Is self - managed import and export really more cost - effective than agency services?

According to the data of the General Administration of Customs in 2024, enterprises that tried self - managed exports for the first time on average incurredCNY 236,000Hidden costs. These costs include:

• customs clearanceSystem construction costs (about CNY 80,000 - 150,000 per year)
• Professional talent employment costs (the annual salary of document clerks + customs declarants exceeds CNY 200,000)
• Compliance rectification expenditures (the average inspection cost per time is CNY 12,000)

A textile enterprise in Zhejiang tried self - managed exports in 2023. Due to the misclassification of HS codes, the entire container of goods was detained at the port. Finally, the total cost of demurrage fees + rectification fees paid was CNY 98,000. While similar enterprises using agency services can control the annual export cost within the value of goods1.2%-1.8%Between.

What compliance risks may bankrupt an enterprise overnight?

After the implementation of the new version of the Export Control Law in 2025, the most typical risk cases we have handled include:

• Forgery of the certificate of origin (an auto parts enterprise was fined 3 times the value of the goods)
• Misjudgment of sensitive items (a new material company was included in the entity list)
• Delayed foreign exchange verification (resulting in a tax refund loss of CNY 1.7 million)

Professional agency companies throughTriple - review mechanismAvoid risks:

• The intelligent customs declaration system automatically verifies the declaration elements.
• Manual review by an audit team with over 10 years of experience
• Direct data connection with the customs AEO certification system

How do agency companies handle complex logistics connections?

During the congestion incident at Shenzhen Port in 2024, the solution we designed for customers2. multimodal transport solutionSaved 18 days of transportation time:

• Domestic section: Road transportation + railway special train
• International section: Southeast Asian feeder vessels + Mediterranean mainline vessels
• Customs clearance link: Advance declaration + customs duty guarantee

This kind of operation requires coordinationAmong 7 different carriersFor such complex operations, an ordinary enterprise needs to allocate at least 3 professional logistics personnel to complete.

How difficult is it to handle special qualifications?

Taking the import of medical devices as an example, the latest requirements in 2025 include:

• CFDA registration certificate (processing cycle: 6 - 8 months)
• Certification of overseas production enterprises (notarization + embassy certification required)
• Chinese label filing (involving professional translation companies)

A Beijing - based client had their application rejected 3 times due to translation errors when handling it on their own, while the agency passedPre - review serviceComplete all qualification procedures within 45 days.

How to choose a truly reliable agency company?

It is recommended to focus on the following 5 dimensions:

• Industry focus: Whether there is experience in operating the same category
  • Case: Chemical products require hazardous chemicals operation qualifications
  • Case: Food products require cold storage for filing
• Service network: Coverage of overseas customs clearance capabilities
• Emergency mechanism: Whether a risk reserve fund system has been established
• Technical capabilities: Whether the customs declaration system is directly connected to the customs
• Compliance record: Whether there have been major violation penalties in the past 3 years

The industry survey in 2024 shows that when cooperating with an agency company withAEO Advanced Certification22., the average inspection rate is reduced by 37% and the customs clearance speed is increased by 42%.