2026 Complete Practical Guide to Agricultural Byproducts Import and Export Process

I.Preparatory Stage: Compliance Access is the Foundation of Trade

The core prerequisite for agricultural byproducts import and export is compliance access.If there are omissions in qualification or filing links,all subsequent processes may be stalled.In 2026,some countries updated the quarantine standards for animal and plant-derived products,and many enterprises missed orders due to failure to follow up policies in time.Combined with Zhongshen’s practical experience,this paper sorts out the core actions and risk avoidance points of this stage.

1.1 Qualification Verification of Enterprises and Products

Stage Goal: Ensure that the enterprise has import and export authority,the products meet the access requirements of the target country,and avoid rejection due to qualification problems.

Key Actions:

• Check the basic qualifications of the enterprise: import and export operation right,food business license (mandatory for processed agricultural byproducts),customs credit rating certificate;
• Complete product access filing: For special categories such as meat and fruits,submit Phytosanitary Certificate and Certificate of Origin to the official authority of the target country for filing;
• Confirm compliance clauses of the contract: Clarify details such as commodity inspection standards (e.g.pesticide residue limits),delivery date,payment method,etc.

Common Problems:

• Some enterprises mistakenly equate "ordinary import and export operation right" with "agricultural byproducts import and export authority",ignoring additional qualifications required for special categories;
• Filling errors in filing materials (e.g.deviation in HS Code classification) lead to audit delay of more than 10 working days.

Zhongshen’s Role: Manager Ma (business docking supervisor) will first issue a Compliance Qualification List,clarifying that Veterinary Health Certificate is required for frozen meat,and Cold Chain Temperature Monitoring Report is required for fresh fruits; in response to the new EU quarantine regulations for citrus in 2026,we assist customers to pre-review filing materials in advance,reducing the rework rate from the industry average of 20% to less than 5%.

1.2 Comparison of Verification Focus for Different Categories

II.Order Execution and Logistics Stage: Efficient Connection Ensures Goods Circulation

This stage is the core link of agricultural byproducts trade.Categories with high freshness requirements (such as fruits and vegetables) need to complete customs clearance within 72 hours,otherwise they are prone to deterioration and loss.Zhongshen helps customers shorten the turnover cycle by optimizing logistics and customs declaration processes.

2.1 Core Actions of Quarantine and Customs Declaration

Stage Goal: Successfully pass quarantine of import and export countries,complete customs clearance quickly,and avoid cargo detention at the port resulting in storage fees.

Key Actions:

• Inspection declaration: Submit Animal and Plant Quarantine Application Form,Food Safety Commitment Letter and other materials;
• Customs declaration document preparation: Invoice,packing list,bill of lading,certificate of origin (must be consistent with filing information);
• On-site inspection cooperation: If selected for inspection,provide goods samples and detailed descriptions.

Common Problems:

• Incorrect HS Code classification (e.g.refined classification of nut codes in 2026) leads to return of customs declaration form;
• Fresh fruits are required to be re-inspected due to non-compliant temperature records,resulting in shipping schedule delay.

Zhongshen’s Role: Supervisor Jia (customs declaration and inspection supervisor) is familiar with the latest HS Code adjustments in 2026.For refined classification of categories such as almonds and pistachios,he will check and correct them in advance; if selected for inspection,Mr.Fan (on-site coordinator) will bring samples and Full Temperature Monitoring Record to the site,shortening the average inspection time by 4 hours.

2.2 Logistics and Transportation Optimization Scheme

According to the characteristics of different agricultural byproducts,Zhongshen has formulated differentiated logistics strategies:

• Frozen meat: Select full temperature-controlled containers,install real-time temperature sensors,and adjust immediately if the temperature deviates from the set value (below -18℃);
• Fresh fruits: Prioritize direct routes from Shanghai Port to Southeast Asia to reduce the number of transits,shortening the transportation cycle from 7 days to 5 days;
• Bulk grain and oil: Coordinate bulk cargo LCL,match shipping space according to cargo volume,and the logistics cost is 8%-12% lower than that of customers’ self-inquiry.

