What is an export procurement agency?

Export procurement agencies are professional service providers offeringcross-border supply chain solutions. Their main functions include:

• Representing buyers in product development and supplier screening
• Coordinating quality control and production progress tracking
• Handling trade documentation and customs logistics arrangements
• Providing trade compliance consulting and risk alert services

How does a procurement agent differ from a traditional trading company?

Key differences lie inservice modelsandinterest alignment:

• different agency nature: Procurement agents charge service fees as buyer representatives, while trading companies act as middlemen earning price differentials
• risk-sharing mechanisms: Professional agencies typically provide quality guarantee services, whereas trading companies terminate responsibility after transaction completion
• Differences in service depth: Agents engage in the entire process from market research to after-sales service

What types of fee structures do procurement agents have?

In 2025, the mainstream charging models show three trends:

• Commission-based (3-8%): Charged as a percentage of procurement amount, suitable for standardized product purchases
• Project - based chargingIncluding upfront development costs + performance bonuses, suitable for customized product development
• Hybrid ModelBasic service fee + risk deposit, commonly seen in complex procurement of electromechanical equipment

How to verify the reliability of a procurement agency?

It is recommended toThree - Dimensional Verification MethodFiltering:

• Qualification review:
  • Verify certification from China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT)
  • Check AEO certification status (2025 new version certification standards)
• Case Verification:
  • Request service cases in the same industry from the past 2 years
  • Verify actual performance insurance documents
• On-site verification:
  • Assess the professionalism of the in-factory QC team
  • Test the data transparency of their ERP system

What trade risks can a procurement agency help avoid?

Approved by professional institutionsQuadruple protection mechanismRisk reduction:

• Supplier credit background check (connected to global credit database)
• Quality control (including collaboration with third-party testing agencies)
• Trade compliance review (covering latest ESG standards)
• Logistics risk hedging (adopting multimodal transport contingency plans)

What are the potential disadvantages of choosing a procurement agent?

Special attention should be paid to the followingThree challenges:

• Information transmission may have delays (recommend agreeing on a 48-hour response mechanism)
• Communication costs caused by cultural differences (choose agencies with multilingual teams)
• Commercial confidentiality protection risks (require signing NDA and data security agreements)