The company is located in Jiangyin and wants to know the time required from preparation to officially starting import and export agency business. The best answer states that for a newly registered company to start business, it involves multiple processes such as name approval and business license application, which can take about 2-3 weeks if smooth; entrusting a mature agency like Zhongmaoda, with complete documents, can start in as little as 1-2 days, or within a week, depending on document preparation and qualification processing.
How long does it generally take for import and export agency services in Wuxi?
Resolved
Our company has import and export business recently and plans to find an import and export agent to help handle related matters. We are located in Wuxi. We would like to know how long it generally takes to complete the entire import and export agency process? Will it affect the normal delivery time of the goods? We hope experienced friends or professionals can tell me how long each stage takes, such as customs declaration, customs clearance, etc. Thank you!
Trade Expert Insights Answers
The time required for import and export agency services in Wuxi varies depending on multiple factors. Generally, if all documents are complete and the process is smooth, it takes approximately 7-15 working days from signing the agency contract to completing customs declaration, customs clearance, and cargo delivery.
First is the signing of the agency contract. If communication between the two parties is smooth, this stage can be completed in 1-2 working days. Then, preparing customs declaration documents usually takes 2-3 working days, provided that the client provides the documents in a timely and accurate manner. The customs declaration stage normally takes 1-2 working days. Customs clearance time is affected by the type of goods, customs inspection, etc. For ordinary goods, it takes 1-3 working days, and if inspection is required, it may be extended by 2-5 working days. Finally, cargo transportation and delivery vary depending on the mode of transportation and distance. Local short-distance transportation takes 1-2 days, while long-distance transportation may take 3-5 days. Zhongmaoda has rich experience in import and export agency services and strives to optimize the process, shorten the time, and ensure timely delivery of goods.
I previously used an agent for this, and it took about 10 days. It mainly depends on whether the customs inspects the goods. If they don't, it's faster.
For regular goods, if there are no unexpected issues, the import and export agency process can be completed in about a week. However, if the documents are incomplete, it's hard to say.
For import and export agency services of items like food, which involve inspection and quarantine, the time will be longer, perhaps around 15 days. Other ordinary goods will take less time.
If you are in a hurry to ship, you can communicate with the agent in advance and ask them to prepare some documents beforehand, which can save some time. The overall process may be controlled within 10 days.
I think if you are familiar with the customs declaration and clearance stages, the time is manageable. The main thing is not to delay the preparation of initial documents, otherwise, it will greatly affect the overall progress. Generally, if it's fast, it can be completed in 7-8 days.
Generally speaking, 10-12 days is a relatively common duration. However, the efficiency of different agents varies, so finding a reliable agent is very important.
If the goods are special and require special approval, the time will definitely be longer. For normal, simple goods, about one to two weeks is appropriate.
The mode of transportation also affects the time. Air freight is relatively fast, while sea freight is slower. The overall time for import and export agency services needs to comprehensively consider these factors.
During peak seasons, customs operations are busy, which may cause delays. During off-peak seasons, the time is generally shorter, and it can be completed in about 8-10 days.