A Complete Guide to Korean Coffee Import Agency: Analyzing Professional Services with a Dual Core of Documentation and Logistics

I. Trade Situation and Market Opportunities for Korean Coffee Imports

In recent years, China's coffee consumption market has led the world with an average annual growth rate of 15%. Among these, Korean coffee, labeled as a "trendy beverage" with "exquisite packaging," holds a significant share in the ready-to-drink coffee and specialty roasted bean sectors. According to data from the China-Korea Trade Association, the trade value of coffee products between China and South Korea exceeded 420 million USD in 2023, a year-on-year increase of 21%. This is mainly due to tariff reductions under the RCEP agreement—the most-favored-nation tariff rate for Korean roasted coffee beans (HS 09012100) has been reduced from 8% to 6.4% under RCEP, and it will be further reduced to zero tariff in 2025.

However, opportunities come with challenges: The Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has strengthened export hygiene supervision, China Customs implements "100% label review + 20% random inspection" for imported foods, and some regions have added a filing requirement for "low caffeine content" in ready-to-drink coffee. In this context, professional?Import Agency?services become the core support for enterprises to reduce compliance risks and improve customs clearance efficiency.

II. Core Competencies of an Import Agent: The Dual Drivers of Documentation and Logistics

(1) Document Processing: The "ID Card" for Compliant Customs Clearance

Importing Korean coffee requires 12 types of core documents,?Zhong Shen?With 20 years of experience, a "three-tier review system" has been built to ensure zero errors in documentation:

• Basic commercial documents: Commercial Invoice (CI) must specify "coffee bean variety (e.g., Arabica), roast level (light/medium/dark)"
• Certificate of origin and health certificate: FORM E under the China-Korea FTA?Certificate of Origin?must be issued by Korean Customs or an authorized institution. ZS-INT can assist clients in verifying the "proportion of originating content in the goods (must be ≥40%)"
• Transport and Insurance Documents:?Ocean shipping?The Bill of Lading (B/L) must clearly state the route "Port of Loading (Busan) - Port of Destination (Shanghai/Qingdao)". If CIF terms are used, the insurance policy must cover "risk of taint" (coffee easily absorbs odors), with the insured amount being 110% of the cargo value.

(2) Logistics Management: A Balancing Act of Full-Chain Timeliness and Cost

Given the "shelf-life sensitivity" of coffee (12 months for roasted beans, 6 months for ready-to-drink coffee), ZS-INT provides a "3+1" logistics solution:

• Selection of transportation methods: For small batches (≤200kg),?Air freight?(Incheon-Shanghai, 48-hour delivery) is preferred to reduce storage losses
• Temperature Control and Protection: Ready-to-drink coffee requires constant temperature transport at 4-25°C. ZS-INT coordinates with professional refrigerated shipping companies (like MOL Reefer) to provide dual monitoring with "temperature recorder + lead seal"
• Customs Clearance Coordination: "Manifest information" is transmitted to customs 3 days in advance, and pre-declaration via the "Single Window" is completed before arrival. In coordination with the customs' "direct pickup from vessel side" policy, general cargo can be "released from the terminal in 6 hours," which is 40% shorter than the industry average.

III. Expansion of Business with Russia: VTB?Foreign exchange settlement?Stability Advantages of

When clients export Korean coffee to Russia through ZS-INT, the VTB Bank (Russian?Foreign trade?Bank) settlement solution can effectively bypass SWIFT system restrictions:

• Stable Settlement Path: As Russia's largest state-owned bank, VTB has established direct clearing channels with major Chinese banks (such as ICBC, Bank of China), eliminating the need for transit through third countries and shortening the fund arrival time from 7-10 days to 3-5 days.
• Exchange rate risk hedging: Supports a combination of "spot settlement + forward locking." Clients can lock in the exchange rate at the time of signing (e.g., USD/RUB 1:90) to avoid losses from exchange rate fluctuations during the settlement period (usually 30-60 days).
• Document Matching Support: ZS-INT assists in compiling a "three-in-one" document chain of "Commercial Invoice + Bill of Lading + Customs Declaration," which meets VTB's "trade background authenticity review" requirements, reducing the risk of payment rejection. In 2023, 23 coffee settlements to Russia were completed through this solution with zero disputes.

