Common Difficulties in Import Auxiliary Materials Agency and Efficient Solutions

In the first quarter of 2026,statistics from Shanghai Customs show that the value of imported auxiliary materials in industries including textiles,electronics and automobile manufacturing increased by 11.8% year on year,among which auxiliary materials from Southeast Asia (Vietnam,Thailand),Europe (Germany,Italy) and South Korea accounted for more than 65%.Many local enterprises in Shanghai reported that auxiliary materials are of complex categories and various specifications,and compliance requirements vary greatly among different origins -- for example,textile auxiliary materials from Vietnam need to provide eco-certification,while electronic auxiliary materials from Germany must meet the latest RoHS 2.0 standards.A slight negligence may lead to customs clearance delay or return of goods.

Founded for more than 20 years,Zhongshen has focused on import auxiliary materials agency for 15 years.Supervisor Wei in the team has led over 1,200 auxiliary material import projects.He mentioned that when many enterprises import by themselves,they often get stuck in two pain points: "document mismatch" and "misjudgment of quarantine standards".The core value of a professional agency is to resolve these hidden risks in advance.

I.Document Pre-review: The First Check for Auxiliary Material Import

1.Special Document List for Auxiliary Materials

Document requirements for auxiliary material import are more detailed than those for ordinary goods,especially for certification documents related to environmental protection and safety.Since 2026,the EU has updated the restriction standard for phthalates in RoHS 2.0 for electronic auxiliary materials,and some Southeast Asian countries require textile auxiliary materials to provide the latest version of Oeko-Tex 100 certificate,which are often ignored by enterprises.

In the document pre-review stage,Zhongshen will focus on verifying the following special documents for auxiliary materials:

• Textile auxiliary materials: Oeko-Tex 100 certification (2026 version),certificate of origin (RCEP or GSP),composition test report (formaldehyde and azo content)
• Electronic auxiliary materials: RoHS 2.0 test report,REACH SVHC list,brand authorization letter (for some high-end electronic auxiliary materials)
• Plastic/rubber auxiliary materials: Food contact material test report (if used for food packaging),pre-shipment inspection certificate (of EU origin)

2.Case: Certification Update of German Thermal Conductive Silicone

Last October,an electronic assembly plant in Shanghai planned to import German thermal conductive silicone.The RoHS report prepared by the enterprise itself was still the 2025 version,which did not include phthalates test data.Supervisor Wei’s team found this problem during pre-review,and immediately assisted the enterprise to contact the German supplier to supplement the latest test report,avoiding customs detention of goods due to inconsistent documents after arrival at the port.

II.Port Customs Declaration: Accurate Classification to Reduce Tariff Costs

1.Key Points of HS Code Classification for Auxiliary Materials

HS Code classification of auxiliary materials is the core difficulty of customs declaration.For example,for textile auxiliary materials,the tariff rate difference between zippers (HS 9607) and buttons (HS 9606) is up to 3%,and the VAT deduction policies for thermal pads (HS 8547) and insulating tapes (HS 8546) in electronic auxiliary materials are also different.In 2026,Shanghai Customs carries out stricter review on HS codes of auxiliary materials.Wrong classification will not only lead to supplementary tax payment,but also may affect the credit rating of enterprises.

Manager Dai of Zhongshen has 18 years of customs declaration experience.He summarized three key points for auxiliary material classification:

• Prioritize composition: Buttons containing more than 50% metal,for example,cannot be classified as textile auxiliary materials,but shall be classified as metal products
• Clarify the purpose: If electronic auxiliary materials are used for automotive electronics,it is necessary to indicate "automotive grade",and some can enjoy tariff preferences
• Check the latest tariff schedule: In 2026,the tariff on South Korean electronic auxiliary materials under RCEP is reduced to zero,so it is necessary to confirm whether the certificate of origin meets the "regional value content" requirement

2.Case: Tariff Saving for Vietnamese Zippers

In March this year,a clothing company in Shanghai imported zippers made in Vietnam.When the enterprise declared customs by itself before,it mistakenly classified the zippers as "textile products" (HS 6307) with a tariff rate of 10%.After checking,Manager Dai correctly classified them as "zippers" (HS 9607) with a tariff rate of 5%,and applied for RCEP certificate of origin at the same time,finally enjoying zero tariff,saving 23,000 yuan in tariff for a single batch of goods.

III.Commodity Inspection and Quarantine: Early Docking to Avoid On-site Delay

1.Differences in Quarantine Requirements for Different Types of Auxiliary Materials

Quarantine requirements for auxiliary materials vary by category.Textile auxiliary materials need to be tested for formaldehyde,azo and heavy metal content,electronic auxiliary materials need to be tested for harmful substances such as lead and cadmium,and some plastic auxiliary materials also need microbial testing (if used in the medical field).In 2026,the sampling rate of imported auxiliary materials by Shanghai Commodity Inspection Bureau has increased to 25%.If the on-site sampling is unqualified,the goods need to be returned or destroyed,with loss ranging from 15% to 20% of the goods value.

2.Zhongshen’s Quarantine Countermeasures

Supervisor Hou of Zhongshen is responsible for commodity inspection docking.His experience is "make an appointment in advance and take the initiative to submit for inspection": For example,a toy factory in Shanghai imported plastic toy auxiliary materials made in the EU.Supervisor Hou contacted the commodity inspection institution 10 days in advance,provided the supplier’s pre-test report,and applied for the "pre-inspection" service.After the goods arrived at the port,the commodity inspection institution only carried out sampling review,and completed the quarantine within 3 days,which was 5 days shorter than the conventional process.

In addition,some auxiliary materials need Pre-shipment Inspection (PSI).For example,for food contact plastic auxiliary materials imported from the EU,Zhongshen will assist enterprises to contact designated institutions to complete the inspection at the place of origin,avoiding repeated inspection after arrival at the port.

IV.Real Case: Implementation Practice of RCEP Tariff Preference

In November 2025,a new energy auto parts factory in Shanghai planned to import thermal pads made in South Korea,with a value of 1.2 million yuan.When the enterprise applied for RCEP certificate of origin by itself,it only provided the commercial invoice,which did not meet the requirement of "regional value content ≥40%",so the customs rejected the tariff reduction and exemption application.

After the enterprise contacted Zhongshen,Mr.Zou’s team assisted in supplementing the following materials:

• Raw material procurement contract of the South Korean supplier (proving that 65% of raw materials come from South Korea)
• Production process description (proving that the main processing of the thermal pad is completed in South Korea)
• Declaration of origin (a declaration conforming to RCEP standards issued by the South Korean supplier)

Finally,the customs approved the zero tariff application,the enterprise saved 120,000 yuan in tariff,and the customs clearance time was shortened from 10 days to 5 days.

V.Common Difficulties and Countermeasures for Auxiliary Material Import

In the 2026 auxiliary material import market,compliance requirements will only become stricter,and the risks and costs of self-operation by enterprises will continue to rise.Zhongshen has been deeply engaged in the industry for more than 20 years,is familiar with the latest policies of Shanghai port,and understands the special requirements of auxiliary materials from different origins.From document pre-review to quarantine clearance,each link is handled by dedicated personnel,which can help enterprises shorten the customs clearance time from an average of 12 days to 5-7 days,and reduce compliance risks by more than 90%.

For foreign trade enterprises in Shanghai,choosing a professional auxiliary material import agency is not "increasing costs",but "avoiding losses".After all,the loss caused by one delay or return may be several times higher than the agency fee.