Export Enterprises: Operate In-house or Hire an Agent? What Are the Key Differences?

Export of Fast Chargers to Vietnam: Compliance Challenges Amid Booming Market

In the first half of 2026,Ms.Xu from an electronic parts manufacturer in Shanghai encountered a new problem: a batch of fast chargers she exported to Vietnam was detained at Ho Chi Minh Port for 3 days due to incomplete certification materials for the newly updated local RoHS 2.0 standard.This not only delayed order delivery to downstream customers,but also incurred port storage fees of nearly 1,000 yuan per day."I thought I could handle the documents on my own before.I didn’t expect Vietnam’s policies to update so fast.I made two trips to the inspection and quarantine bureau just to supplement the materials," Ms.Xu said.

In 2026,demand in Vietnam’s consumer electronics market increased by 22% year-on-year,among which fast chargers saw explosive growth due to the popularization of local new energy vehicles.However,market growth is accompanied by stricter trade barriers: in addition to RoHS 2.0,Vietnam Customs also requires that all products exported under RCEP be provided with a certificate of origin containing Product Specific Rules (PSR),and the documents must be completely consistent with the data in the electronic declaration system,otherwise the application will be rejected directly.

Zhongshen Export Agency: Targeted Solutions to Vietnam’s Trade Barriers

In response to the policy characteristics of the Vietnamese market,Zhongshen’s export agency service does not adopt a one-size-fits-all approach,but focuses on three core aspects: pre-policy review,process node control,and local resource docking,to help enterprises avoid compliance risks.

1.Document Module: Precisely Match Vietnam’s PSR and RoHS Requirements

According to the RCEP rules of origin implemented by Vietnam in 2026,the PSR requires that the "plastic shell" of fast chargers meet the requirement of "regional value content ≥ 40%",and the source of raw materials must be clearly marked on the certificate of origin.At the same time,RoHS 2.0 adds a limit test for "brominated flame retardants",requiring a special test report from a third-party institution.

• Zhongshen’s document team checks the PSR corresponding to the product HS code (85176200) 3 days in advance to confirm whether the raw material procurement contract meets the regional value requirements;
• Cooperate with Vietnam-recognized third-party testing institutions to pre-review RoHS 2.0 reports in advance to avoid application rejection due to non-conforming report formats;
• All documents are pre-reviewed by local Vietnam customs brokers before submission to ensure they fully match the fields of the electronic declaration system.

2.Customs Clearance Module: Connected to Vietnam’s New Electronic Declaration System

In March 2026,Vietnam Customs launched the "National Single Window 2.0" system,requiring all declaration data to be synchronized with port logistics information in real time.If the update of the logistics track is delayed by more than 1 hour,the system will automatically trigger manual review,resulting in a 2-3 day extension of customs clearance time.

Zhongshen has established a dedicated liaison mechanism with 3 core customs brokers at Ho Chi Minh Port and Haiphong Port in Vietnam:

• Customs brokers enter logistics track information into the system in advance to ensure consistency with the data on the bill of lading and packing list;
• If the system triggers manual review,the local liaison will submit supplementary materials within 1 hour,eliminating the need for remote communication by the enterprise;
• For the "green channel" under RCEP,submit electronic scanned copies of the certificate of origin in advance to shorten the review time.

3.Tax Refund Module: Connected to Vietnam’s Accelerated Tax Refund Channel

In 2026,the Ministry of Finance of Vietnam launched the "accelerated tax refund channel" for products exported under RCEP,but requires enterprises to provide an electronic archive integrating four documents: customs declaration form,logistics track certificate,VAT invoice,and certificate of origin,which must be submitted within 7 days after the goods are released.

Zhongshen’s tax refund team will sort out the complete archive on the day the goods are released and submit it through the connected bank green channel.The average tax refund time is shortened from 20 days for independent operation by enterprises to 12 days.Ms.Xu’s company started using Zhongshen’s agency service last year,and the tax refund time has stabilized at 10-13 days in the first half of this year,with capital turnover efficiency increased by 35%.

In-house Export vs Agency Export: Comparison of Core Differences

Customized Agency: Matching the Needs of Different Products and Target Countries

In addition to electronic parts for Vietnam,Zhongshen provides customized services for different products and target countries: for example,when exporting textile and clothing to Germany,it will review the carbon emission data requirements in the EU’s "Green Product Directive" (2026 updated version) in advance; when exporting agricultural products to Thailand,it connects to the electronic phytosanitary certificate system of the local Ministry of Agriculture.

Supervisor Yan,project leader of Zhongshen,said: "Last year,a clothing manufacturer in Shanghai exported children’s clothing to Germany.When they operated on their own,the shipment was returned due to incomplete carbon emission data.Later,they came to us for agency services.We connected with an EU-recognized carbon verification institution in advance,completed the data in 3 days,and the customs clearance only took 4 days."

Whether it is a start-up enterprise or a mature foreign trade company,as long as it involves export business,it can choose Zhongshen’s customized agency service according to its own product category and target country policies,so as to avoid trade barriers and improve export efficiency.