I.Basic Import Requirements and Market Potential for Korean Biscuits

Korean biscuits,with their crispy texture and creative flavors—think matcha or seaweed—continue to heat up China’s snack market; 2023 customs figures show biscuit-type food imports from Korea up 18 % year-on-year.Before shipping,however,several basics must be locked in: first,confirm the HS code (normally 1905.31 or 1905.32),which carries a 15 % MFN tariff (dropping to 12 % for some products once RCEP kicks in); second,obtain an official Korean Certificate of Health and a compositional test report stating that additives comply with GB 2760; finally,pre-packed foods need Chinese-label filing,with the label displaying ten mandatory items including country of origin,ingredient list,and production date.

II.Document Processing: Professionalism Determines Customs Clearance Efficiency

In theIn the service,document processing is one of the core competencies.Taking the import of Korean biscuits as an example,The documentation team will strictly control the four key stages:

• Preliminarypre-audit:UponreceiptoftheCommercialInvoiceandPackingListprovidedbythecustomer,immediatelyverifythatthecargodescription,quantity,andgrossweightmatchtheB/L,withspecialattentiontowhethertheHScodealignswithKorea.Singlematching(toavoidtariffdiscrepanciescausedbymisclassification);
• SpecialDocumentProcessingonBehalf:AssisttheclientinapplyingforFORMEwithKoreanCustoms(ThisallowsyoutoenjoytheRCEPagreementtariffrate),whilesimultaneouslyguidingthecustomertopreparethedomesticimporterqualificationdocuments(suchastheFoodBusinessLicenseandtheCustomsDeclarationEntityRegistrationCertificate);
• TranslationandCompliance:TranslatetheKoreanhealthcertificateandingredientlistintoSimplifiedChinesethatmeetsChinaCustomsrequirements,ensuringthatkeyindicatorssuchas"trans-fattyacidcontent"areexpressedinfullalignmentwithGB28050;
• OrderSubmissionandTracking:SubmitelectronicdocumentsthroughtheSingleWindowsystem,monitorthecustomsclearancestatusinrealtime;ifa“controlledinspection”istriggered(probability≈12%),promptlycoordinatetheinspectionsiteandaccompanythesamplingandtesting(resultsusuallyavailablewithin3–5workingdays).

Past cases show that a professional documentation team can compress customs-clearance time from the industry average of 7–10 days to 4–6 days,directly cutting demurrage charges (for a 20-ft container,the daily demurrage is about RMB 300).

III.Full Logistics Chain: Precise Scheduling from Busan Port to Domestic Warehouses

The challenge in the logistics chain lies in “vessel-schedule matching” and “risk control.” With a decade-long Korea-route logistics network,Zhongshen International Trade offers tailor-made solutions:

• SelectionofTransportationMode:ForFCLimports,werecommendthedirectBusan→Qingdao/Shanghaiservice(3–4daystransit);forLCL,routeviaIncheon→Ningbowithtransshipment(5–7days),balancingcostandtransittime.
• Seatlock:TwoweeksinadvancewithHyundaiMerchantMarine(HMM),Hanjin(Hanjin)Confirmthesailingscheduletoavoiddelayscausedbytightspaceduringpeakseasons(suchastheMid-AutumnFestivalandChineseNewYear);
• In-transitmonitoring:Obtainreal-timecontainerlocation(latitude&longitude,ETA)viathelogisticstrackingsystem;alertthecustomertopreparecustoms-clearancedocuments3daysbeforearrival,andcompletetheD/Oexchangewithin24hoursafterarrival;
• Last-miledelivery:InpartnershipwithJDLogisticsandSFColdChain,a“port→regionalwarehouse→distributor”distributionplanisprovidedforambient-temperaturebiscuits;forcold-chainbiscuits(e.g.cream-filledvarieties),GSP-certifiedvehiclesaredeployedtoensurethetemperatureremains≤25°Cthroughoutthejourney.

It is worth noting that,due to their light packaging (gross weight per carton ≤ 20 kg),Korean biscuits are best shipped via a “Door-to-Door” service,with the agent handling the entire process—pick-up,transit,and customs clearance—thereby minimizing loss in intermediate links.

