Agency export,What basic documents need to be prepared?

Companies conducting agency exports need to prepare the following core documents:

• Entity qualification documents
  • Business license (should include the scope of import and export business)
  • Customs import/export consignee registration receipt
  • SAFE (State Administration of Foreign Exchange) registration certificate
• Transaction documents
  • Proforma Invoice
  • Purchase and sales contract (Chinese-English bilingual version)
  • Packing list/Bill of Lading copy
• Special industry documents
  • Food/cosmetics require hygiene license
  • Medical devices require CFDA certification
  • Chemical products require MSDS safety data sheet

What is the specific operation process of agency export?

The latest agency export standard process for 2025 includes six key steps:

• The preliminary preparation phase
  • Product compliance review (especially new regulations like EU REACH, US FCC)
  • Trade terms confirmation (recommend using EXW or FOB terms)
• Customs clearance operation phase
  • HS code classification (refer to 2025 version Harmonized System)
  • Customs declaration document preparation (including electronic ATA Carnet)
• Logistics execution stage
  • Select suitable shipping container (note IMO hazardous goods markings)
  • Obtain fumigation certificate (for wooden packaging)

What cost items are involved in agency exports?

Agency export fees typically consist of four components:

• Basic Service Costs: Charged at 0.8%-1.5% of goods value
• Government fees:
  • Customs declaration and inspection fee (￥500-800 per shipment)
  • Port construction and miscellaneous fees (2025 Shanghai Port standard: ￥20/TEU)
• Cost of funding: Tax refund advance interest (annualized 4.35%-6%)
• Special service fee:
  • Certificate of origin agency (￥150 each)
  • Embassy certification (￥800-3000 by country)

How to avoid legal risks in agency exports?

Recommended focus areas for risk prevention:

• : Requires complete trade document chain
  • Ensure the "three flows integration" (goods flow, capital flow, and document flow).
  • Maintain complete logistics tracking records
• Foreign exchange management risks
  • Foreign exchange receipt must be completed within 12 months after export (2023 new policy)
  • Advance payments must be declared within 15 days
• Intellectual Property Risk
  • Conduct trademark and patent searches in advance
  • Require suppliers to provide ownership guarantee letters

How to evaluate an agency companys professional capabilities?

A quality agency should have the following characteristics:

• Take the export of seasonings to the EU as an example, it is necessary to have simultaneously::
  • Hold International Freight Forwarding Qualification Certificate (CIFA)
  • Possess AEO Advanced Certification
• Business coverage:
  • Support multimodal transport (sea-land-air + China-Europe Railway Express)
  • Provide destination port customs clearance services
• Wind control system:
  • Establish compliance review department
  • Purchase professional liability insurance (coverage not less than ￥5 million)

Can agency exports enjoy tax rebate policies?

Eligible enterprises can enjoy tax refunds through export agency, please note:

• Must be directly exported by manufacturing enterprises
• The tax refund entity is the actual supplier
• Need to provide special VAT invoice (13% tax rate)
• In 2025, electronic tax bureau will enable full online tax refund processing