Export Agent or Direct Export: A 2024 Guide for New Companies

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New to exporting? Decide whether to use an export agent or direct export. Learn how to avoid risks, cut costs, and comply with regulations. Explore the key factors now.

Export Agent or Direct Export: A 2024 Guide for New Companies

Newly establishedWhether the company needs to find?

For new foreign trade enterprises registered for less than three years,it is recommended to prioritize using agency services.According to the latest customs data from 2025,nearly 40% of trade violations come from enterprises established for less than three years.Agency services can help you:

  • Avoidqualificationrisks:Specialbusinesslicensesarerequiredfortheexportofsomecommodities(e.g.productsrequireCFDAcertification)
  • Saveoperatingcosts:Thereisnoneedtobuildaself-builtcustomsdeclarationteam(theannualmaintenancecostofasingleportisabout150,000-200,000yuan)
  • Quicklyestablishchannels:Theexistingcustomerdataoftheagencycompanycanhelpyouobtainbettershippingprices.

Is it more cost - effective for a manufacturing enterprise to export on its own or through an agency?

For manufacturing enterprises with an annual export volume of less than $5 million,it is recommended to adopt the agency model.Take manufacturing enterprises in the Yangtze River Delta region as an example:

  • Costcomparison:
    • Self-export:Itisnecessarytoequipa3-personforeigntradeteam(withanaverageannuallaborcostof450,000yuan)+systemmaintenancefeeof80,000yuan.
    • Agencyservice:Chargeaservicefeeof0.8%-1.2%ofthecargovalue(foracargovalueof5millionyuan,itisabout40,000-60,000yuan).
  • Suggestions for special scenarios:
    • WhenatransactioninvolvestheDDPclause,itisrecommendedtoentrustanagencywiththeabilitytoclearcustomsatthedestination.
    • WhenthereisadisputeovertheHScodeofaproduct,aprofessionalagencycanprovideapre-classificationrulingservice.

Which special commodities must be exported through an agency?

According to the latest supervision catalog of the Ministry of Commerce in 2025,the following categories are recommended to be mandatorily represented by agents:

  • Controlledcommodities:Lithiumbatteries(UN38.3certification),hazardouschemicals(requireprofessionalMSDSfiling).
  • Technologicallysensitiveproducts:Commoditiessuchasencryptiondevicesanddronesthatareinvolvedintheexportcontrollist.
  • Agriculturalproducts:Specialhandlingproceduressuchasorigincertificationandanimalandplantquarantinearerequired.

Case of a Shenzhen - based drone enterprise: Due to self - export without declaring the GPS positioning module,it was classified as a military - controlled product by the customs,resulting in the entire container of goods being detained at the port for 35 days.Finally,it was only through re - declaration by a professional agency that the customs clearance was completed.

Does a seller need a professional export agency?

For cross-border sellers with a daily order volume of over 200 orders,it is recommended to establish an agency cooperation.The new rules of Amazon FBA in 2025 require that:

  • ComplianceRequirements:
    • AllgoodsenteringthewarehousemustprovideanIOSSnumber.
    • Productlabelsmustcomplywiththelateststandardsofthedestinationcountry(suchastheEUEPRlabel).
  • Solutions to logistics pain points:
    • Aprofessionalagencycanintegratetheresourcesofmultiplelogisticsprovidersandreducethefirst-stagefreightbymorethan30%.
    • Reverselogisticsserviceforhandlingreturnsandexchangesinoverseaswarehouses.

How to judge the professionalism of an agency company?

It is recommended to evaluate an agency company from three dimensions:

  • QualificationVerification:
    • ChecktheAEOcustomscertificationlevel(giveprioritytoenterpriseswithadvancedcertification).
    • Checkwhetherithasmembershipinindustryassociations(suchastheChinaCustomsBrokersAssociation).
  • Verification of service capabilities:
    • Requiretheprovisionofcustomsclearancecertificatesforthesamecategoryofgoodsintherecent3months.
    • Testitsabilitytorespondtoemergencies(suchastheresponsespeedinasimulatedcustomsinspectionscenario).
  • Cost Transparency:
    • Bewareof"all-inclusive"pricesthatcontainvagueterms.
    • Regularagentsshouldprovideadetailedquotation(including12sub-feessuchascustomsdeclarationfees,documentfees,inspectionfees,etc.).
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