The New Normal and Selection Logic of the Import Equipment Agency Industry

In 2025, the globalEquipment Importsmarket size is expected to exceed $3.2 trillion. China continues to maintain its position as the worlds largest equipment importer. Facing the complex international trade environment, choosing a professional agency company has become the core strategic decision of equipment - importing enterprises. This article will break down the key elements of choosing an agency company based on the latest regulatory policies of the General Administration of Customs.

The Three Golden Standards for Qualification Review

Legal business qualification matrix:

• Customs AEO Advanced Certified Enterprise Qualification (Essential)
• Qualification for Handling Automatic Import Licenses for Mechanical and Electrical Products
• International Freight Forwarder Registration Certificate (validity verified until 2026)

Special requirements for industry certification:

• Medical EquipmentImport requires CFDA filing
• Second - hand equipment agency requires Chinese mechanical and electrical productsimport and exportChamber of Commerce certification
• Hazardous equipment must hold a hazardous goods business license

Five - dimensional evaluation system for service capabilities

Comparison of core service scopes:

• Basic services
  • Customs Declaration and Inspection
  • Logistics and Transportation
• Value - added Services
  • Review of the compliance of technical documents
  • Solutions to customs classification disputes
  • Coordination of equipment installation and commissioning

Processing capacity for special equipment:

• Pre - inspection success rate for imported used mechanical and electrical products
• Application timeliness for exemption from CCC certification for equipment
• Precision Instrument Constant - temperature Transportation Guarantee System

The Invisible Battlefield of Risk Prevention and Control

In 2025, the General Administration of Customs will implement the new version of the Measures for the Inspection and Supervision of Imported Equipment. The risk prevention and control ability of agency companies directly affects the operation of enterprises:

• The error rate of compliance review should be less than 0.5%
• The control of demurrage fees requires a commitment of 72 - hour emergency response
• There should be a customs pre - ruling application channel for resolving classification disputes

In - depth Analysis of the Price Structure

Beware of the quotation mode that includes hidden costs. It is recommended to require the agency company to provide:

• Segmented Quotation Details
  • Customs declaration service fee
  • Document processing fee
  • Reserve Funds for Handling Abnormal Situations
• Cost Fluctuation Early - warning Mechanism
  • Response Plan when the Exchange Rate Fluctuates by more than 3%
  • Emergency Plan for Customs Policy Adjustment

Five - step Method for Practical Selection

1. Demand Portrait: Clarify the HS code of the equipment, trade method, and delivery cycle
2. Channel Screening: 20 candidates are initially screened through the AEO enterprise list of the customs
3. Capability verification: Require to provide operation cases of similar equipment in the past three years
4. Risk Assessment: Check the insurance coverage and claim settlement records
5. Dynamic Management: Establish a quarterly service quality evaluation mechanism

New trends in the agency market in 2025

With the full implementation of RCEP, the premium - pricing ability of agency companies with experience in importing equipment from ASEAN has increased by 23%. It is recommended to give priority to comprehensive service providers with experience in importing equipment from both the EU and North America. Their efficiency in handling customs affairs is usually 40% higher than that of single - region agents.

Choosing an import equipment agency company essentially means building an international trade firewall for the enterprise. Through a systematic evaluation system, enterprises can not only avoid more than 75% of customs clearance risks, but also shorten the equipment arrival cycle by 30 - 45 days, gaining a first - mover advantage in the global supply chain reconstruction in 2025.