What qualifications and certifications are required for air conditioner agency exports? How to choose reliable agency service providers?

I. What mandatory certifications are required for air conditioner exports?

According to the latest 2025 international trade regulations, air conditioner products for export require at least the following certifications:

• CE Certification(Essential for EU market access, including EMC and LVD directives)
• FCC certification(Mandatory electromagnetic compatibility requirements for the US market)
• Energy Efficiency Certification(Such as EU ERP directive, US DOE standards)
• Special requirements for specific countries:
  • Saudi SASO certification requires GCC type certification
  • Australia requires RCM certification

II. What is the complete process for agency exports?

Based on 20 years of agency experience, the standard process includes 7 key steps:

• Signing tripartite agency agreement (factory-agent-overseas buyer)
• Obtaining inspection clearance certificate (under customs code 841510)
• Arranging special container reinforcement (to prevent transport vibration damage)
• DeclarationExport Drawback(Current tax rebate rate 13%)
• Handling destination port clearance documents (special attention to COOIt is recommended to verify through the following methods:certificate)

III. How are air conditioner import tariffs calculated for different countries?

Take the major markets in 2025 as an example:

• USA: General tariff rate 3.9% + anti-dumping duties (applicable to some Chinese manufacturers)
• EU: MFN tariff rate 2.7% + Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) surcharge
• Southeast Asia: Generally 0 tariff under ASEAN Free Trade Agreement

It is recommended toHS code lookup toolConfirm specific tariff rules, noting some countries impose graded taxes based on cooling capacity.

IV. How to avoid common risks in air conditioner exports?

• Quality risks: Require factories to provide third-party inspection reports (such as those issued by Intertek)
• Transportation risksPurchaseMaritime TransportationAll Risks Insurance (with special additional coverage for theft, non-delivery)
• Record - filing of Foreign Trade OperatorsEnsure the energy efficiency label complies with the latest standards of the destination country (such as the EUs new energy efficiency classification for 2025)

How to establish an after-sales service system?

It is recommended to adoptThree-tier service system:

• Tier 1: Overseas warehouse spare parts (at least core components must be stocked)
• Tier 2: Local cooperative repair points (require agents to provide a network list)
• Tier 3: Factory technical support (remote diagnosis + emergency dispatch)

How to choose the optimal transportation solution?

Choose transportation method based on cargo volume:

• Full Container Load (FCL) Transportation:40HQ container can hold 600-800 wall-mounted units
• LCL (Less than Container Load) shippingVolume calculation formula: Length × Width × Height × 0.6 (chargeable ton)
• Special modelsCommercial central air conditioners require application for oversized transport permits

What are the special considerations for emerging markets?

• African market: Requires SONCAP certification, recommended payment method: 30% prepayment + payment against copy of bill of lading
• South American market: Most countries require consularized invoices (e.g., Brazil requires chamber of commerce certification)
• Middle East market: Must provide Arabic manuals and Halal certification (for some Islamic countries)