I. French coffeeImport Agent ServicesThe core value: the dual guarantee of professionalism and efficiency

In the global coffee trade network, France, with its mature roasting techniques and boutique coffee culture, has become an important source of goods for Chinese importers. In 2023, the bilateral trade volume between China and France exceeded 90 billion euros, with food and beverage imports increasing by 18% year-on-year. As a high-frequency demand category, the professionalism of coffee import agency services directly affects enterprises' costs and customs clearance efficiency.Zhong Shen International Trade Co., Ltd.Deep cultivation inExport Agent ServicesIn 2020, guided by the service principle of "zero errors in documents and full transparency in logistics", we integrated resources from customs brokers, shipping companies, inspection agencies, and other entities to provide clients with a full-chain agency service from order confirmation to terminal delivery. In particular, we established a competitive advantage in document processing and logistics solution design.

II. Opportunities and Challenges of French Coffee Import under the International Trade Situation

Currently, French coffee imports face a dual challenge of "stricter policies and cost fluctuations". On the one hand, EU regulations such as the "New Battery Law" and the "Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)" do not directly affect coffee, but indirectly increase the compliance costs of European supply chains. On the other hand, China's Customs Regulations on the Registration and Management of Overseas Food Manufacturers (Decree No. 145) implemented in 2024 require overseas manufacturers to complete registration in China and provide official phytosanitary certificates upon import. Additionally, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has led to adjustments in European logistics routes, with the efficiency of traditional transshipment at the Port of Rotterdam declining. Some goods now need to be shipped via the Port of Fos-sur-Mer in the Mediterranean, with logistics timelines extending from 35 days to 40-45 days. Against this backdrop, professional agency services can help enterprises avoid policy blind spots, optimize logistics routes, and reduce hidden costs.

III. Breakdown of Full-Process Agency Service: Key Nodes from Consultation to Delivery

Zhong Shen divides the import agency of French coffee into nine core links, among which the documents and logistics run through the whole process:

1. Client consultation and needs confirmationThrough the "Import Demand Survey Form", specify the coffee categories (raw beans/roasted beans/instant powder), specifications (such as GRADE 1 standard for Arabica beans), the port of departure (Le Havre/Fos Port) and the customs clearance destination (Shanghai/Shenzhen/Tianjin), and simultaneously remind clients to prepare the necessary documents (such as the registration number of the overseas production enterprise and the trademark authorization letter) by themselves.

2. Negotiation and signing of contracts, and contract reviewThe key points of the review include trade terms (recommending CIF or DAP to avoid risks after loading), payment methods (L/C with a 90-day payment term is more acceptable to French suppliers), and quality clauses (specifying an acceptance standard of a defect rate of ≤2%). The agent will simultaneously pre-review the contract's requirements for documents to avoid "soft clauses" (such as requiring inspection reports issued by non-official institutions).

3. Order Execution and Payment ArrangementBy using a combination of T/T prepayment (usually 30%) and L/C final payment, we can reduce the financial risk. If it involves re-export business to Russia, we can use VTB Bank (Russia) to handle the payment.foreign tradeThe bank offers direct ruble-RMB settlement services, reducing the losses caused by fluctuations in the US dollar exchange rate.Convert foreign exchange into RMBThe processing time is 2-3 working days shorter than that of traditional banks.

4. Production supervision and pre-preparation of documentsThe agent will verify the moisture content (≤12%) and impurity rate (≤0.5%) of the coffee beans in accordance with the contract requirements, and simultaneously initiate the preparation of shipping documents, including the HS code (09012100, roasted coffee) on the commercial invoice, the gross/net weight on the packing list (which must be consistent with the bill of lading), and other relevant information.Origin Certificate(EUR.1 format, enjoying tariff preferences under the Generalized System of Preferences between China and the EU)

5. Logistics Management and Transportation SolutionsAccording to the volume of goods, choose full container load (FCL, a 20GP container can hold 18-20 tons) or less-than-container load (LCL). It is recommended to use refrigerated containers (Reefer Containers) to transport roasted beans to preserve their flavor.Maritime transportWhen choosing the Far East routes of MSC or CMA CGM, the insurance policy covering all risks (All Risks) will cover transportation losses;Air freightThen, the transit time from Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in France to Pudong Airport (PVG) in Shanghai is 7-10 days, which is suitable for small-quantity urgent orders.

