I. New Trends in China-South Korea Food Trade: Opportunities and Challenges for Cake Imports

Against the backdrop of a deepening RCEP framework and an upgraded China-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the China-South Korea food trade value increased by 18.7% year-on-year in 2023, with a surge in demand for imported baked goods. Korean cakes, labeled with "exquisite craftsmanship + high-quality ingredients," hold a significant share in the high-end consumer markets of China's tier-1 and tier-2 cities. However, opportunities come with challenges—the 2024 GACC "Administrative Provisions on Registration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food" has tightened registration requirements for bakery producers. At the same time, cold chain logistics timeliness and document compliance have become two core pain points for importers. A professionalforeign tradeThe involvement of an agent is the key to resolving the "high demand - high barrier" contradiction.

II. Core Challenges in Korean Cake Imports: Professional Solutions for Documents and Logistics

(1) Document Processing: The Lifeline of Zero-Error Compliance

The import of Korean cakes must strictly follow the "Import and exportFood Safety Management Regulations," with core documents including: ① An official certificate issued by South KoreaHealth Certificate(must state raw material sources, additive compliance); ②China-South Korea Free Trade AgreementCertificate of Origin（FORM E）(used to enjoy preferential tariff rates, requiring verification that the HS code and product description are consistent); ③Component Analysis Report(focusing on checking trans-fatty acids, microbial indicators); ④ Commercial Invoice, Packing List, and Bill of Lading.
Our documentation team has over 10 years of experience in food imports and can provide a "three-tier review" service: preliminary review (checking for completeness of document types) → second review (translating and verifying key information, such as the logic between production date and shelf life) → final review (matching against the 2024 edition of the customs HS code annotations to mitigate classification risks). Data from 2023 shows that documents processed by our company achieved a 98.6% first-pass rate for customs clearance, which is 12 percentage points higher than the industry average.

(2) Logistics Management: Dual Control of Cold Chain and Timeliness

Considering the "short shelf life + fragile" nature of cakes, the logistics solution must be customized:

• Selection of transportation methods: For small batches (≤200kg),?Air freight?(e.g., Incheon to Shanghai Pudong, 4-hour direct flight), using atemperature-controlled Unit Load Device (ULD)to ensure a constant temperature of 0-4°C; for larger quantities (≥500kg), we recommend?Ocean shipping?refrigerated container (Reefer Container), reefer parameters (set temperature, vent opening) must be confirmed 3 days in advance, and a "temperature fluctuation compensation agreement" must be signed with the shipping company.
• Destination port operation: Complete the預(yù)申報(bào)（Advance Declaration）, and coordinate with customs for a "priority inspection" channel. For the delivery order (D/O) exchange, we can provide a "dual backup" service (electronic + paper) to avoid pickup delays due to shipping line system failures.
• Domestic distribution: We have long-term partnerships with the TOP 3 cold chain logistics companies, supporting "door-to-door" temperature-controlled transport (with real-time GPS monitoring + temperature logger accompanying the goods), with a 48-hour delivery timeline covering major cities nationwide.

III. Analysis of Full-Process Agency Service: Closed-Loop Management from Consultation to Delivery

Our company breaks down the import process into 9 major nodes, with professional risk control embedded in each step:

