Analysis of Core Impacts of Sino-Vietnam Entrepot Trade on Chinese Foreign Trade Enterprises in 2026

Common Pain Point 1 of Sino-Vietnam Entrepot Trade: Difficult Document Compliance and Low Customs Clearance Efficiency

Pain Point Performance

Director Deng has received feedback from many foreign trade enterprises that Vietnam Customs has stricter requirements on entrepot trade documents in 2026.For example,when goods are transshipped from China to a third country,dual certification of Vietnam Certificate of Origin and packing list (issued by the Vietnamese Embassy in China and Vietnam Customs) is required.Some enterprises have their goods detained at Haiphong Port of Vietnam for 3-5 days due to inconsistent document information (such as wrong commodity code and inconsistent origin marking),which not only incurs container detention fees,but also delays the delivery period.

Root Cause of Pain Point

The core problems for enterprises handling documents on their own are as follows: First,they are not familiar with the 2026 new regulations of Vietnam Customs (such as the adjustment of origin rules for entrepot goods under RCEP); second,they lack local docking resources in Vietnam and cannot confirm document requirements in advance; third,document preparation staff have insufficient experience,which is prone to information deviation.

Zhongshen Solutions

In response to document compliance issues,Zhongshen has launched three professional measures:

• Pre-audit of documents in advance: 3 days before goods shipment,the document team checks all materials required for Vietnam customs clearance (certificate of origin,packing list,bill of lading,etc.) to ensure compliance with the new regulations of Vietnam Customs;
• Dual certification agency: We connect with the certification center of the Vietnamese Embassy in China,and complete the dual certification of packing lists and invoices within 1-2 working days,avoiding delays caused by enterprises handling it on their own;
• Compliant handling of RCEP Certificate of Origin: For entrepot goods,we assist enterprises in applying for preferential certificates of origin under RCEP to enjoy tariff reduction and exemption in third countries (for example,the EU reduces tariffs on Vietnam’s RCEP goods by 5%-10%).

Common Pain Point 2 of Sino-Vietnam Entrepot Trade: Restricted Foreign Exchange Receipt,Payment and Settlement,Slow Capital Turnover

Pain Point Performance

When the foreign trade company where General Dai works engaged in Sino-Vietnam entrepot trade last year,it was rejected by the bank for foreign exchange receipt and payment because it could not provide complete entrepot trade chain vouchers (such as Vietnam import declaration form and third country export bill of lading),resulting in a 10-day delay in payment receipt,which affected the factory’s raw material procurement.Some enterprises are also required to explain the situation by the foreign exchange administration due to the mismatch between foreign exchange capital flow and goods flow of entrepot trade,which increases compliance risks.

Root Cause of Pain Point

In 2026,the requirement of foreign exchange supervision for entrepot trade is "consistency of three flows" (capital flow,goods flow,document flow).However,when enterprises handle it on their own: first,they cannot provide vouchers such as local customs declaration forms in Vietnam; second,they do not understand the latest audit standards of the foreign exchange administration for entrepot trade; third,they lack experience in bank docking,and material submission is not standardized.

Zhongshen Solutions

Zhongshen’s foreign exchange service team provides full-process support:

• Trade background audit: Check all vouchers of entrepot trade (Vietnam import form,third country export form,bill of lading,etc.) in advance to ensure the consistency of three flows;
• Bank docking agency: We have established green channels for foreign exchange receipt and payment of entrepot trade with many domestic banks,and assist enterprises in submitting materials to complete foreign exchange receipt and payment within 3 working days;
• Compliance guidance for foreign exchange settlement and purchase: According to the latest 2026 foreign exchange policies,we provide enterprises with foreign exchange settlement and purchase plans to avoid losses caused by policy changes.

Common Pain Point 3 of Sino-Vietnam Entrepot Trade: Poor Logistics Connection and Large Cost Fluctuation

Pain Point Performance

The goods managed by General Mo were shipped from Guangzhou to Ho Chi Minh,Vietnam,and then transshipped to Singapore.Due to many logistics nodes at the Sino-Vietnam border (such as Pingxiang Port),2 boxes of accessories were lost during transshipment,and cross-border transportation cost increased by 12% due to fuel price fluctuation,which exceeded the enterprise’s budget.In addition,some enterprises cannot track the transportation status of goods in Vietnam in real time,resulting in uncertain delivery period.

