I. Analysis of the Current Situation and Policy Environment of China–South Korea Coffee Powder Trade

In recent years, China’s coffee market has expanded at an average annual rate of 15%, driving a steady rise in demand for imported coffee powder. Thanks to its mature roasting technology and a stable raw-material supply chain, South Korea has become one of China’s key suppliers. Customs data show that in 2023 the bilateral trade value of coffee powder between China and South Korea rose 22 % year-on-year, mainly covering HS codes 0901.2100 (unroasted coffee powder) and 0901.2200 (roasted coffee powder). Under the China–South Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the preferential tariff has been cut to 0–5 % (compared with the MFN rate of 8 %), markedly lowering import costs.

Please note that the current international trade environment is complex and volatile: on one hand, Chinese customs has tightened inspection and quarantine of imported food, demanding more detailed ingredient-analysis reports and processing-method statements; on the other, Korea has made the “Export Health Certificate” mandatory for outbound food, and some small- and medium-sized manufacturers may see supply stability jeopardized by compliance issues. In addition, fluctuations in the RMB exchange rate and international?Ocean shipping?Cyclical price adjustments also place higher demands on import cost control.

II.Import Agent ServicesCore Competency: A Professional Dual-Drive in Documentation and Logistics

(I) Document Processing: The “Invisible Moat” of End-to-End Compliance

The documentation system for importing Korean coffee powder comprises three major categories of core documents:

1. Basic Commercial Documents: Commercial Invoice (must specify the terms of trade and any commission), Packing List (must list the net/gross weight and specifications of each carton), Ocean Bill of Lading (B/L; verify the shipper, consignee, and notify party details);
2. Origin and Quality Certificates: China–South Korea FTACertificate of Origin(FORM E, directly affects tariff reduction; pay attention to the “wholly obtained” or “substantial transformation” clauses), the official sanitary certificate issued by South Korea (must state “complies with China’s National Food Safety Standards”), and the ingredient analysis report issued by a third-party testing agency (focus on caffeine content and pesticide residue limits);
3. Special Customs Requirements: Registration number of the overseas food manufacturing enterprise (must be filed under GACC Announcement No. 192), and a sample of the Chinese label (in compliance with GB 7718-2011 "General Rules for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods").

The core value of a customs broker is reflected in: ① pre-checking document consistency (e.g., the deviation between invoice amount and bill-of-lading value must be ≤5%); ② translating and standardizing technical terms (e.g., “roasted coffee powder” must be uniformly rendered as “已焙炒咖啡粉”); ③ handling customs queries (e.g., when a certificate of origin is rejected for format non-compliance, quickly coordinating the Korean issuing authority to issue a correction).

(II) Logistics Services: A Precise Balance Between Cost and Timeliness

Logistics processes must be tailored to customer requirements:

• Selection of transportation methods: Small batches (≤2000 kg) may be used.?Air freight?(Incheon–Shanghai, 48-hour delivery), cost ≈ US$1.7–2.1/kg; for large volumes (≥5 t) recommend LCL by sea (Busan–Qingdao, 7–10 days) or FCL (20GP/40HQ, ocean freight ≈ 60 % lower than air).
• Trade term matching: If the customer wishes to control shipping risk, CIF (Cost + Insurance + Freight) is recommended; the agent can arrange with Sinosure to take out All-Risk Marine Cargo Insurance (premium ≈ 0.15%). If the customer needs to cut cost, FOB (Free On Board) is preferable, but the agent must assist in booking Korean port space—working as a first-tier agent with Hanjin Shipping, Hyundai Merchant Marine, etc., to secure freight discounts.
• Port-of-destination collaboration: Agents can submit an “Import Goods Pre-declaration” to Customs in advance, enabling “direct pick-up alongside the vessel” or “direct loading upon arrival,” cutting clearance time from the traditional 3–5 days down to 1–2 days. At the same time, in partnership with domestic warehousing companies (e.g., Sinotrans, GLP), bonded warehousing and distribution services are provided (applicable toCross-border E-commerceImport).

III. Expansion of Business with Russia: VTB?Foreign exchange settlement?Leveraging Strengths to Crack the Cross-Border Payment Puzzle

Some companies import Korean coffee powder and then resell it to Russia, or directly carry out a “Korea–China–Russia” triangular trade. In this scenario, VTB Bank (Savings Bank of the Russian Federation) demonstrates a clear advantage in foreign-exchange settlement:

• Circumventing SWIFT restrictions: VTB has established direct RMB-RUB settlement channels with major Chinese banks (such as ICBC and BOC), eliminating the need for USD intermediation and reducing exposure to international sanctions.
• Exchange Rate Cost Optimization: Supports T+0 real-time exchange-rate locking; the foreign-exchange settlement fee is only 0.1–0.2 % (traditional USD settlement fees are roughly 0.3–0.5 %);
• Document Simplification: Only the scanned copies of the contract, commercial invoice, and bill of lading are required to complete the foreign-exchange settlement; no additional filing with the State Administration of Foreign Exchange is needed (applicable to small-value transactions of ≤ USD 500,000).

The agency service provider can assist enterprises in opening a VTB Bank RMB account, connect with ruble payments from Russian buyers, track the entire fund-arrival process, and ensure the security of the “goods-payment” closed loop.

