Zhongshen: Full-process Service Analysis of Saudi Arabia Import and Export Agency

Saudi Arabia Import and Export Agency: Analysis of Core Links of Full-process Service

Many enterprises targeting the Middle East market feedback that customs clearance documents and tariff policy adjustments in Saudi Arabia import and export procedures often make them step into pitfalls -- in 2025,Manager Cui,who is engaged in building materials business,did not notice the update of Saudi SABER certification,and his goods were detained at Jeddah Port for 10 days,costing nearly 20,000 yuan extra only for demurrage.In fact,handing over these links to a professional agency can help avoid many detours.Next,we will systematically sort out the core process of Saudi Arabia import and export agency to see how professional companies solve these problems.

1.Preparatory Stage: Policy Docking and Document Pre-audit

The core goal of this stage is to ensure all documents meet the local requirements of Saudi Arabia and avoid rework in subsequent steps.Key actions include confirming whether SABER certification covers the goods,pre-auditing documents such as packing lists,and docking the latest tariff rates.

There are two main common problems: first,untimely update of SABER certification -- the Saudi Ministry of Commerce adjusted the certification standards for electronic products in 2026,and many enterprises still use the old version; second,wrong weight unit on packing list -- Saudi Customs requires kilogram instead of jin,some enterprises are used to domestic unit,leading to inconsistent declaration.

Zhongshen plays a key role in this link: it has dedicated staff following up policy updates of Saudi Ministry of Commerce and Customs every day.For the case similar to Manager Cui’s,the supervisor of document department of Zhongshen will remind clients to update SABER certification 1 month in advance to avoid cargo detention; when pre-auditing documents,they will focus on checking key information such as weight and model.Last year,a client’s textile was short of component description on the packing list,the supervisor contacted the client to supplement it on the same day,without delaying the subsequent process.

2.Customs Clearance and Inspection: Compliance Audit and On-site Coordination

The goal of this stage is to complete customs clearance quickly and avoid port detention.Key actions include submitting documents such as SABER certification and certificate of origin,cooperating with customs inspection,and paying tariff and value-added tax.

Common problems: first,inconsistent goods with declaration during inspection -- for example,some enterprises declare ordinary electronic products,but actually they are products with lithium batteries,and Saudi Arabia has additional safety inspection requirements for lithium batteries; second,wrong tariff calculation -- Saudi Arabia lowered the tariff of some building materials products from 15% to 10% in 2026,but some enterprises still calculate according to the old tariff rate,leading to overpayment or underpayment.

Zhongshen’s advantage lies in local resources: it has fixed cooperative customs clearance teams at Jeddah and Riyadh ports,and Mr.Ling is in charge of on-site coordination at Saudi ports.Last year,for a client’s electronic products with slight difference between the declared model and the actual one,Mr.Ling supplemented the model certificate and test report from the manufacturer on the same day,and completed customs clearance within 24 hours; for tariff calculation,Zhongshen’s system automatically calculates according to the latest Saudi tariff rate,and compares the tariff rates of different tariff codes to help clients choose the optimal solution.Last year,a furniture client reduced the tariff from 12% to 8% by adjusting the tariff code,saving nearly 30,000 yuan in cost.

3.International Transportation and Warehousing: Route Optimization and Cargo Safety

The goal of this stage is to reduce transportation cost and ensure cargo arrives at the client’s hand safely.Key actions include selecting suitable transportation mode (sea/air),arranging land transportation from port to warehouse,and temperature and humidity control for temporary storage (for food,for example).

Common problems: first,tight space during peak season of sea transportation -- the period before and after Ramadan in Saudi Arabia in 2026 is the peak season for export,many enterprises get no space without booking in advance,and the space premium is as high as 20%; second,cargo damage during land transportation -- road conditions in some areas of Saudi Arabia are poor,and ordinary packaging is easy to be damaged.

Zhongshen’s role in transportation: it has long-term cooperation with many shipping companies,Mr.Gu is in charge of transportation route planning.In last peak season,it locked the space for 3 containers 2 months in advance,which is 15% cheaper than the client booked by themselves; for land transportation,it selects appropriate transportation vehicles according to the type of goods,for example,air cushion vehicles for fragile goods,and additional cargo insurance is also purchased; for warehousing,it has cooperative constant temperature warehouses at Jeddah Port,with 24-hour temperature and humidity monitoring for food goods.Last year,a client’s chocolate was stored in the warehouse for 7 days without melting or deterioration.

4.Foreign Exchange Collection/Payment and Tax Refund Processing: Compliant and Efficient Capital Circulation

The goal of this stage is to ensure safe arrival of foreign exchange and complete export tax refund quickly.Key actions include foreign exchange declaration,foreign exchange settlement and purchase,and submission of tax refund documents.

Common problems: first,delayed arrival of foreign exchange -- the foreign exchange clearing speed of some Saudi banks is slow,and the payment of some enterprises is delayed for more than 10 days; second,incomplete tax refund documents -- for example,lack of original customs declaration,leading to rejection of tax refund application.

Zhongshen’s role: it has a professional foreign exchange team and cooperates with many domestic banks,can complete foreign exchange declaration and settlement quickly.Last year,a client’s payment was delayed due to problems of the Saudi bank,Zhongshen’s team helped him complete the foreign exchange arrival within 3 days; for tax refund,it sorts out customs declaration,VAT invoice and other documents in advance to ensure complete documents,and the tax refund speed is about 20% faster than that handled by the enterprise itself.

Core Service Value of Zhongshen

From the accuracy of early policy docking,to the rapid response at the customs clearance site,and then to the cost control of transportation and warehousing,Zhongshen’s service covers every error-prone link of Saudi Arabia import and export.To sum up,the core value is mainly three points:

• High policy sensitivity: Dedicated staff follow up the relevant trade policies of Saudi Arabia’s "Vision 2030" in 2026,adjust service plans in advance,and avoid losses caused by policy changes
• Sufficient local resources: Fixed cooperative customs clearance teams at Jeddah and Riyadh ports,can respond quickly to on-site problems and shorten customs clearance time
• Standardized process: Each link has clear time nodes,clients can check cargo status,customs clearance progress and tax refund process in real time through the exclusive system

For enterprises that want to deepen the Saudi market,it is better to find a professional agency to save trouble than to explore by yourself and waste time and money.If you have specific cargo types,transportation needs or questions,you can contact professionals for further communication to make your Saudi Arabia import and export process smoother.