China Import Agent: Agents for Importing Goods from China

Importers often feel like they need some help to find a good supplier in China or in other Asian countries. So some agents for import goods from China may fit this need. In this article I am going to talk why and how find a China import agent. After all, you don’t want to meet dubious import agents in China. You will not only end up losing money, but you may even lose your entire business.

What Does Import Agent Do?

The easiest way to describe an import agent is an individual or company that assists you with your overseas business. Well, they provide you with sourcing, inspection and delivery services

In this way, a China import agent is an individual or organization that helps you secure imports from China. In short, an import agent acts as a liaison between buyer and seller and plays an integral role in making your transaction a success.

Key Responsibilities of Chinese Import Agent

As you can see, the responsibilities of a China import agent are quite obvious. These include sourcing the products, inspecting them, and safely transporting the goods from China to the desired location. Next, they deal with third parties regarding all completed transactions. For example, negotiation, payment, customs clearance, customs declaration, all of which are among the main responsibilities of import agents.

Why Do You Need an China Import Agent?

We now understand what the duties and responsibilities of an agent are. However, the main question that comes to mind is why we need to hire an import agent in the first place. Why can’t we just find a supplier and do all the negotiations via email or video call?

Seems like a better option, doesn’t it? But, in reality, it’s not easy. So many things can go wrong due to language barriers, cultural barriers, time differences, etc. There are so many things that need to be taken care of that it puts a lot of burden and risk on the buyer.

-They have experience

First of all, these agencies and agents have a lot of experience in dealing with clients. They have a wide network, know people, know places, etc. Therefore, they are more experienced and knowledgeable in this field.

– Handle multiple product categories

Due to their experience, they have dealt with different product categories. When talking about a single agency, maybe they only provide services for some specific categories.

Usually, high-end companies deal with multiple product categories, which is to your advantage. They have a large network of suppliers from which they can source products and a large team of experts.

-Gated products

Gated products are those that have certain restrictions placed on them. For example, Amazon has some products that fall into the gated category, which means that to approve them for sale, Amazon requires performance checks, additional fees, and other qualifications.

Sometimes you are trying to get a product that falls into a gated category. Life can be hell if you’re sitting at home trying to unlock its doors. Agents have experience and contacts. As a result, they can get the job done faster and better and meet the requirements so that the product can be purchased wholesale and sold in your local marketplace or on an online platform.

– Focus on Sales, not Your Purchases

If you are a large retailer or wholesaler, you may need multiple products from different suppliers. Therefore, the choice of agent will be a wise decision. As a buyer, you will have to invest a lot of time and money in sourcing products. However, when you work with an import agent, you can focus more on selling and growing your business.

List of Import and export companies in China:

To make things easier for you, we have listed the top 50 best companies/agents to help you have a great import experience. So, read ahead to learn more about what these companies must offer and why you should choose one of them.

How to Choose the Best Agents for Importing Goods from China?

I heard lots of stories about agents for importing goods from China, and they seem to follow three different types of business models:

1. The trading company that acts as the supplier and gets an undisclosed margin on top of the factory’s price
2. The consulting agency that works based on fixed fees and that is transparent about the whole supply chain
3. The individual agent who is paid by the buyer on a percentage basis

Whatever option you choose, though, do not forget that searching the right agent takes time and effort, and should be done professionally. An importing business is worth nothing without good partners. Next are some points to find a good China import agent.

I. Check the Location of Import Agent

The location of the import and export agent is very important. First, you need to check if the agent you are looking for is located in China.

Or, they are just some foreign companies with offices in China and not locals. Of these two options, it is best to choose a local Chinese company with an office in China.

The only thing to remember is to make sure they are well established and have a fully staffed office in China.

2. Know the Experience of Chinese Agents

When it comes to ethics in China, there are huge differences between the way companies operate in China and the rest of the world. There are many differences. Therefore, it is wise to choose an established and experienced agent/company.

An experienced import agent has a large network of reliable suppliers to provide you with.

3. Obtain the Required Documentation

For your shipping and purchasing process, the China import agent will help you with all relevant documents. Usually, these documents include, bill of lading, invoice, packing list and certificate of origin, etc.

4. Verify Their Quality Standards

How does your Chinese agent verify the quality of the products purchased? Agents importing goods from China need to have some criteria to assess the quality of the products.

After all, it makes no sense to import substandard goods from abroad, does it? A China import agent will help you to have your products properly inspected for quality before they are shipped out of China.

5. Check the China Agent License

You will be happy to know that Chinese law is very strict when it comes to business. All businesses operating there are required to obtain a license before they can begin operations. Therefore, to screen a export and import agent, you need to check the license.

6. Have Good Communication Ability

Preferably, the export agent needs to be bilingual. Mandarin and English are required, other languages are a plus. The agent needs to be fluent in English and all documents need to be in English and Chinese.

7. Check the Areas of Expertise

If you are talking about agents, not all agents are large enough to handle all types of products. Therefore, you must check what the area of expertise of the agent you are looking for is. You can go ahead and ask the buyer for references and check with the agent’s previous clients.

8. Know Import Agent Commission

Finally, the budget also plays an important role. Therefore, you should check the services offered by the import agent and then check the price. Some China import agents will provide you with a high standard of service, but their fees will also be high.

A normal rule in China is that the sourcing agent will charge 5% of the total invoice value. Some may even do the same job for a 3% commission. Therefore, your budget will help you decide which export agent to work with.

Agents for Importing Goods from China

It goes without saying that exploring international markets is both time-consuming and risky. It’s like stepping in hot water. It’s incredibly expensive when done on a personal level, and you can’t be sure what you’re getting because you can’t check.

Therefore, finding a China import export agent may be your best and only chance to get the best import products.

Therefore, importing from a Chinese agent/company will make the whole import process easy because these agents are knowledgeable in international law and local manufacturers

We hope our list will help you to make the best decision about the China import agent you want to hire.

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4 months ago

[…] companies have tremendous experience in the imports and exports field and thus well-cognizant about the laws and rules regarding imports and exports of […]

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