How to choose an export agency company? What qualifications are required for export agency? Latest answers for 2025

How to judge the professional reliability of an agent company?

ChooseExport RepresentationCompanies should focus on verifying the following elements:

• Customs AEO certification qualification: The 2025 new edition certification standards require agency companies to have a complete trade security system
• Years of industry service: Prioritize mature enterprises with continuous operation for over 5 years to avoid risks associated with newly established companies
  • Verification method: Check the establishment date in the enterprise credit publicity system
  • Reference case: A textile company once experienced a $1 million tax rebate delay due to choosing an agency company established only 8 months prior
• Special qualification certificates: Dangerous goods exports require inspection of dangerous goods packaging certificates; food exports require registration of export food production enterprises

What core services does export agency include?

High-quality agency companies should provide full-process services:

• Basic services
  • Customs declaration and inspection (including RCEPIt is recommended to verify through the following methods:certificate application)
  • 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.and tax filing
• Value - added Services
  • Destination port customs clearance exception handling (new EU carbon tariff declaration requirements added in 2025)
  • Export credit insurance coordination

How to calculate reasonable agency fees?

The current market mainly adopts three fee calculation models:

• Value - proportion system: 0.8%-1.5% (floating based on product HS code risk level)
• Project-based Service: 500-2000 yuan per customs declaration document,A complete export agency agreement should be attached with:0.3‰ foreign exchange settlement fee
• Hybrid fee system: It is recommended that small and medium-sized enterprises choose the basic service package + value-added services pay-as-you-go model

Special attention should be paid to hidden charges:

• Container detention fee advance interest (major shipping companies detention fee standards have increased by 30% in 2025)
• Document certification expedited fees (embassy certification expedited fees generally exceed 2000 yuan)

How to prevent risks in export agency business?

Recommended Triple Safeguard Measures:

• Contract terms constraints
  • Clearly define compensation liability for customs declaration errors (recommended to set a minimum compensation standard of 5000 yuan per document)
  • Specify foreign exchange receipt time limit (current policy requires tax rebate processing within 15 working days after foreign exchange receipt)
• Process monitoring mechanism
  • Require the agency company to provide real-time customs clearance status queries
  • Monthly verification of foreign exchange verification sheet electronic data
• Risk reserve systemIt is recommended to retain 3%-5% of the contract amount as a quality guarantee deposit

Under what circumstances must an agency company be replaced?

The agency replacement procedure should be initiated immediately under the following circumstances:

• Customs declarations being selected for inspection 3 consecutive times (may involve credit downgrade risks)
• Foreign exchange receipt and settlement delays exceeding 30 calendar days
• Failure to promptly follow up on the revised INCOTERMS clauses effective in 2025
• Leakage of customer commercial data (can be held accountable through customs AEO information protection clauses)

How to verify an agency companys overseas customs clearance capability?

A three-step verification method is recommended:

• Request destination port customs clearance cases (no less than 20 same-category clearance records in the past 2 years)
• Verify overseas cooperation networks
  • Self-owned overseas companies (requires inspection of foreign investment certificates)
  • Membership in international freight alliances (such as WCA certification)
• Test emergency response speed (simulate container detention scenario, require solution proposal within 4 hours)