insurance plan

IV. What are the common misunderstandings about export agency that need to be clarified?

According to the analysis of foreign trade service dispute cases in 2025, special attention should be paid to:

• Myth 1: The agent bears all transaction risks (in reality, only the responsibilities specified in the contract)
• Myth 2: Funds must go through the agent's account (a third-party payment supervision plan can be applied for)
• Myth 3: Must use the agent's designated logistics (a compliant company should support the client's choice)
• Myth 4: Agency fees are fixed (a high-quality service provider offers a tiered fee standard)

V. How is the cost structure of export agency fees calculated?

A typical cost structure includes:

• Basic service fee: 0.8%-1.5% of the export amount (including document preparation, customs declaration and inspection)
• Logistics surcharge: Charged according to the actual mode of transport (a comparative quote should be provided)
• Document certification fee: Embassy legalization, commercial certification, etc., charged by a third-party organization
• Financial service fee: Special services such as letter of credit discounting, forward?Foreign exchange settlement?and other special services

VI. What specific service links does export agency include?

The complete service chain covers:

• Pre-stage service: Review of trade terms, preparation of proforma invoice
• Mid-stage service:
  • ?Customs Declaration?(including pre-classification ruling)
  • Arrangement of transport insurance
  • Foreign Exchange Verification
• Post-stage service:?Tax Refund?declaration (average speed increased to 15 working days)

VII. What are the policy changes for export agency in 2025?

Three new policies to pay special attention to:

• Electronic?Certificate of Origin?completely replaces paper certificates (Announcement No. 12 of 2025 by the General Administration of Customs)
• The "paperless+" reform pilot for export tax rebates is expanded nationwide
• ?E-commerce?The limit on the amount of a single B2B export transaction is abolished (the original limit of 5 million has been repealed)

VIII. How to prevent transaction risks in export agency?

It is recommended to establish a three-layer protection mechanism:

• Contract level: Clearly specify the terms for handling quality disputes (it is recommended to use ICC arbitration clauses)
• Payment level: For the first order with a new client, it is recommended to use30% prepayment + 70% sight letter of credit
• Insurance level: Purchase export credit insurance (coverage from China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation can reach 90%)

IX. In which situations is it not suitable to use an export agent?

Self-operated export is recommended in the following three situations:

• Annual export value exceeds $5 million (self-operation is more economical)
• Involving specially supervised goods such as military items, dual-use items, etc.
• The enterprise has established a mature foreign trade risk control system

X. How to verify the true service capabilities of an agency company?

It is recommended to request three types of supporting documents:

• Copy of the Customs AEO Certification.
• Export tax rebate declaration records for the latest quarter
• Credit reference documents from cooperative banks