Export agentWhat kind of industry does it belong to?

In the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC Rev.4),Export agentClassified asBusiness Service Industry - Trade Agency and Brokerage Services(Code 4610). According to the Classification of National Economic Industries (GB/T 4754 - 2025) in China, it is specifically classified as:

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This industry hasService intermediary + Risk - bearingdual attributes. It not only provides trade process services but also assumes the performance responsibilities in links such as customs clearance, logistics, and foreign exchange settlement. The latest data in 2025 shows that the scale of Chinas export agency market has exceeded 2.8 trillion yuan, serving more than 1.2 million enterprises.

What is the essential difference between an export agency and a customs broker?

A common misunderstanding is to equate export agency with customs declaration services. In fact, there are three core differences:

• Difference in Service Scope
  • Customs broker: Focuses on handling customs declaration documents
  • Export agency: Covers the whole process including customer development, contract signing, logistics arrangement, foreign exchange verification, etc.
• Difference in Legal Liability
  • The customs broker, as a declaration agent, assumes procedural liability
  • The export agency needs to assume joint liability as the trade principal
• Difference in Qualification Requirements
  • The customs broker needs to be registered with the customs
  • Export agents need to have foreign trade operation qualifications, foreign exchange management filing, etc. simultaneously.

What are the new service models of export agencies in 2025?

With the full implementation of RCEP and the improvement of cross - border e - commerce supervision policies, the industry presents three innovation trends:

• Digital integrated service platform: Integrate data from government platforms such as the single customs window, electronic port, and foreign exchange monitoring system
• Supply chain financial services: Provide services such as order financing and export credit insurance based on real trade data
• Compliance risk control system: Embed modules such as AEO certification standards, export control screening, and trade compliance early warning

A typical case is the one launched by a leading agency company in ShenzhenIntelligent tax - refund system, which shortens the traditional 60 - day tax - refund cycle to 12 working days.

How to judge the compliance of an export agency company?

Referring to the Administrative Measures for Foreign Trade Comprehensive Service Enterprises of the General Administration of Customs in 2025, compliant agents should have:

• Qualification documents: Record of foreign trade operator, AEO certification of the customs, and inclusion in the list of foreign exchange receipts and payments
• Risk prevention and control system: Commodity classification database, trade country screening system, intellectual property verification process
• Business transparency: Provide a full - process visual tracking system, and expense details are traceable

Special Notice: Be cautious of agents offering "tax-inclusive" services, as such practices have been identified as key customs violations targeted for crackdown in 2025.

7 core elements that must be paid attention to when choosing an export agency

• Service matching degree: Whether it supports different trade terms such as EXW/FOB/DDP
• Regional expertise: Customs clearance capabilities in specific country markets (such as EU CE certification, US FDA declaration)
• Security of funds: Whether to set up a third - party regulatory account and whether there is cooperation with credit insurance
• The response speed.: Emergency handling mechanism (such as inspection emergency response, bill - amendment timeliness)
• system connected: ERP data interoperability capabilities, API interface openness
• Value Added Services: VAT registration, overseas warehouse stockpiling, destination - country compliance consultation, etc.
• Price structure: Whether it includes hidden charges (such as port congestion surcharge, bill - amendment fee)

It is recommended that enterprises require the agency company to provide theCases of Industry Customersof services in the past two years, and focus on examining the handling records of special business scenarios.