Do you still need to find a freight forwarder when you have an export agent? Do you know the relationship between export agents and freight forwarders?
Solved#Export agent#
Our company intends to do export business and has found an export agent to help handle export-related matters. But now we are a bit hesitant. Do we still need to find a freight forwarder? Can't the export agent take care of everything related to exports? What additional services can the freight forwarder provide? Will their functions overlap? I hope someone who knows the business can analyze this for me and tell me whether I really need to find a freight forwarder separately.
Professional consultant answers
Elizabeth LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Compliance and risk managerConsult
In export business, whether you still need to find a freight forwarder even after having an export agent depends on specific business needs. Export agents mainly handle customs clearance, foreign exchange settlement, tax rebate and other links in the export process to ensure the compliance of export trade. Freight forwarders focus on goods transportation arrangements, such as booking shipping space, planning transportation routes, loading and unloading of goods, etc.
If the export agent does not provide transportation services, or its transportation services cannot meet your specific needs, for example, if you have special requirements for shipping schedules and routes, it is necessary to find a freight forwarder. Freight forwarders can rely on their professional knowledge and resources to help you find the most suitable transportation solution to reduce transportation costs and risks.
Moreover, freight forwarders are more experienced and capable in dealing with unexpected problems during the transportation of goods. Therefore, it is recommended that you first understand the specific service scope provided by the export agent. If transportation is not covered or is incomplete, finding a freight forwarder is a wise choice.
Joseph ZhouYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior foreign trade managerConsult
Some export agents themselves include freight forwarding services. If their freight forwarding services can meet your requirements, you don't need to find a freight forwarder separately, which can save you a lot of trouble. You can ask the export agent about this situation.
James LiuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Foreign trade tax refund consultantConsult
Freight forwarders have rich resources in the shipping market. For example, when shipping space is tight, freight forwarders may have more ways to get the shipping space. If the export agent cannot ensure the shipping space, you have to find a freight forwarder to solve the transportation problem.
Amanda YangYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cost control consultantConsult
If your goods have high requirements for transportation conditions, such as requiring special refrigeration equipment, freight forwarders are more professional in this regard and can ensure the safety of goods transportation. If the export agent is not good at this, it is necessary to find a freight forwarder.
Jennifer WangYears of service：4Customer Rating：5.0
Market development consultantConsult
Freight forwarders can provide door-to-door services, including picking up goods at the door and delivering them to the designated place. If the export agent does not provide such a service and you have this need, you have to find a freight forwarder.
Robert ChenYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customer service consultantConsult
Some export agents' services are mainly concentrated on document processing and trade links, and transportation is just incidental. If you want more professional transportation, it is better to find a freight forwarder separately.
William YangYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0
International logistics consultantConsult
If the price of the freight forwarding service of the export agent is high, you can compare the quotations of other freight forwarders outside. If the outside freight forwarders have a higher cost-performance ratio, you can consider finding another freight forwarder.
Sarah ZhangYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Document expertConsult
If the transportation route of the goods is complex, involving transshipment and other situations, freight forwarders are more experienced in handling complex route planning and coordinating transshipment matters. In this case, you can consider finding a freight forwarder.
Andrew HuangYears of service：7Customer Rating：5.0
Supply chain optimization expertConsult
If the export agent and the freight forwarder cooperate closely and can provide one-stop services with good service quality, you don't need to find a freight forwarder separately, which can reduce the trouble of docking.
David LiYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Senior customs declaration consultantConsult
If you have long-term fixed transportation needs and a familiar freight forwarder company, even if you have found an export agent, you can continue to cooperate with the familiar freight forwarder to ensure the smooth progress of the transportation link.