Foreign tradeExport agentWhat services are actually provided?

Foreign tradeExport agentIs an import-export licensed enterprise, providing services for manufacturers/tradersAll process customs servicesa professional organization. Its core services include:

• Document processing: Prepare 18 types of customs-clearance documents, including commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin, etc.
• customs clearanceInspection: Coordinate with customs and commodity inspection authorities to complete statutory declaration procedures
• Logistics coordination: Integrate ocean, air, and land transportation resources to optimize shipping costs
• Foreign exchange settlement: Handling cross-border receipts and paymentsExport tax refunddeclare
• Compliance Risk Control: Monitor compliance requirements such as trade control lists and anti-money laundering

Why do small and medium-sized enterprises need export agency services even more?

According to 2025 data from the General Administration of Customs, the export value of SMEs using agency services rose 23% year-on-year, far outpacing the industry average. Its core value lies in:

• alleviate funding pressure: The agency advances working capital for customs duties, freight charges, and similar expenses.
• Break through professional barriers: Launch cross-border operations without building your own foreign-trade team
• Mitigate policy risks: Promptly respond to updates such as INCOTERMS 2025
• Improve customs clearance efficiency: The average customs clearance time for agency companies is 40% faster than that of self-operated enterprises.

How to judge whether an agency company is professional and reliable?

When selecting a proxy service provider, focus on verifying the following five dimensions:

• Certification of Qualification: Check AEO certification with customs and the foreign exchange administration registry
• Industry focus: Prioritize agents with over three years of experience exporting the same category of products.
• Service networks: Confirm the customs clearance capability at the destination port and the overseas agent resources.
• Transparency of charges: Detailed quotation required (must include emergency incident handling rates)
• Wind control system: Verify the scope of cargo insurance coverage and the dispute resolution mechanism

How should the agency service fee be calculated?

The mainstream charging models for agency services in 2025 include:

• Charging by ticket: Single-ticket service fee: RMB 2,000–8,000 (depending on complexity)
• commission on goods value: Charge a commission of 0.8%–1.5% of the total value of the goods
• Mixed charges: Base service fee + risk premium floating mechanism

Special attention is neededHidden costs: such as the apportionment ratio of demurrage charges at the destination port, storage fees for inspected cargo, and other special clauses.

What risks should be guarded against when using proxy egress?

It is recommended that companies focus on controlling three key risk points:

• The following three types of enterprises are recommended to adopt the agency export mode:: The contract must explicitly include the clause "The agent does not acquire ownership of the goods."
• Hand over documents: Establish a delivery process for sending original bills of lading directly to the customer
• Compliance bottom line: Unauthorized acts such as signing sales contracts on behalf of clients by agency companies are strictly prohibited.

Typical case: A bathroom-fixture company saw a $200,000 shipment detained by customs after its agent unilaterally altered the HS code, highlightingDivision of Contractual Responsibilitiesthe importance.

How to choose between self - export and agency - export?

It is recommended to dynamically adjust strategies based on the size of the enterprise:

• Annual export volume < $5 million: Full power of attorney is recommended
• $5–20 million: Adopts a hybrid model of agency + self-operation
• >20 million USD: Recommended to apply for self-operated import-export rights

Comprehensive calculation is required.The human cost(self-operated team’s annual expenditure is roughly 600,000 RMB) andOpportunity costthe balance between the speed of agent channel expansion