Solar Export: Essential Qualifications & Procedures

?photovoltaic??Export Agency?What essential qualifications are required?

When selecting a photovoltaic export agent, enterprises should focus on verifying the following qualification documents:

• ?Import/export?Business Operation License(Customs Registration Form, Electronic Port Card)
• Product Certification Qualifications: Including but not limited to IEC 61215/61730 international standard certifications
• Trade compliance documents:?Certificate of Origin?Bright, dangerous goods transport certificate (for energy storage components)
• Special Market Access Permit: Such as EU CE certification, US UL certification, and Australian CEC listing.

We recommend requesting the agency to provide AEO (Authorized Economic Operator) certification records from the past three years, and the capability to comply with the EU's newly implemented Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) reporting requirements in 2025 should also be included in the evaluation criteria.

What are the standard procedures involved in the export of photovoltaic products?

Mature photovoltaic export agency services typically include seven standardized steps:

• Order Confirmation and Trade Term Negotiation (Key Focus on FOB/CIF/DDP Selection)
• Document Preparation and Compliance Review (Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Certificate of Origin)
• Customs declaration pre-review and HS code classification (special attention should be paid to the updates under item 8541.42 of the 2025 Customs Tariff).
• Development of International Transportation Plans (Selecting Containers/Bulk Carriers Based on Product Characteristics)
• Customs clearance coordination at the destination port (pre-submission of ISF/ENS declaration).
• Sorting of tax refund documents (VAT special invoices, customs declaration forms for tax refund)
• After-sales issue handling (negotiation of demurrage fees, communication on quality disputes)

How to Choose the Optimal International Shipping Solution?

According to 2025 market data, photovoltaic module exports primarily adopt three transportation methods:

• Full Container Load (FCL): Suitable for bulk orders of 20GP or above, with a loading rate requirement of 85% or higher.
• Less than Container Load (LCL): Applicable to sample orders under 5 cubic meters, note the destination port unpacking fee.
• Project Logistics Plan: For power station projects above 100MW, special frame container transportation can be applied for.

Special reminder: Bifacial modules must be used?Vertical reinforced packaging?, the transportation cost per watt is $0.02-0.03 higher than that of conventional modules.

What special certifications are required for the main export markets?

• EU market:
  • CE Certification (including EMC Directive)
  • REACH Regulation SVHC Substance Declaration
  • The newly implemented Battery Passport in 2025
• US Market:
  • UL 1703 Certification
  • Anti-circumvention Investigation Response Plan (Targeting Southeast Asian Production Capacity)
  • WRO Forced Labor Review Documentation

What are the key clauses in an export agency contract?

It is recommended to focus on reviewing the following five contract clauses:

• Liability Allocation Clause (especially regarding the definition of liability for cargo damage)
• List of Fees and Price Adjustment Mechanism (Including Exchange Rate Fluctuation Clause)
• Default Handling Plan (Port Demurrage Cost Allocation Ratio)
• Intellectual Property Guarantee Clause
• Dispute resolution venue selection (it is recommended to stipulate arbitration within China)

How to handle efficiently?Tax Refund??

The current tax rebate rate for photovoltaic products is 13%, and the following documents are required:

• VAT Special Invoice (product name must be exactly the same as on the customs declaration)
• Time - limit requirements?Forex Settlement?Water bill (amount discrepancy not exceeding 5%)
• Customs-verified declaration form (tax refund copy)
• Agency Export Agreement (Not required for self-operated export)

In 2025, customs will implement the "Instant Tax Refund Approval" system, allowing eligible enterprises to receive refunds within 24 hours.

What are the special requirements for emerging markets?

According to the latest data from 2025:

• Indian market: ALMM list mandatory certification, component tariff rate 40%+
• Brazilian market: INMETRO Certification + Localized Packaging Requirements
• Middle East market: SASO Certification + UAE RoHS Compliance Statement

How to prevent international trade risks?

It is recommended to establish a triple-layer risk prevention and control mechanism:

• Payment risks: 30% advance payment + LC at sight payment
• Quality disputes: Agree on a third-party testing agency (such as TüV)
• Logistics risks: Cover All Risks (including War Risks Clauses)

How to choose a reliable export agent?

Five core metrics for evaluating agents:

• Number of industry cases (It is recommended to request more than 3 GW-level project cases)
• Overseas customs clearance network coverage (especially in target markets)
• Emergency Response Team Configuration (7×24 Hour Response)
• Information system maturity (capable of real-time tracking of customs declaration progress)
• Compliance Audit Records (No Significant Customs Penalty Records)

How is the agency service fee structured?

2025 Agency Service Fee Standard Structure:

• Basic service fee: 0.8-1.2% of the cargo value (including document preparation, customs declaration, and inspection).
• Value - added service fee:
  • Special certification agency service: $800-$1500 per item.
  • Destination Port Extension Service: $200-500 per shipment
  • Tax Refund Advance Service: 0.3%/month (calculated based on the number of days advanced)