IV. Full Import Agency Workflow: Professional Implementation Across 9 Key Milestones

1. Client Consultation: Needs Assessment and Service Boundary Confirmation

The agent must clarify the client’s import purpose (commercial/retail), target port (Shanghai/Qingdao/Tianjin), annual demand (which determines the logistics plan), and whether re-export to Russia is involved (which affects the settlement method), and must state the service boundary of “not providing product certification services.”

2. Negotiation and Contract Signing: Compliance Review of Contract Terms

Focus on reviewing trade terms (e.g., for FOB Busan, clearly specify the “shipment notice” obligation), payment methods (T/T 30 % deposit + 70 % against copy of B/L, or sight L/C), and quality-dispute resolution (stipulate SGS inspection as final), while avoiding vague wording such as “sale by sample.”

3. Orders & Payment: Fund Security and Credit Protection

If adopting?L/C?(L/C): The agent must verify the issuing bank’s qualifications (Woori Bank and Shinhan Bank in Korea are preferred) and insert mandatory clauses such as “FORM E Certificate of Origin” and “Sanitary Certificate” under “Documentary Requirements.” For T/T payment, coordinate with the customer to complete remittance through the “Cross-border Financial Service Platform” to achieve electronic tax-filing recordation.

4. Production Supervision: Dual Control of Quality and Delivery

For customized orders (e.g., specific roast levels or packaging specifications), the agent may commission a local Korean inspection body (such as a KOLAS-accredited laboratory) to carry out on-site supervision, focusing on verifying the raw-material batch numbers (which must match those on the health certificate) and the packaging seal integrity (the anti-oxidation aluminum-foil pouches must comply with GB 4806.7-2016), ensuring the delivery-time deviation is ≤ 5 days.

5. Logistics Management: End-to-End Transportation Visibility

Use a logistics tracking system (e.g., Maersk’s Remote Container Management) to monitor container location and temperature in real time (coffee powder should be stored at 18–22 °C). If a sailing delay occurs (e.g., congestion at Busan Port), immediately arrange a vessel change at a trans-shipment port (e.g., Kobe, Japan) to minimize demurrage (about USD 200–500 per day).

6. Customs Compliance: Accurate Filing and Tax Payment

During the pre-classification stage, submit an HS code pre-review through the “Single Window” (the key difference between 0901.2100 and 0901.2200 is “whether roasted”); when declaring the price, if related-party transactions are involved (e.g., supplies from the Korean parent company), prepare a “comparable uncontrolled price” proof to address customs valuation; at the duty-payment stage, “aggregate taxation” is supported (for enterprises with annual imports ≥ RMB 5 million), easing cash-flow pressure.

7. Delivery & Distribution: The Last Mile to the Doorstep

Based on customer requirements, we offer multi-tier “port–warehouse–store” distribution: for chain-coffee-shop clients, goods can be allocated to eight regional hubs nationwide (covering 30 cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen); for e-commerce platforms, we interface with Cainiao or JD Logistics to enable next-day delivery and provide a “sell first, pay duty later” bonded model (applicable to cross-border e-commerce retail imports).

8. Quality Assurance: Issue Response and Accountability Tracing

Complete the initial inspection within 48 hours of arrival (verify quantity and packaging integrity). If a short-shipment is found (a deviation ≤0.5% can be settled by negotiated compensation; beyond that, an insurance claim is triggered) or quality issues arise (e.g., moisture-induced caking), the agent can help retrieve the ocean temperature log to identify the responsible party (carrier/insurer/shipper) and finalize the compensation process within 10 working days.

9. Summary & Feedback: Data-Driven Review and Optimization Recommendations

Provide the “Import Cost Analysis Report” (including the proportions of tariffs, freight, insurance, and customs clearance fees) and the “Process Efficiency Evaluation Form” (e.g., total lead time from order placement to delivery and the time-share of each stage), and propose improvement plans for recurring issues (e.g., delays in certificates of origin), such as requiring Korean suppliers to apply for the certificate 15 days in advance.

V. Customer Notice: Certification Requirements and Service Boundary Description

Importing Korean coffee powder requires the following certifications/filings, but the agent does not directly provide application services:

• Registration of overseas production enterprises：需通過海關(guān)總署“進(jìn)口食品境外生產(chǎn)企業(yè)注冊(cè)管理系統(tǒng)”提交申請(qǐng)（網(wǎng)址：http://qsam.customs.gov.cn），審核周期約30個(gè)工作日；
• Sanitary Certificate for Export to China: Issued by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) of Korea, the application must be submitted 10 working days before export;
• Chinese label filing: A label sample (including ingredient list, production date, and shelf life) must be provided, through the "Imported Food"CosmeticsSubmit through the “Label Filing System”; it is recommended to complete the filing two months in advance (to avoid return due to label issues after arrival at the port).

The agent can assist in reviewing certification materials (e.g., verifying whether the overseas company’s registration number matches the actual factory) and provide a “Label Compliance Checklist” (covering 12 key points such as font size and mandatory labeling content), but the actual filing operations must be completed by the client or a third-party certification body.

Conclusion
The core challenges of importing Korean coffee powder lie in document compliance, logistics efficiency, and cross-border payment security. Professional agency service providers can help companies reduce customs clearance delays by 30% and cut overall costs by 20% through precise document review, customized logistics solutions, and VTB settlement support for Russia. When selecting an agent, it is advisable to focus on the customs rejection rate of their documentation team (top-tier agents ≤3%), the depth of their logistics network (whether they have long-term partnerships with major shipping lines/warehousing companies), and their ability to provide payment solutions for emerging markets such as Russia.