How to become an export furniture agent? The latest 2025 guide to avoiding pitfalls.

How to choose a reliable export furniture agency company?

It is recommended to evaluate an agency company from three dimensions:Industry experience(Have handled at least 300 furniture containers),Compliance Ability(Holding AEO certification or ISO 28000 certificate),Service network(Have a customs clearance agent in the target market). The new EPD environmental declaration policy implemented by the EU in 2025 requires that the agent company must have experience in green supply chain management.

What special qualification certificates are required for exporting furniture?

Depending on the target market, the following preparations are required:

• North American market:
  • CARB Certification (Formaldehyde Emission Standards)
  • FSC Forest Certification (Solid Wood Furniture)
• EU market:
  • CE Mark (including EN 12521 strength test report)
  • Newly added EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) in 2025

?Ocean shipping?How to reduce the damage rate of furniture during shipping?

Mainstream agencies to adopt by 20253D laser scanning container loading technology, by simulating loading, the space utilization rate can be increased by 12%. Key control points include:

• Humidity control: Solid wood furniture must maintain a humidity level of 45%-55% inside the container.
• Shockproof packaging: Composite structure of EPE pearl cotton + honeycomb cardboard.
• Container Loading Monitoring: Require the agency to provide real-time loading videos.

Should the export quotation be FOB or CIF?

Suggestions for 2025Small and medium-sized customers adopt FOB.(To facilitate cost control),Key accounts adopt CIF.(Increase profit margins). Note:

• The CIF quotation for Southeast Asia routes may include 14 days of free demurrage at the destination port.
• Special accounting is required for ISF declaration fees on Europe and America routes (approximately $120-180 per ticket).

How to Prevent Payment Risks in International Trade?

Recommended for 2025:?L/C?+ Third - party supervised accountCombination Plan:

• Request the agency to provide a preliminary review of the Letter of Credit in SWIFT MT700 format.
• Recommended prepayment ratio:
  • New customer: 30% deposit + 70% upon copy of bill of lading
  • Regular customer: 10% deposit + 90% DP at sight

Furniture?Tax Refund?What are the new changes?

Adjusted tax refund rates by the Ministry of Finance for 2025:

• Wooden furniture: 13% → remains unchanged
• Metal furniture: 9% → increased to 11%
• Upholstered furniture: A flame retardant certificate for the sponge must be provided to qualify for the 13% tax refund.

Note: The agency must possess three types of qualifications to handle tax refunds on behalf (?Foreign trade?Comprehensive service qualification, Class A enterprise in foreign exchange management, electronic port IC card)

?E-commerce?What should be considered when exporting furniture?

For Amazon FBA sellers, special attention is required in 2025:

• The ISF filing must include the Amazon FNSKU code.
• The packaging size tolerance must be controlled within ±0.5 inches.
• Recommended selection criteria:Sea freight truck deliveryPlan (cheaper than Haipai by $0.8/CBM)

How should agency fees be calculated reasonably?

Reasonable Market Pricing Standards for 2025:

• Basic service fee: $120/ticket (including customs clearance and document preparation)
• Additional Services:
  • Customs clearance at destination port: $80-150 per shipment
  • Quality Traceability Service: $0.5 per product unit
• Beware of low-price traps (prices below $80/ticket may involve falsified trade data).