1. Client Consultation: Use a "Five-Dimensional Needs Table" (product type/spec, annual import volume, target clearance port, settlement method, special requirements) to quickly define the service scope. For example, for refrigerated cakes containing cream, a time constraint of "pickup within 6 hours of arrival" must be specified.
2. Negotiation and Contract Signing: Focus on reviewing the contract'strade terms (FOB/CIF)andRisk transfer clause(e.g., under CIF terms, it should be specified that "risk transfers after the goods are loaded on board at the port of shipment") to avoid liability disputes over cargo damage due to vague terms.
3. Orders & Payment: Supports mainstream methods like T/T (30% advance + 70% upon arrival) and L/C (sight?L/C?) methods. For L/C, we can assist in reviewing "soft clauses" (e.g., "payment after the importer signs a quality confirmation"), reducing?Forex Settlement?Risks.
4. Production supervision: Commission a third-party agency like SGS forPre-Shipment Inspection (PSI), with a focus on checking: ① Packaging compliance (whether it meets the GB 4806.7-2016 standard for food contact materials); ② Label information (the Chinese back label must include domestic agent information and a nutrition facts table).
5. Customs Compliance: Use an "HS Code Intelligent Matching System," combined with the 2024 "Import and Export Tariff" annotations, to ensure classification accuracy. At the same time, calculate theComposite tax rate(customs duty + VAT, the agreement tariff rate for Korean cakes is typically 8%, with 13% VAT), informing the client of the cost structure in advance.
6. Delivery and Distribution: Supports a "bonded warehousing + distribution" model, allowing clients to clear customs in batches according to their sales pace, reducing inventory pressure. For bakery chains, we provide "JIT (Just-in-Time) delivery" to ensure timely restocking of stores.
7. Quality Assurance: After arrival, coordinate with customs to completeOn-site inspection(sensory inspection + random sampling for testing). If non-compliance is found (e.g., excessive microbial count), we can assist in handling thereturn or destructionprocedures and provide a "Notice of Inspection and Quarantine Treatment" as a basis for claims.

IV. Expansion of Business with Russia: VTB?Foreign exchange settlement?advantages to support diversified market expansion

Some clients conduct trade in cakes with Russia via South Korea (the trade volume of baked goods between China and Russia grew by 22% in 2023). Leveraging our long-term partnership with VTB Bank (Vneshtorgbank), we provideAccelerated Settlement Service:

• Exchange Rate Lock - in: Through VTB's "forward foreign exchange settlement" tool, lock in the settlement exchange rate for local currencies (e.g., Ruble-RMB) to hedge against exchange rate fluctuation risks (in 2023, the Ruble's maximum fluctuation against the RMB was 15%);
• Document Matching: For theAEO mutual recognition certificate(Authorized Economic Operator), we can assist in reviewing Russian customs clearance documents (such as CTN cargo tracking notes) to ensure settlement documents are 100% compliant with Russian requirements;
• Arrival time: VTB has a higher priority in the China-Russia Cross-border Payment System (CIPS), shortening settlement arrival times by 1-2 working days compared to ordinary banks, thus improving capital turnover efficiency.

V. Certification Notice and Service Boundaries: Proactive Compliance and Client Responsibility

Special Note: Our companydoes not provide product certification application services, but can advise clients on the certification matters to prepare in advance:

• Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine (CIQ): Before importing, registration must be completed in the "Imported FoodCosmeticsImporter and Exporter Registration System";
• Registration of Korean Food Manufacturers: According to GACC Announcement No. 124 of 2024, overseas manufacturers must be registered through the "Administration System for Registration of Overseas Manufacturers of Imported Food" (registration type: Category 11 - Pastries);
• Special Ingredient Certification: If the cake contains dairy products, aHealth Certificate for Dairy Products Exported to China; if it contains halal ingredients, aHALAL Certification(issued by authoritative bodies like Malaysia's JAKIM or Indonesia's MUI).
  It is recommended that clients start the certification process 3-6 months in advance. Our company can assist in reviewing the "validity" of certification documents (such as certificate expiry dates, issuing body qualifications) to avoid clearance obstacles due to missing certifications.

VI. The Value of Choosing a Professional Agent: A Dual Guarantee of Risk Avoidance and Efficiency Improvement

In the field of Korean cake imports, the core value of a professional agent is reflected in "risk hedging" and "efficiency improvement":

• Risk hedging: Reduce amendment costs through document pre-review (industry average amendment fee is about 5,000 RMB/time), and reduce cargo damage through cold chain monitoring (damage rate for regular logistics is about 3%-5%, while a professional agent can control it to within 0.5%);
• Efficiency Improvement: The total processing time is 30% shorter than self-managed imports (an average of 25-30 days with us vs. 35-45 days for typical companies), and customs clearance efficiency is improved by 50% (achieving "6-hour rapid clearance" in special customs supervision zones).

20 years of foreign trade service experience has proven: choosing an agent who understands the industry, masters the process, and controls risks is the key strategic choice for Korean cake importers to break through "high barriers" and seize the "high-growth" market.