Root Cause of Pain Point

The problems for enterprises choosing logistics providers on their own are as follows: First,they lack a Sino-Vietnam cross-border logistics network and cannot cover border warehousing and transshipment; second,they cannot monitor the transportation of goods in Vietnam in real time; third,they have no bargaining power,resulting in large fluctuations in transportation costs.

Zhongshen Solutions

Zhongshen’s logistics team provides full-process logistics services:

• Full-process logistics monitoring: We adopt GPS + docking with local Vietnamese logistics providers to track the status of goods from shipment in China to third countries in real time,which can be checked on mobile terminals;
• Border warehousing and transshipment: We have cooperative warehouses in Pingxiang,Guangxi and Hekou,Yunnan,providing goods transshipment and temporary storage services to avoid border congestion;
• Cost optimization plan: We have signed long-term agreements with many international logistics providers to lock in transportation costs (for example,FCL transportation cost is 8% lower than the market price),and provide the optimal choice of LCL/FCL.

Core Pain Point 4 of Sino-Vietnam Entrepot Trade: Delayed Export Tax Rebate and High Capital Occupation

Pain Point Performance

The company where General Ruan works engaged in Sino-Vietnam entrepot trade last year,and the export tax rebate was delayed for 20 days because it could not provide the entrepot certificate (entrepot goods certificate issued by Vietnam Customs),which occupied about 500,000 yuan of the enterprise’s working capital and affected the production of subsequent orders.Some enterprises also have their applications rejected by the tax department due to incomplete tax rebate materials (such as inconsistent information between the bill of lading and the customs declaration form).

Root Cause of Pain Point

The export tax rebate policy for entrepot trade is relatively complex.The 2026 new regulations require the provision of entrepot certificates,Vietnam import declaration forms,third country export bills of lading and other materials.When enterprises handle it on their own: first,they do not understand the policy details; second,they cannot obtain local certification materials in Vietnam; third,material preparation is not standardized,resulting in the rejection of tax rebate applications.

Zhongshen Solutions

Zhongshen’s tax rebate team provides full-process agency services:

• Material pre-audit: Check all tax rebate materials (entrepot certificate,customs declaration form,bill of lading,etc.) in advance to ensure they meet the requirements of the tax department;
• Vietnam certificate agency: We connect with Vietnam Customs to assist enterprises in obtaining entrepot goods certificates,which is completed within 1-3 working days;
• Full-process tracking of tax rebate: We track the whole process from declaration to receipt,and complete the tax rebate within 20-25 working days,which is 10-20 days faster than that handled by enterprises independently.

Core Advantages of Zhongshen in Helping Enterprises Cope with Sino-Vietnam Entrepot Trade

In response to the pain points of Sino-Vietnam entrepot trade,Zhongshen has been deeply engaged in the industry for more than 20 years,and has the following core advantages:

• Local resource advantage: We have established long-term cooperation with 12 customs agents and 8 logistics providers in Vietnam,and are familiar with the latest policies of Vietnam;
• Full-process service: It covers all links including customs declaration and inspection,international transportation,warehousing management,foreign exchange receipt and payment,foreign exchange settlement and purchase,and export tax rebate,eliminating the need for enterprises to connect with multiple service providers;
• Compliance control: We have a professional compliance team that updates the policy changes of China and Vietnam in real time to ensure the compliance of enterprises’ business;
• Efficiency improvement: The document pass rate is 98%,foreign exchange receipt and payment are completed within 3 working days,and tax rebate is completed within 20-25 working days,helping enterprises save time costs.

In 2026,Sino-Vietnam entrepot trade will still maintain a growth trend,but the pain points faced by enterprises will also adjust with policy changes.Zhongshen will continue to optimize its services to help foreign trade enterprises seize the dividend of entrepot trade,and reduce compliance risks and costs.