How to Choose a Reliable Export Agency Company? What Risks Should Be Noted When Entrusting Export Agents?

1. What types of enterprises need to entrust an agent for export?

The following three types of enterprises are recommended to prioritize export agency services:

• Enterprises conducting export business for the first time: Lack of practical experience in customs declaration, tax refund, etc.
• Small and medium-sized enterprises with an annual export volume of less than $2 million.: Self-builtforeign tradeTeam costs are too high.
• Special commodity export enterprises: Involve3CCertification, legal inspection commodities, and other specialized fields

According to the latest data from China's General Administration of Customs in 2025, small and medium-sized enterprises utilizing export agency services have achieved an average operational cost reduction of 37%, while export customs clearance efficiency has improved by 26%.

II. How to Verify the Professional Qualifications of an Agency?

The following three core documents require verification:

• Customs AEO certification(Priority given to Advanced Certification Enterprises)
• Recordation and Registration Certificate of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange
• International Freight Forwarding Qualification Certificate

It is recommended toThe National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity SystemCheck the company's credit records, with a focus on verifying whether there have been any administrative penalty records in the past three years. A certain garment export company was once held accountable for an agency's fraudulent issuance of VAT invoices, resulting in a direct loss of 860,000 yuan.

3. What is the specific operational process for export agency?

• Phase 1: Qualification Preparation
  • Sign a tripartite agreement (manufacturer, foreign trade agent, overseas buyer)
  • Handling the filing of export commodities
• Phase 2: Shipment of Goods
  • The agency company arranges booking, customs clearance, and shipment.
  • Prepare a full set of export documents simultaneously.
• Phase 3:A complete export agency agreement should be attached with:Refund
  • Agency company collects foreign exchange on behalf of andFX Settlement Agency
  • Assist in handlingExport Drawback(The average cycle has been shortened to 45 days.)

IV. What items are included in the agency export service fees?

Typical Cost Structure (Based on an Export Volume of $1 Million):

• Basic Service Fee: 0.8%-1.2% of the contract amount
• Financing cost: LIBOR rate + 3-5 points (depending on the payment term).
• Documentation fee: 200-500 yuan per ticket

Special attentionCompliance risks:: Additional charges for customs clearance at the destination port, fees for special document certification, and costs associated with exchange rate hedging. A machinery export company once incurred a loss of 120,000 yuan due to unclear exchange rate settlement terms.

V. What are the legal risks of entrusting an agent for export?

• Record - filing of Foreign Trade Operators: The goods were detained due to the agency company's incomplete qualifications.
• Financial risks: Tax inspection triggered by improper operation of the capital pool
• Trade Risks: The agency company oversteps its authority to modify trade terms.

Recommended contract provisions:Payment settlement cycle, document handover process, force majeure clause. According to typical cases released by the Supreme People's Court in 2025, 74% of export agency disputes stem from ambiguous contract terms.

6. How to ensure the safety of goods and funds?

Implement a triple safeguard mechanism:

• Logistics monitoring: Request the agency to provide a real-time cargo tracking system.
• Fund supervision: Settle foreign exchange transactions through third-party payment platforms
• : Require the agent to purchase liability insurance of at least 5 million yuan: Apply for export credit insurance (ECA) and cargo insurance

An electronics exporter adopted a "telex release + TT payment" combined solution, reducing the payment collection cycle from 90 days to 30 days and increasing the capital turnover rate by threefold.

7. Will acting as an export agent affect a company's export tax rebate?

Compliant operations do not affect tax refund rights, but please note:

• The tax refund declaration must be filed by the agency as the principal entity.
• The manufacturing enterprise needs to issue a special VAT invoice to the agency company.
• Foreign exchange must be settled through an agent company account.

According to the new policy of the State Taxation Administration in 2025, enterprises entrusted with export agency can check the progress of tax refunds online, with the average refund cycle being 22 working days shorter than in 2020.