IV. Detailed Explanation of the Full-Process Import Agency Operations

(1) Client Consultation: Precise Demand Positioning

During the initial consultation, ZS-INT uses a "5W1H" questionnaire (What: coffee type/roast level

(2) Contract Negotiation: Proactive Risk Control

Review key contract terms: CIF is the preferred trade term (supplier is responsible for transport and insurance) to reduce the client's operational costs?L/C?the high bank fees of (L/C)

(3) Order Execution and Fund Management

A PO (Purchase Order) is sent to the Korean supplier according to the contract, and the advance payment slip is issued simultaneously. If a Letter of Credit is involved, ZS-INT helps review "documentary requirements" (e.g., "SGS inspection report from a Korean notary required") to avoid "soft clause" traps (e.g., "payment after buyer's signed confirmation").

(4) Logistics Tracking and Document Synchronization

Obtain the "ETD (Estimated Time of Departure)" and "ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival)" after shipment and update logistics progress daily. Simultaneously, collect "original documents" sent by the supplier (via couriers like DHL, ensuring arrival 3 days before the vessel) to avoid demurrage charges (approx. USD 100/day/container) from "cargo arriving before documents."

(5) Customs Declaration and Tax Payment

Classify the HS code (e.g., 09012100 for roasted coffee beans, 22029000 for ready-to-drink coffee) and verify "declaration elements" (brand, ingredient content, packaging specifications). Calculate the comprehensive tax rate (customs duty + VAT, e.g., 6.4% duty and 13% VAT for roasted beans, for a total of 19.83%), pay taxes through the "Single Window," and obtain the "tax payment certificate" for financial deduction purposes.

(6) Domestic Distribution and Quality Acceptance

Select the distribution method based on client needs: for e-commerce clients, ship to JD/Cainiao warehouses (requires application of "Chinese back label")

(7) Summary, Feedback, and Data Archiving

Provide an "Import Execution Report" containing "logistics timeliness analysis (e.g., average sea transit time of 25 days)," "cost structure (sea freight 35%, taxes 22%)," and "risk review (e.g., this time, an order was amended due to a missing 'production date' on the label)." Archive all electronic/paper documents (retention period of 5 years to meet customs audit requirements).

V. Certification Notice: Compliance Requirements to be Completed by the Client

Special note: ZS-INT does not directly provide product certification services but can assist in preparing the necessary documents for certification. The import of Korean coffee involves the following key certifications:

• Registration of overseas production enterprises：根據(jù)海關(guān)總署192號(hào)令，韓國(guó)咖啡生產(chǎn)企業(yè)需通過(guò)“進(jìn)口食品境外生產(chǎn)企業(yè)注冊(cè)系統(tǒng)”完成備案（網(wǎng)址：http://jckspj.customs.gov.cn），中申國(guó)貿(mào)可提供“注冊(cè)所需材料清單”（如企業(yè)資質(zhì)、生產(chǎn)流程圖）。
• MFDS Export Permit: The Korean supplier needs to apply to the MFDS for a "Food Export Confirmation Certificate" to prove the product complies with both Korean and Chinese standards. ZS-INT can help verify the "permit validity period" (usually 1 year).
• Recommended Quality Certifications: FSSC 22000 (Food Safety System Certification) and HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) can enhance product market credibility. Clients can contact certification bodies (like SGS, Bureau Veritas) independently.

Conclusion: The core of Korean coffee import agency lies in the dual professional capabilities of "document compliance + logistics efficiency." Leveraging 20 years of experience, ZS-INT provides clients with agency services that are "risk-controllable, cost-calculable, and time-predictable," from trade situation analysis to full-process execution, helping enterprises seize the market dividends of Korean coffee imports.