I.Import Trade Situation and Market Opportunities for Korean Cakes

In recent years,as the China–South Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) deepens and the RCEP takes effect,Chinese demand for Korean food has kept climbing.According to General Administration of Customs data,in the first half of 2023 China’s imports of baked goods from South Korea rose 18.7 % year-on-year,with Korean traditional rice cakes,cheese cakes and other items—thanks to their distinctive flavors and craftsmanship—becoming dark horses in the imported-food market.Yet imported foods are strictly governed by the Food Safety Law and the “Administrative Provisions on Registration of Overseas Food Production Enterprises for Imported Food” (GACC Decree No.248),and the customs-clearance process involves document review,inspection & quarantine,duty calculation and other steps,placing high demands on a company’s trade-compliance capacity.Against this backdrop,professionalBy integrating documentation,logistics,and customs-clearance resources,agency services have become the key support for companies to cut operating costs and avoid the risk of return shipments.

II.Core Document Requirements and the Value of Agency Services

The core of Korean cake import customs clearance lies in “document consistency”—the alignment of commercial documents,transport documents,and customs supervision requirements.As a professional foreign-trade agent,our advantages in document handling are reflected in the following three aspects:

1.Basic document examination and preparation

Output:

The basic documents that the enterprise must provide include: the Commercial Invoice issued by the Korean exporter,the Packing List,the Bill of Lading; and the certificate issued by the Korean authorities.(CO,must comply with China-Korea FTA rules of origin),Sanitary Certificate (issued by the Korea Food and Drug Administration KFDA or its authorized body); as well as product ingredient list,nutrition declaration,and Chinese label sample (must conform to GB 7718 “General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods”).The agency team will check every document line-by-line to ensure the description,HS code (e.g.8543.7099),quantity and weight match the actual cargo,preventing customs inspection triggered by “document-goods discrepancy.”

2.Coordination of Special Regulatory Documents

Output:

Imported food must be submitted to Customs together with the Entry-Goods Clearance Note issued by the inspection-and-quarantine authority under Customs.The broker can help the importer book the inspection and quarantine appointment,instruct on preparing test samples (e.g.microbiological and additive testing),and track the progress of the “conformity assessment.” In addition,if cold-chain transport is involved (e.g.cheesecake),the Cold-Chain Food Transport Temperature Record must also be provided; the broker will coordinate with the logistics party to fill in the temperature data correctly so that Customs’ traceability requirements for storage conditions are met.

3.Tariff Classification and Duty Planning

Output:

Korean cakes usually fall under HS Chapter 19 (cereal-based foods) or Chapter 21 (miscellaneous food preparations).By analyzing product composition—such as dairy-fat content and the presence of cocoa—and the degree of processing (pre-packaged ready-to-eat vs.requiring further processing),the broker ensures accurate classification and avoids the risk of post-entry duty adjustments from over- or under-valuation.Leveraging the China–Korea FTA tariff-reduction schedule (which brought the duty on certain baked goods to 0 % in 2023),the broker can help importers secure the preferential rate and cut landed costs.

III.Full-Chain Logistics Management: Ensuring Efficiency from Incheon Port to Chinese Warehouses

Logistics is the “l(fā)ifeline” of imported cakes; for short-shelf-life,fragile varieties such as mousse cakes,timeliness and temperature control directly determine product quality.Sunrising Supply Chain’s logistics service covers the entire “door-to-door” process:

1.Selection of Transportation Mode and Booking

Output:

Based on cargo characteristics (e.g.ambient/frozen) and cargo value (select for high-value goods,low-value selectionLCL) and delivery-time requirements,the agent will propose the optimal solution.For instance,frozen cakes are recommended to be shipped by air (Incheon–Shanghai,4–6 h) and the agent will coordinate with the airline to use temperature-controlled ULD compartments; ambient cakes can go by sea (Incheon–Qingdao,1–2 days) to cut logistics costs.

2.Customs Clearance and Container Pick-up at the Port of Destination

Output:

Before the cargo arrives at the port,the agent completes the “Single Window” pre-entry declaration and simultaneously transmits the manifest to Customs,achieving “advance declaration.” After arrival,if Customs selects the shipment for inspection,the agent will help open the containers,take samples,and coordinate the inspection site (e.g.designated supervision area) to shorten detention time.For cold-chain goods,the agent requires the warehouse to provide “temperature-monitoring records during inspection,” ensuring the cargo remains within storage requirements throughout the inspection process.