Ms.Luo (logistics scheduling supervisor) will lock the shipping space 15 days in advance according to the route density of Shanghai Port in 2026,to avoid price increases caused by tight shipping space in peak season.

III.Foreign Exchange and Tax Refund Stage: The Key to Safe Return of Funds

The capital turnover cycle of agricultural byproducts trade directly affects the cash flow of enterprises,and foreign exchange receipt and payment and export tax refund are the core pain points of this stage.Zhongshen helps customers accelerate the return of funds through compliant operation and policy utilization.

3.1 Foreign Exchange Receipt,Payment and Settlement Operation

Stage Goal: Receive foreign exchange safely,settle foreign exchange compliantly,and avoid losses caused by exchange rate fluctuations.

Key Actions:

• Foreign exchange account opening: If the customer has no foreign exchange account,assist in handling the corporate foreign exchange account;
• Foreign exchange declaration: Fill in the Foreign-related Income Declaration Form truthfully to ensure consistency with the trade contract;
• Foreign exchange settlement: Exchange RMB according to the current exchange rate,or lock the exchange rate to avoid fluctuations.

Common Problems:

• Foreign exchange declaration information is inconsistent with the invoice,which is verified by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange,resulting in delayed receipt of foreign exchange;
• Exchange rate fluctuations (e.g.1.2% fluctuation of USD/RMB in 2026) lead to loss of foreign exchange settlement income.

Zhongshen’s Role: Manager Ma will guide customers to fill in the declaration form to ensure that "trade mode" and "amount" are fully matched with the contract; taking advantage of Zhongshen’s foreign exchange pool,we lock the exchange rate for customers (up to 15 days),helping customers avoid more than 300,000 yuan of exchange rate losses in the first half of 2026.

3.2 Export Tax Refund Declaration Process

Stage Goal: Get the tax refund fund quickly and accelerate capital turnover.

Key Actions:

• Data collection: Customs declaration form (export tax refund copy),special VAT invoice,export contract;
• System entry: Enter data into the export tax refund declaration system and generate declaration documents;
• Tax review: Cooperate with the tax department for verification and supplement materials in time.

Common Problems:

• The product name on the VAT invoice is inconsistent with that on the customs declaration form,resulting in tax refund delay of more than 30 days;
• Failure to follow up the adjustment of export tax refund rate for some agricultural byproducts in 2026 (increased from 10% to 13%),resulting in less tax refund.

Zhongshen’s Role: Supervisor Wang will check the "product name","quantity" and "unit" on the invoice and customs declaration form in advance to ensure 100% consistency; for categories with adjusted tax refund rates in 2026 (such as tea and honey),he will help customers recalculate the tax refund amount,with an average of 12% more tax refund; establish a tax refund tracking ledger to feed back the review progress in real time,shortening the tax refund cycle from the industry average of 45 days to 25 days.

IV.Summary of Core Value of Zhongshen’s Services

The import and export process of agricultural byproducts involves three core links: compliance,logistics and capital,and any omission may lead to trade failure.Zhongshen has been deeply engaged in the industry for more than 20 years,with professional personnel docking in each link: Manager Ma is responsible for preliminary compliance pre-review,Supervisor Jia controls customs declaration and inspection,Ms.Luo optimizes logistics scheduling,and Supervisor Wang follows up foreign exchange and tax refund.

Many customers reported that when they operated by themselves before,the export tax refund cycle was as long as 3 months,and the fastest arrival time is 20 days after cooperation with us; a fruit trading enterprise once lost 150,000 yuan due to unfamiliarity with quarantine standards and returned goods,and no similar problems occurred after cooperation.

If you are carrying out agricultural byproducts import and export trade,or have relevant needs,you may contact the professional team of Zhongshen.We will provide you with a full-process,one-stop solution to help you carry out foreign trade business smoothly.