IV.Russia/Southeast Asia Markets: Differentiated Services Unlock New Opportunities

If the client plans to re-export Korean biscuits to Russia or Southeast Asia,Zhongshen International’s regional advantages will significantly boost operational efficiency:

• I.Pre-exportPreparation:CommonissuesintradewithRussiaTotacklethis“hard”problem,ZhongshenInternationalTradeleveragesitscooperationchannelwithVTBBank(Russia’ssecond-largeststate-ownedbank)toofferadual-currencysettlementsolution:clientscanchoosetosettleinCNYorRUB.VTB’sSWIFTsystemcreditsfundswithinT+2(ordinarybanksneedT+5)andprovidesanFX-lockservicethatfreezestheexchangeratefor30days,shieldingcustomersfromrecentRUBvolatility(in2023theRMB/RUBrateswung±12%).
• SoutheastAsianmarket:TakeVietnamasanexample:theimportprocessrequiresextraattentiontotheapplicationofthe“ASEANAgreementTariffRate”—withaFORMEcertificateoforigin,theimportdutyonKoreanbiscuitscandropfrom15%to5%(zerodutyforcertaincategories).SinosureGlobal’sSoutheastAsiateamassistsclientsinobtainingthe“CertificateofRe-export,”preventingthedenialofpreferentialratesbyVietnamCustomsduetothe“directconsignmentrule.”ForcountrieswithstrictclearancesuchasIndonesia,wealsoprovideHS-codepre-classification(submittinganadvancedeclarationtolocalcustoms30daysahead),cuttingtheinspectionratefrom25%to8%.

V.Challenges and Responses in the Context of International Trade

The current imported food trade faces three major challenges:

• Supplychainfluctuations:The2023SouthKoreanportworkers’strikecausedcongestionatBusanPort,delayingsomesailingsby7–10days.ZhongshenInternationalTradequicklyadaptedbyactivatingits“backupcarrierlist,”forexampleselectingNYK’sextra-loaderserviceontheKorearoute.
• Regulatorytightening:Startingin2023,ChinaCustomsenforces“100%labelverification”onimportedfood;SunshenInternationalTrade’slabel-reviewsystemcancompleteapre-audit15daysinadvance,preventingreturnscausedby“incorrectnutrition-factsformat.”
• ExchangeRateRisk:TheKRW/CNYexchangeratefluctuatesbymorethan10%annually;clientsareadvisedtoadopta“partialprepayment+balanceagainstbilloflading”paymentmethod(e.g.30%T/Tinadvance,70%againstcopyofB/L)orapplyforanFXforwardcontractthroughanagenttolockintheexchangerate.

In terms of opportunities,after the RCEP comes into effect,the tariffs on Korean biscuits will be gradually reduced year by year (to 10% by 2025).Demand for small-batch imports through channels such as Tmall Global and JD Worldwide has surged (+35% YoY in 2023); Zhongshen International Trade has rolled out its “LCL for Small Orders” service (minimum 500 kg),lowering the entry barrier for small and mid-sized merchants.

VI.Certification Assistance: Professional Support Within the Boundary

It should be specifically noted that Zhongshen International Trade does not handle certification directly,but will fully assist clients in preparing the necessary qualifications:

• DomesticcertificationinSouthKorea:InformtheclientthatKoreanbiscuitsmustobtainKCfoodcertification(KoreanCertification),assistincompilingtheapplicationmaterials(e.g.factoryISO22000certificate,producttestreports),andliaisewithKoreancertificationbodies(suchasKFDA);
• ChinaImportRequirements:Remindtheclienttocompletethe“RegistrationofOverseasFoodProductionEnterprisesforImport”(applyviatheGACCAnnouncementNo.184platform),assistinfillingouttheregistrationapplicationformandverifytherequireddocuments(e.g.factoryfloorplan,HACCPsystemcertificate);
• Specialcategory:Ifthebiscuitscontainchocolateingredients(HScodemaybeadjustedto1806),anadditionalreminder:a“radioactivesubstancetestreport”(forrawmaterialsfromareasaroundFukushima,Japan)mustbeprovidedtoavoidreturnduetomissinginspection.

Conclusion: Importing Korean biscuits is far from a simple “order-receive” process.From document compliance to logistics coordination,from regional market adaptation to certification support,every step demands the deep involvement of a professional agent.With a decade of experience in import agency,Zhongshen International Trade zeroes in on the two core pillars—documentation and logistics—while leveraging differentiated advantages in Russia and Southeast Asia.We deliver a “predictable,controllable,and optimizable” end-to-end import service,empowering clients to seize first-mover advantage in the snack-import race.