---
title: "What Is an Import Agent? Full Analysis of Import Procedures - Zhongshen Trading China"
description: "In 2026，the export volume of tropical fruits from Southeast Asia to China increased by 18% year on year. However，many small and medium-sized traders in Shanghai encountered problems such as container detention at ports and customs clearance delays due to unfamiliarity with the newly revised import compliance requirements. As a key link connecting overseas suppliers and domestic enterprises，import agents can targeted solve pain points in core links such as document pre-audit，commodity inspection..."
url: "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/import-agent-services/what-is-import-agent-import-process-analysis.html"
language: "en"
type: "Article"
category: "Import agent"
datePublished: "2026-09-07"
dateModified: "2026-09-07"
brand: "Zhongshen Trading China"
image: "https://cndpic.sh-zhongshen.com/uploads/tradepics/4N3A6yo1nrv1k.webp"
---

# What Is an Import Agent? Full Analysis of Import Procedures

## Common Difficulties in Thai Durian Import: Multiple Block Points from Documents to Customs Clearance

In the summer of 2026,Manager Wen of a food trading company in Shanghai was worried about the frozen durian containers at Yangshan Port.This 12-ton batch of Thai Musang King durian had been detained at the port for two days,because the submitted phytosanitary certificate did not bear the newly launched electronic seal of the Thai agricultural department,which was not recognized by the port commodity inspection department.Manager Wen contacted a local freight forwarder,but the latter was not familiar with the compliance details of live animal and plant imports,so he could do nothing but wait anxiously.

![Thai Durian Import Blocked? Solutions from Zhongshen, a Professional Import Agent](https://cndpic.sh-zhongshen.com/uploads/tradepics/4N3A6yo1nrv1k.webp)

This is not an isolated case: in the first half of 2026,the import of tropical fruits at Shanghai Port increased by 22% year on year,but more than 30% of small and medium-sized traders experienced customs clearance delays,cargo damage or even penalties for violations due to unfamiliarity with new regulations.They want to import high-quality overseas products such as Thai durian and Malaysian palm oil,but get stuck in professional links such as document compliance,inspection and traceability,and port operation - this is exactly the value of import agents.

## Core Function of Import Agents: Turn "Complex Procedures" into "Implementable Solutions"

Many people think import agents are only "intermediaries",but they are actually compliance service providers familiar with the whole import chain of specific products.Take Zhongshen as an example,it has been engaged in foreign trade agency for more than 20 years,and handled more than 120 batches of agricultural product import business from Southeast Asia in the first half of 2026 alone.Its core function is to help enterprises:

- Avoid the latest 2026 compliance risks in advance,such as mandatory traceability code requirements and increased sampling ratio;
- Shorten customs clearance time,which is 18 hours faster than the industry average;
- Connect with official channels such as customs and commodity inspection authorities to solve unexpected problems.

## Disassembly of Thai Durian Import Procedure: Targeted Assistance from Zhongshen

### Stage 1: Document Pre-audit (7-10 days before container arrival at port)

In 2026,China Customs upgraded the requirements for Thai durian import documents,with core block points in three details:

![What Is an Import Agent? Full Analysis of Import Procedures](https://cndpic.sh-zhongshen.com/uploads/tradepics/4ni89iGsNy4Yq.webp)

- The phytosanitary certificate must bear the electronic seal of the Thai agricultural department,and the certificate number must be consistent with the record in the Thai "Agricultural Product Traceability System";
- The certificate of origin must use the 2026 updated GSP FORM E version,and must specify the specific durian variety (Monthong/Musang King);
- Domestic importers must complete the filing of live animals and plants on the "Single Window" in advance,and the information must match the actual variety.

Zhongshen adopts the method of "pre-audit + pre-entry": when Manager Wen’s company imported durian for the first time last year,Supervisor Chen from Zhongshen obtained the first draft of documents from the Thai supplier 10 days in advance,found that the variety label was missing on the certificate of origin,immediately contacted the Thai side for revision,and helped Manager Wen complete the filing on the Single Window at the same time.If processed after the container arrives at the port,it will be delayed for at least 5 days,while the shelf life of frozen durian is only 15 days,and the delay may lead to cargo damage.