3.Domestic Shipping and Warehousing

Output:

After customs clearance,the agent arranges delivery according to customer needs: B2B customers can ship directly to distributor warehouses,while B2C customers can connect to e-commerce warehouses (such as Cainiao or JD warehouses).For products with short shelf lives,the agent offers a “priority delivery” solution,using GPS to monitor the transport route and ensuring the transit time from port to warehouse is kept within 24 hours.

IV.Expansion of Business with Russia: VTBAdvantages and Cross-Border Collaboration

Some companies re-export or directly export Korean cakes to Russia; when settlement in rubles is involved,Zhongshen International Trade’s cooperation with VTB Bank offers clear advantages.VTB Bank (Foreign Trade Bank of Russia),a systemically important bank in Russia,provides the following strengths in cross-border settlement:

• ExchangeRateLock-in:Spot/forwardforeign-exchangesettlementservicesareavailable,allowingcompaniestolockintheRUB/CNYexchangerateinadvanceandhedgeagainstcurrencyvolatility;
• Settlementefficiency:SettlementviabothSWIFTandCIPSchannelsshortenstherublecollectioncycletoT+2(traditionalchannelstakeT+5);
• ComplianceAssurance:VTBiswell-versedinChina-Russiatradesanctions(e.g.OFAClistscreening)andcanhelpcompaniesavoid“secondarysanctions”risks.

The agency team will tailor a “1+1” service (foreign-trade agency + VTB settlement) to the scale of the client’s Russia-related business,achieving end-to-end coordination of “transaction–logistics–settlement.”

V.Compliance Risk Alert: Certification Requirements and the Boundaries of Agency Services

It should be specifically noted that importing Korean cakes involves two key certifications,which the enterprise must complete on its own:

Registration of Overseas Manufacturers

Output:

Pursuant to General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) Order No.248,Korean cake manufacturers must complete registration in GACC’s “Registration System for Overseas Food Production Enterprises for Import” and obtain a China registration number (format: “KR + 14 digits”).The agent can supply the list of documents required for registration (e.g.enterprise qualifications,production-process proof) but will not handle the registration on the applicant’s behalf.

2.Filing of Imported Food Labels

Output:

Chinese labels must pass customs review (with a focus on verifying that additive usage complies with GB 2760); companies must submit label proofs to their local customs for the record.Agents can assist in checking label content (e.g.nutrition facts format,allergen warnings) but are not responsible for filing the record application.

Zhongshen International Trade has always adhered to the principle of “professional agency with clear boundaries.” Without overstepping to provide certification services,it helps companies lower the threshold for compliance through document guidance and process training.

VI.Full-Process Agency Services: Closed-Loop Management from Consultation to Feedback

The services of ZhongShen International Trade覆蓋9大Link,核心Focus“Changes in payment methodsPrevious置”with“Efficiency Improvement”:

• CustomerInquiry:Clarifythescopeofservicesthroughthreepre-assessments—HScodepre-classification,tariffcalculation,andcertificationchecklist.
• NegotiationandContractSigning:Reviewkeyclausesinthecontractsuchasthe"risktransferclause"(e.g.thepointatwhichtitletransfersunderFOBIncheon)andthe"qualityguaranteeperiod";
• Orders&Payment:Coordinatepaymentschedulesaccordingtotradeterms(e.g.CIFShanghai)andoffer“(L/C)+TelegraphicTransfer(T/T)combinedpaymentsolution;
• ProductionSupervision:Uponclientrequest,athird-partyinspectionagencyinKorea(e.g.SGS)maybecommissionedtosupervisetheloadingofraw-materialprocurementandtheproductionenvironment;
• LogisticsManagement:Real-timecargotrackingviatheTMSsystem;advancewarningofanomalies(e.g.sailingdelays)issued48hoursahead;
• CustomsCompliance:Adoptthe"two-stepdeclaration"model(summarydeclaration+fulldeclaration)toshortencustomsclearancetimeto1–2workingdays;
• DeliveryandDistribution:Provide"last-mile"value-addeddeliveryservices(e.g.addingicetorefrigeratedtrucks,shock-proofpackaging);
• QualityAssurance:Assistclientsinapplyingfor“ImportedFoodQualityInsurance”withinsurerssuchasPICC,coveringrisksliketransportationlossandspoilage;
• SummaryandFeedback:Issuethe"ImportCostAnalysisReport"and"ComplianceRiskAssessmentForm"toprovidedatasupportforthenextbatchofimports.

In today’s complex and volatile international trade environment,choosing a professional foreign-trade agent is not merely a cost-optimization tactic; it is a strategic move that helps companies tackle compliance challenges and strengthen supply-chain resilience.With 20 years of industry expertise,Zhongshen International Trade adheres to the service standard of “zero documentation errors,zero logistics delays,zero compliance risks,” continuously creating value for Korean cake importers.