Is import and export agency a waste of money? 3 data tell you the truth

Mr. Zhang recently received an overseas order but got stuck in the complex customs declaration process. He smiled bitterly and said, "I didn't realize that exporting is not just about loading the goods onto the ship!" There are not a few small and medium-sized enterprise owners like Mr. Zhang - they want to explore the international market but are overwhelmed by documents, tax and logistics. At this time, professional import and export agency companies often become the key to breaking the deadlock.

According to the data from the General Administration of Customs, in 2022, the proportion of goods exported through agencies exceeded 60%. The core advantages of choosing an agency are as follows:

• Avoid compliance risks: Incorrect classification of HS codes may lead to high fines, and agency companies can reduce the error rate with their experience
• Save hidden costs: Ms. Li once lost an order because she was not familiar with the rules of the origin certificate, resulting in the customer not being able to enjoy tariff preferences
• Improve logistics efficiency: Full control from booking space to customs clearance can shorten the average by 3-5 working days

High-quality agency institutions such as Zhongshitong usually have the following characteristics:

• Have AEO advanced customs certification qualifications
• Provide a full-process visual tracking system
• Be familiar with the special requirements of the target country (such as EU REACH certification)
• Can handle complex settlement methods such as letters of credit
• Have emergency handling capabilities (such as cabin space coordination during the epidemic)

Mr. Wang shared a painful lesson: An agency did not explain the destination port surcharge when quoting, and the final freight exceeded the budget by 40%. It is recommended to pay special attention to:

• Confirm whether the quotation includes miscellaneous fees such as inspection and quarantine and fumigation
• Clarify the division of responsibilities (such as the claims process for goods damage)
• Request to provide past export cases of similar products

It is worth noting that the agency model is not omnipotent. If an enterprise meets the following conditions, it can consider self-export: annual export volume exceeds 5 million US dollars, has a professional foreign trade team, and the product standardization degree is high. But for most small and medium-sized enterprises, leaving professional matters to professionals is still a more cost-effective choice.

Next time when you face the complex export process, you might as well ask yourself: Do you want to buy experience with the cost of trial and error, or let the agency company become your "foreign trade leverage"? Welcome to share your export story in the comment section.