### Stage 2: Port Customs Declaration (within 24 hours after container arrival at port)

The unique requirement for Thai durian customs declaration is "dual verification of traceability code + temperature".In 2026,online verification of traceability code with the customs system was added.Zhongshen confirms the validity of the traceability code with the Thai supplier in advance,and directly connects with the customs system during declaration to avoid repeated verification.The following is the comparison between old and new requirements:

| Core Requirements for Thai Durian Customs Declaration in 2026 | Requirements in 2025 and Earlier | Assistance Methods of Zhongshen |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Thai official traceability code is required (online verification) | Only certificate of origin is required,no traceability code requirement | Check the validity of traceability code 3 days in advance,and upload it synchronously during customs declaration |
| Product temperature shall be marked on the customs declaration form (below -18) | Only mark "frozen",no specific temperature required | Check the temperature test report of Thai supplier in advance |
| The filing form shall be updated quarterly (on Single Window) | The filing form is valid for 1 year,no update required | Proactively update customers’ filing information quarterly |

In March 2026,Supervisor Qiu of a trading company in Shanghai contacted Zhongshen to act as agent for importing Musang King durian.The customs declaration was completed 2 hours after the container arrived at the port.Zhongshen pre-entered the traceability code and declaration information in advance,and the container was directly inspected and released after arrival,16 hours faster than the industry average.

### Stage 3: Commodity Inspection and Sampling (within 48 hours after container arrival at port)

In 2026,the commodity inspection for Thai durian added the requirement of "doubled sampling ratio" (from 1% to 2%),and samples must be stored below 4for 24 hours,otherwise the test will be invalid.At the same time,12 kinds of quarantine pests such as fruit fly and mealybug need to be detected.

Zhongshen provides assistance of "preparation in advance + dedicated person liaison": before Supervisor Qiu’s container arrived at the port,Zhongshen had prepared an insulated sampling box with a temperature recorder.A dedicated person accompanied the inspection personnel during sampling,the sampling was completed in 2 hours,and the test result was available in 12 hours.Without the insulated box,the inspection authority may require re-sampling,resulting in a delay of at least 2 days.

## Practical Case: How Import Agents Avoid Fatal Risks

In October 2025,Mr.Zou,owner of a start-up trading company in Shanghai,imported frozen Thai durian for the first time.As he was not aware of the new 2026 traceability code regulation,the contract signed with the Thai supplier did not require the provision of traceability code.Mr.Zou learned of the new regulation only 5 days before the container arrived at the port,and was extremely anxious.

After contacting Zhongshen,Supervisor Chen immediately contacted the Thai supplier,coordinated to get the traceability code supplemented within 3 days,and helped Mr.Zou improve the information on the customs declaration form.Finally,the customs clearance was completed 36 hours after the container arrived at the port without any delay.Mr.Zou later calculated that without Zhongshen’s assistance,there would be not only a 7-day delay (leaving only 8 days of shelf life for the durian),but also a possible customs penalty for violation (up to 10% of the cargo value).

## Core Value of Zhongshen: Improve Import Efficiency by 60%

For enterprises in Shanghai,the value of choosing Zhongshen as import agent is reflected in two key figures:

- For the Thai durian import business handled in 2026,the average customs clearance time is 36 hours,18 hours faster than the industry average;
- None of the customers have received compliance penalties,with a 100% violation risk avoidance rate.

Manager Wen’s company now has a long-term cooperation with Zhongshen.For each durian import,they only need to handle customer and product liaison,while all links such as documents and commodity inspection are fully handled by Zhongshen,with import efficiency improved by 60% compared with before.

In fact,the essence of import agents is to help enterprises turn "unintelligible new regulations" and "unfamiliar procedures" into "implementable solutions".Whether it is live animals and plants such as Thai durian,or European mechanical equipment,choosing the right professional agent allows you to focus on sales and customer liaison,without worrying about customs clearance delays and compliance risks.

## Related Resources
- [Import agent](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/import-agent-services/)
- [Trade Services](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/services/)
- [Trade Cases](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/cases/)
- [Trade Wiki](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/wiki/)
- [Trade Class](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/guide/)
- [Global Trade Services](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/country/)
- [Trade Q&A Hub](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/)

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