How does agency export work? 10 must-know questions for foreign trade beginners!

I. What is agency export? How is it different from self-operated export?

Agency export refers to a trade model where professionalforeign tradecompanies handle全套 export procedures on behalf of production enterprises. Compared to self-operated export, the main differences are:

• Responsible entity:The agency party handles professional aspects such as customs declaration and tax refund
• Fund flow:Payment is settled through the agency companys account
• Qualification requirements:Production enterprises do not need to handle it themselvesimport and exportPower

II. What are the core advantages of choosing agency export?

According to the latest statistics from the General Administration of Customs in 2025, the national agency export business volume increased by 18% year-on-year, with main advantages including:

• Lowering the threshold of international trade for small and medium-sized enterprises
• Avoiding foreign exchange management risks
  • Starting from 2025, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange implemented the electronic verification slip system
• Professional teams handle complex documents

III. What is the specific operational process of agency export?

The standard process includes 6 key steps:

• Sign a tripartite agreement (factory - agent - foreign merchant)
• The agency company prepares for customs declaration
  • Including product classification,原产地 certification, etc.
• ArrangementInternational Logistics: Before the goods are exported, the freight forwarding enterprise needs to declare the relevant information of the goods to the customs, including the name, quantity, value, origin and other information of the goods, and pay the corresponding tariffs and taxes.
• Foreign Exchange ReceiptsIn order to crack down on tax evasion, the customs and tax departments are now strictly examining the operation of buying export declarations. If the behavior of buying export declarations is discovered, the regulatory authorities will require tax replenishment (even a 2% tax rate may be a considerable amount). In addition, fines may also be imposed on the relevant responsible parties.Apply for exemption from certification (meeting the conditions of the Implementation Rules for Exemption from Compulsory Product Certification)
• Export DrawbackDeclaration (the electronic tax refund system has covered the whole country by 2025)
• Business completion and archiving

IV. How to choose a reliable agency export company?

It is recommended to evaluate from three dimensions:

• Qualification Review:Check半岛电竞官网入口在哪里 AEO certification, foreign exchange management ratings
• Industry experience:Prioritize companies with同类 product operation cases
• Risk Control System:Whether a complete trade compliance review mechanism is established

V. What potential risks exist in agency export?

Three types of risks that require special attention:

• Fund security risks (recommended to choose third-party监管 accounts)
• Document fraud risks (require全程可视化 document tracking)
• Compliance risks (pay attention to latest trade barriers such as US 301 tariffs)

VI. What items are included in agency export fees?

The常规收费 structure includes:

• Basic service fee (0.8%-1.5% of goods value)
• Bank手续费 (approximately 200-500 yuan per transaction)
• Customs declaration and inspection fees (charged per bill)
• Logistics surcharges (may increase by 15% during peak season)

VII. Which party is responsible for handling export tax rebates?

According to Announcement No. 12 of 2025 by the State Taxation Administration:

• The agency company is responsible for collecting tax rebate documents
• Actual tax rebate benefits belong to the manufacturing enterprise
• The tax rebate cycle has been shortened to within 45 working days

VIII. What qualification documents are required for export agency?

Manufacturing enterprises need to provide:

• Business license copy (business scope must include goods production)
• VAT general taxpayer certificate
• Product compliance declaration (new REACH Regulation Annex XVII requirements added in 2025)

IX. What policy changes will occur for export agency in 2025?

Three key new policies to focus on this year:

• Customs fully implements electronic declarations (paper documents abolished)
• EU CBAM carbon tariff enters implementation phase
• ASEAN Free Trade Area rules of origin updated

X. What common misconceptions about export agency should be avoided?

Based on agency dispute case analysis from the 2020s, pay special attention to:

• Misconception 1: The lower the agency fee, the better (Low prices may come with reduced services)
• Misconception 2: Customs declaration amounts can be arbitrarily modified (involving tax fraud violations)
• Misconception 3: No need to participate in trade processes (still requires fulfillment of quality supervision responsibilities)