Home»Trade Essentials» How to Find a Reliable Export Agency? These 5 Key Questions Must Be Clarified!
1. What types of enterprises need to seekExport RepresentationA professional agency company should have the following characteristics:
The following three types of enterprises are most in need of professional agency services:Newlyimport and exportProduction-oriented factory for power tools(annual export volume below $5 million),Cross-border E-commerceTransforming enterprises(Over 100 orders per day on average),Special commodity exporter(Required for3CCertification/Hazardous Chemicals/Food Categories). Taking a Hangzhou-based apparel company as an example, after transitioning to cross-border B2C in 2025, it avoided $200,000 in product return losses by utilizing professional agents due to unfamiliarity with Amazon FBA warehousing standards.
2. How to verify the authenticity of an agency company's qualifications?
It is recommended to verify through three dimensions:
Officially Certified
China Customs AEO Advanced Certification (Valid until 2027)
Member of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA)
Practical cases
Please provide the same category from the past 2 years.Export ClearanceSingle (desensitization processed)
Check its overseas warehouse GPS location records
Financial strength
Registered capital not less than 5 million RMB
The insured amount for international cargo liability insurance exceeds $10 million.
3. How should agency fees be reasonably calculated?
The 2025 industry pricing standards exhibit two major trends:Basic Service Package(0.5%-1.2% of the cargo value) including customs declaration, documentation, and tax refund;Value - added ServicesBilled separately by project. Pay special attention to three types of hidden charges:
The allocation ratio of demurrage charges when the cargo is not picked up at the destination port.
Expedited inspection fees for special categories (such as UN38.3 certification for lithium batteries)
Settlement Adjustment Mechanism When Exchange Rate Fluctuation Exceeds 3%
IV. How to Avoid Legal Risks in Cooperation?
It is recommended to clearly specify three key clauses in the contract:
Liability division: Specify the responsibilities of the transport segment by referencing the latest version of INCOTERMS? 2025.
Dispute Resolution: It is agreed that the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) shall have jurisdiction.
Data security: The agent is required to obtain ISO27001 Information Security Management certification.
V. What are the key stages that must be monitored during the collaboration process?
It is recommended to establish four monitoring nodes:
Logistics Tracking: Requires real-time access to shipping company API data (such as Maersk, COSCO).Maritime TransportationTrade dispute settlement mechanisms
Fund flow direction: Third-party payment platform escrow for tax refunds (e.g., XTransfer)
Compliance review: Audit the accuracy of HS code classification quarterly.
Service response: Commit to responding to urgent inquiries within 2 hours (including holidays).
According to the "foreign tradeThe "Service Enterprise Credit Rating Report" indicates that selecting an AAA-rated agency can reduce operational risks by 38%. It is recommended to verify the administrative penalty records of the past three years through the "Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System" and request the agency to provide the "Supplier Credit Investigation Report" issued by Sinosure.