what core business links should an import agency company be responsible for?
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I am a small trader importing fine chemical raw materials. Last year, when I found a freight forwarder to declare customs by myself, because the MSDS was not updated according to the revised version of GHS in 2026, the goods were detained at Yangshan Port for 3 days, and the demurrage charges alone cost more than 8,000 yuan, and almost delayed the orders of downstream factories.
Now I want to find a professional import agency, but I don't know what the agency is actually responsible for——does it only help me declare customs? Or does it include international logistics, foreign exchange settlement and tax declaration?
Also, can the agency help me implement the VAT deferral policy at Shanghai Port in 2026? Are there any hidden inspection risks and additional charges? Please tell me in detail what an import agency company specifically needs to do, especially the key links for sensitive goods such as chemicals.
CharlotteYears of service：4Customer Rating：5.0
Currency Exchange AdvisorStart a Chat
For the import of chemical raw materials，the core of import agency is the full-chain compliance implementation，not just simple "running errands"，which is specifically broken down into 4 key links:
1. **Pre-audit of Documents**: The 9th revised edition of GHS has been implemented in 2026. It is necessary to first check whether the MSDS matches the UN Number，hazard category (for example，whether the flash point marking of Class 3 flammable liquids meets the new national standard GB 30000.7-2025)，and confirm whether the certificate of origin is the 2026 version (with the latest official watermark)，so as to avoid **secondary declaration** due to document errors (the secondary declaration rate at Shanghai Port increased by 12% year-on-year in 2026，mostly due to document delays).
2. **International Logistics and Goods Ownership Control**: If using CIF terms，it is necessary to check whether the carrier's bill of lading is a "straight bill of lading" (the delivery of chemicals without bill of lading is prohibited)，and coordinate the **extension of free storage period** at Yangshan Port (the free storage period for chemicals at Yangshan Port in 2026 is extended from 7 days to 10 days，which requires the agency to apply in advance)，so as to avoid demurrage charges (the daily increase rate of demurrage charges in 2026 rose from 5% to 8%).
3. **Connection of Customs Clearance and Tax**: When declaring customs，it is necessary to submit the 2026 version of "Import Goods Consignee Declaration Form" at the same time (adding a "environmental compliance statement" column). For general trade imports，the agency needs to help you implement the **VAT deferral policy** (the pilot scope of VAT deferral in Shanghai in 2026 has been expanded to all chemicals，no need to pay first and then deduct，saving about 15% of capital occupancy cost)，and check whether the tariff rate applies to the latest free trade agreement (such as the tariff reduction for chemicals after the 3rd upgrade of RCEP).
4. **Emergency Plan and Compliance Closed Loop**: In case of abnormal machine inspection (chemicals may be misjudged as "undeclared dangerous goods" due to powder caking)，the agency needs to prepare the "Goods Composition Identification Report" in advance (issued by a third-party testing institution filed in 2026)，submit it to customs for review within 12 hours，meanwhile，all documents need to be retained for 5 years (the tax requirement in 2026 is extended from 3 years to 5 years) to avoid the risk of subsequent customs inquiries.
SarahYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Foreign Exchange AdvisorStart a Chat
For the import of chemical raw materials, the core of the customs clearance link is the "document logical closed loop"——for example, the customs requires "composition content consistent with MSDS" in 2026. If the content of "Methyl Methacrylate" you declare is 99.5%, but the MSDS marks 99%, it will trigger **price review dispute** (customs can assess the tax price according to the minimum content).
In addition, Shanghai Port launched the "Single Window Pre-declaration" in 2026, and the agency needs to submit the manifest information 3 days in advance to avoid "delayed declaration fee" due to manifest delay (0.05% per day, doubled after more than 14 days). If you encounter deleting declaration and re-declaration, pay attention to the newly added "deletion reason review" in 2026 (only two reasons are allowed: "document error" and "goods return"), otherwise it will affect the enterprise's credit level (the credit level is linked to tariff preferences in 2026).
RobertYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Warehouse Management AdvisorStart a Chat
The international logistics of chemical raw materials needs to focus on "route compliance"——for example, importing from Southeast Asia, transiting through Singapore is prohibited in 2026 (due to the upgrade of local dangerous goods supervision), and it is necessary to choose a direct route to Yangshan Port in Shanghai. In addition, attention should be paid to the endorsement of bill of lading: if it is an "order bill of lading", the agency needs to confirm in advance whether the consignee accepts "blank endorsement" (downstream of chemicals mostly requires straight endorsement) to avoid the risk of delivery without bill of lading.
