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Is it really difficult to engage in import and export agency business now? Come and share your experiences!

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I've been considering getting into the import and export agency industry recently and would like to first understand the level of difficulty of this industry at present. I know that the market environment is constantly changing and policies are also adjusted from time to time. I wonder if these factors have a significant impact on import and export agency business. In addition, is the competition fierce? Are there any friends already in this line of business who can share the actual difficulties and challenges, as well as any coping strategies?

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Professional consultant answers

James Liu
James LiuYears of service:10Customer Rating:5.0

Foreign trade tax refund consultantConsult

There are indeed certain difficulties in import and export agency business at present. From the perspective of the market environment, the global economic situation is unstable and trade protectionism is on the rise, causing fluctuations in import and export volumes, which affects the agency business. In terms of policies, policies of customs, taxation, etc. are continuously updated, and one needs to pay close attention at all times and adjust operating procedures in a timely manner. The competition is also extremely fierce. There are numerous peers, and to stand out, it is necessary to provide differentiated services. For example, agencies like Zhongshitong will strengthen the professional capabilities of their teams, accurately grasp policies, and customize solutions for customers. At the same time, digital means are used to improve efficiency and reduce human errors. It is also necessary to expand value-added services, such as supply chain finance. Although it is difficult, as long as one grasps market and policy trends and takes high-quality services as the core, there is still room for development.

Michelle Chen
Michelle ChenYears of service:3Customer Rating:5.0

Business coordination consultantConsult

It's difficult. It's not easy to find customer resources. Many companies want to directly connect with suppliers and have a low dependence on agents. Even if customers are found, they have high requirements, demanding low prices and good services.

Emily Liu
Emily LiuYears of service:10Customer Rating:5.0

Settlement and payment expertConsult

It doesn't seem too difficult. As long as you are familiar with the process and maintain good relationships with customs, freight forwarders, etc., it's not difficult to carry out the business. But you have to be able to endure hardship as there are a lot of tasks such as handling documents and communicating and coordinating.

Amanda Yang
Amanda YangYears of service:3Customer Rating:5.0

Cost control consultantConsult

It's true that the competition is too fierce. There are quite a few companies engaging in price wars. Moreover, with the transparency of information nowadays, customers can easily compare prices, squeezing the profit margin.

Jennifer Wang
Jennifer WangYears of service:4Customer Rating:5.0

Market development consultantConsult

The rapid changes in policies are really troublesome. For example, tariff adjustments can affect cost accounting, and a careless mistake may lead to losses. One also has to keep an eye on policy documents all the time to avoid delaying customers' business.

Robert Chen
Robert ChenYears of service:6Customer Rating:5.0

Customer service consultantConsult

The unstable international situation has a great impact. For example, trade frictions can cause orders to disappear suddenly. It also depends on the industry. If the demand in some industries is weak, there will be less agency business.

William Yang
William YangYears of service:5Customer Rating:5.0

International logistics consultantConsult

The financial pressure is also a problem. Sometimes, the customer's payment for goods is slow to be recovered, and the agent has to advance funds. If the capital chain breaks, the business can't be carried out.

Andrew Huang
Andrew HuangYears of service:7Customer Rating:5.0

Supply chain optimization expertConsult

Problems are likely to occur in the operation process. For example, document errors may lead to the detention of goods, affecting customers' trust. One has to be careful.

Sarah Zhang
Sarah ZhangYears of service:8Customer Rating:5.0

Document expertConsult

It's not easy to recruit talents. Professional import and export agency talents need to understand both foreign trade and be familiar with policies and regulations, and they are hard to find.

The relevant questions or replies only represent the user’s personal stance and do not represent any views of this website.

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