I plan to do export business, but I'm not very familiar with export agents. I wonder what the differences are among different export agents. Is it the service content, charging standards, or other aspects? I hope someone can explain it to me so that I can have a clear idea when choosing an export agent and know from which aspects to consider and compare.
When doing trade in Changzhou and wanting to know about export agency fees, inquire about the charging standards and whether there are differences in charges for different products. The best answer points out that there is no fixed standard for Changzhou's trade export agency fees. Common methods include charging by a percentage of the order amount (1% - 5%), charging per ticket (around 800 - 2000 yuan), and comprehensive charging. Different products, transportation methods, trade terms, etc. will all affect the charges. It is recommended to provide detailed business information to agency companies like Zhongshitong for a quotation.
After the company expands its overseas business and chooses an export agent, it is whether it still needs to find a freight forwarder and whether the export agent can handle transportation and other matters without finding a freight forwarder. The best answer points out that the export agent mainly deals with trade links, while the freight forwarder focuses on transportation arrangements. If the export agent covers logistics and transportation, it may not be necessary to find a freight forwarder; otherwise, it is more professional and efficient to find a freight forwarder. One should first clarify the service content of the export agent and then decide whether to find a freight forwarder.
When researching export agency business, I want to understand its classification criteria. There are various common classification criteria for export agents. By service scope, there are full - process and partial - process agents; by charging mode, there are fixed - fee and percentage - based fee agents; by the nature of the agent, there are professional foreign trade agency companies and comprehensive enterprise agents; by trade mode, there are general trade and processing trade export agents, etc.
I've just started dealing with foreign trade business and I'm confused about the concepts of export agents and freight forwarders. I'm asking whether an export agent is a freight forwarder and what the differences are between them. The best answer points out that an export agent is not a freight forwarder. Freight forwarders are mainly responsible for operations related to cargo transportation, such as booking shipping space, customs declaration, etc.; an export agent is a trade service role, covering a wider range of trade services such as handling export formalities, collecting foreign exchange, and applying for tax rebates.
I'm confused about whether a freight forwarder is an import and export agent. Some people say that if a freight forwarder helps handle import and export process affairs, it is an import and export agent, while others claim there are differences between the two. The best answer explains that a freight forwarder is mainly responsible for cargo transportation, and import and export agency covers a wider range of trade links. If a freight forwarder has the qualifications, it can provide relevant services, but the two cannot be simply equated. There are intersections as well as differences.
When learning about foreign trade business, people are confused about freight forwarders and import and export agents, and ask whether a freight forwarder is the same as an import and export agent and the differences between them. The best answer points out that a freight forwarder is mainly responsible for cargo transportation, such as booking shipping space, etc.; the services of an import and export agent are more comprehensive, handling not only transportation but also customs declaration, inspection declaration and other matters. Although the two are related, their service scopes and focuses are different.
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Professional consultant answers
Emily LiuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Settlement and payment expertConsult
The differences of export agents are mainly reflected in the following aspects. Firstly, in terms of service content, some agents only provide basic customs declaration and shipping space booking services, while professional agents like Zhongshitong also cover one-stop services such as tax refund processing, foreign exchange settlement, and logistics distribution, which can save enterprises' time and effort. Secondly, regarding the charging standards, some charge according to a certain proportion of the cargo value, and some charge a fixed amount per order. The proportion and amount vary greatly among different agents. Thirdly, in terms of professional capabilities, professional export agents are familiar with the policies, regulations, and trade processes of various countries and can effectively avoid risks, such as handling complex customs inspections. Also, there are resource advantages. Large agents often have close cooperation with shipping companies and freight forwarders and can obtain more favorable freight rates and shipping spaces. In addition, there are differences in service response speed. Good agents can handle unexpected problems in a timely manner to ensure the smooth export of goods.
In conclusion, when choosing an export agent, a comprehensive consideration of multiple aspects is required.
Joseph ZhouYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior foreign trade managerConsult
The differences of different export agents are also reflected in the aspect of reputation. Agents with good reputations will pay more attention to their own word-of-mouth when handling business and are more reliable. Some small agents may engage in non-standard behaviors during operations for short-term interests, bringing risks to customers.
Elizabeth LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Compliance and risk managerConsult
Experience is also a point of difference for export agents. Experienced agents can quickly come up with solutions when facing various complex situations, such as destination port customs clearance issues and trade disputes. Newly established agents may be flustered when dealing with such problems.
Michelle ChenYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Business coordination consultantConsult
Export agents differ in their informatization levels. Agents with a high degree of informatization can provide real-time feedback on business progress, such as the cargo transportation status and customs declaration situation, allowing customers to keep informed at any time. Agents with backward informatization may still rely on manual communication, resulting in untimely information transmission.
David LiYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Senior customs declaration consultantConsult
There are differences in value-added services among export agents. Some agents can provide value-added services such as market analysis and trade financing to help enterprises expand the market and solve capital problems, while most agents do not have these service capabilities.
Andrew HuangYears of service：7Customer Rating：5.0
Supply chain optimization expertConsult
Different export agents vary in terms of customer groups. Some agents focus on specific industries and are more familiar with the export processes and requirements of products in those industries; while some serve multiple industries, and their advantages are not concentrated in a certain field.
James LiuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Foreign trade tax refund consultantConsult
Export agents differ in after-sales service. Good agents will actively assist in handling problems if they occur after the goods are exported, such as product quality feedback. However, some agents no longer care about subsequent situations after the export is completed.
Jennifer WangYears of service：4Customer Rating：5.0
Market development consultantConsult
The aspect of personnel quality is also a difference among export agents. A professional and high-quality workforce can provide more accurate and efficient services. If the agents' personnel are not proficient in their business, mistakes are likely to occur during operations.
William YangYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0
International logistics consultantConsult
There are differences in local services among different export agents. Agents with physical offices and professional teams locally have more convenient communication and can respond to enterprises' needs in a timely manner. Purely online or agents from other places may have higher communication costs.