In terms of demurrage charges, the free detention period for 20-foot dangerous goods containers at Yangshan Port in 2026 is extended from 7 days to 10 days, but the agency needs to apply to the carrier for "extension of free detention period for dangerous goods" 1 day before the arrival of the goods; if overdue, demurrage charges of 1,200 yuan per box will be charged daily (up 15% year-on-year in 2025).
DanielYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Legal AdvisorStart a Chat
The VAT deferral policy for chemicals in Shanghai in 2026 needs to meet two conditions: first, the imported goods are used for "production and processing" (need to provide processing contracts of downstream factories), and second, the agency needs to check the "VAT deferral mark" when declaring. After deferral, there is no need to pay import VAT, and the output tax will be declared when the goods are sold domestically, which can save capital occupancy cost (calculated based on 1 million yuan of goods value, the annual interest saved is about 35,000 yuan).
In addition, if you are an affiliated enterprise with an overseas supplier, pay attention to the implementation of BEPS Action 8 in 2026——the agency needs to help you prepare "transfer pricing contemporaneous documents" (which need to include comparable transaction data of the same industry in 2026) to avoid the tax authority adjusting the tax price.
WilliamYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
International Logistics AdvisorStart a Chat
For the receipt and payment of chemical raw materials, attention should be paid to "four flows consistency"——the State Administration of Foreign Exchange requires in 2026 that "capital flow, goods flow, document flow and contract flow must be completely matched". If the currency of the payment you make is inconsistent with that agreed in the contract (for example, the contract stipulates USD, but actually pays EUR), it will trigger "receipt and payment abnormality", leading to delay in foreign exchange settlement.
In addition, the CIPS system has covered 90% of cross-border trade payments in 2026, and the agency can help you choose CIPS settlement (handling fee is 20% lower than SWIFT) and avoid exchange rate fluctuation risk (can lock the exchange rate within 7 days). If you encounter receipt and payment in offshore accounts, pay attention to the newly added "offshore account capital source verification" in 2026 (need to provide a copy of the goods bill of lading), otherwise the account will be frozen.
EllaYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Financial AdvisorStart a Chat
The contract for chemical raw materials needs to focus on stipulating "force majeure clauses"——customs will include "port congestion" and "upgraded supervision of dangerous goods" into the category of force majeure in 2026. The contract needs to clearly state that "for delivery delay caused by force majeure, no liability for breach of contract shall be borne". In addition, letter of credit clauses need to avoid "soft clauses"——for example, "need to provide quality certification of overseas suppliers (2026 version)".
The agency needs to confirm in advance whether this certification is a valid document recognized by customs (such as ISO 9001:2025 version) to avoid rejection due to document discrepancy. In terms of goods ownership, it is necessary to stipulate in the contract that "pay the balance within 3 days after the delivery of bill of lading" to avoid failing to recover the payment after the transfer of goods ownership.
OliviaYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Customs AdvisorStart a Chat
For on-site inspection of chemical raw materials, attention should be paid to the "authenticity of seals"——Shanghai Customs launched "electronic seals" in 2026. The agency needs to check the electronic code of the seal after the arrival of the goods (can be queried through the customs APP).
If the seal is damaged or the electronic code is abnormal, apply for "re-sealing of the container" immediately (otherwise the inspection cannot be carried out). When unpacking and inspecting, prepare "goods sampling tools" in advance (for example, powder samples need to use sealed bags) to avoid abnormal test results due to sample pollution.
In addition, the "density threshold" for chemicals in machine inspection in 2026 is reduced (for example, liquids with a density exceeding 1.2g/cm³ need key inspection). The agency needs to check in advance whether the density of the goods meets the declared value to avoid misjudgment.
JohnYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Export Tax Rebate AdvisorStart a Chat
The packaging of chemical raw materials needs to meet the requirements of the revised version of UN 38.3 in 2026——for example, Class 3 flammable liquids need to use "UN 1789" packaging (need to mark the 2026 version of UN Number). If the packaging does not meet the requirements, customs will require "repackaging" (the repackaging fee at Yangshan Port is about 2,000 yuan per box).
In addition, the MSDS needs to include the newly added "environmental disposal information" in 2026 (such as the disposal method of waste packaging), otherwise it cannot pass the customs declaration review. For powdered chemicals, "anti-static packaging" needs to be used (required by Shanghai Port in 2026) to avoid safety accidents caused by static electricity during transportation.