6. Customs Compliance and Clearance OperationsThe core documents required to be submitted to the customs upon import include: ① A health certificate issued by the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food; ② An ingredient analysis report (which must indicate the caffeine content and types of additives); ③ A bill of lading (B/L) and a manifest; ④ The importer's registration number. The agent will conduct pre-declaration through the Single Window System (Standard Edition) three days in advance, cooperate with customs inspections (such as on-site sensory inspections and sample testing), and ensure that customs clearance is completed within 48 hours (except for special inspections).

7. Domestic distribution and deliveryAfter customs clearance, we will arrange land transportation (delivery to major cities across China within 48 hours) or warehousing (in cooperation with a temperature-controlled warehouse with a temperature of 18-22°C and a humidity of ≤60%) according to the client's needs, and simultaneously provide a logistics tracking system (TMS) for real-time tracking of the cargo's location.

8. Quality Assurance and Issue HandlingAssist clients in completing the quality inspection within 48 hours after the goods arrive at the port (in accordance with GB/T 20487-2006 "Inspection Procedures for Coffee and Its Products"), and if any damage to the goods is found (such as moisture caused by container condensation), the agent can assist in making claims to the insurance company. The maximum processing time shall not exceed 15 working days.

9. Summarize the feedback and settle the final paymentProvide the "Import Service Report" (including logistics efficiency, tariff costs, and document compliance analysis), assist clients in completing foreign exchange verification (through the Goods Trade Foreign Exchange Monitoring System), and settle the agency service fees.

IV. Document Processing: The "Customs Clearance Code" for French Coffee Imports

Documentation is the "legal evidence" of import business. Any discrepancies may lead to customs clearance delays (with an average daily detention fee of about 500 yuan per container) or the risk of return shipment. Zhong Shen has established a "three-level review mechanism": ① Documentation staff review the documents according to UCP600 (Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits) standards.?L/C?1. Prepare all documents in accordance with standard conventions; 2. The document supervisor checks the consistency of bills of lading, invoices, and packing lists, ensuring that "the documents match each other and are consistent"; 3. The compliance officer verifies the validity of certificates (e.g., health certificates must bear the official stamp of France and the signatures of the issuers). Key documents to be prioritized include:

• Origin Certificate (EUR.1)It must be issued by the French Chamber of Commerce (CCIF), stating that the goods meet the standards of "fully obtained" or "substantial processing" (coffee roasting belongs to substantial processing), and with this, a 5% tariff discount can be enjoyed (the most-favored-nation tariff rate is 8%);
• Sanitary CertificateIt is necessary to clarify that "this batch of coffee does not use pesticides prohibited by the EU (such as chlorpyrifos)" and to label the EC registration number (the registration number of food production enterprises in the EU) of the producing enterprise.
• Ingredient ListIf sugar or flavors are added, it is necessary to label "The food additives comply with the GB 2760-2014 standard". Otherwise, the customs may require the product to undergo a compliance test (with a cost of approximately 3,000 yuan per batch).

5. Extending business to Russia: VTB's foreign exchange settlement advantages facilitate cross-border capital flows

For clients involved in Russian re-export or related trade, Zhong Shen offers more efficient foreign exchange settlement solutions by cooperating with VTB Bank (Russia's foreign trade bank): ① Supporting direct RUB-CNY settlement to avoid the restrictions of the USD SWIFT system; ② Offering foreign exchange settlement fees 0.3–0.5 percentage points lower than traditional banks; ③ Reducing settlement time to T+1 (compared to traditional banks' T+3). In 2023, the company assisted three clients in completing coffee re-export business to Russia, with a total settlement amount exceeding 20 million RMB and an average financial cost savings of 4.2%.

VI. Certification Tips: Compliance requirements that clients need to complete on their own

Please note: Zhong Shen does not directly provide product certification services, but can assist in verifying the validity of certification documents. Certifications that may be required for French coffee imports include:

• Registration of Overseas Food Production Enterprises Importing to ChinaIt is necessary to pass through the General Administration of Customs to import foodCosmeticsImport and exportAfter completing the registration in the "Business Filing System", you will receive a 14-digit registration number (e.g., 4400/FR/001234).
• The EU Organic Certification (AB Certification)If importing organic coffee, you need to provide an organic certificate (Certificat BIO) issued by the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food (DGAL), and label it with the ”AB” logo.
• Kosher certificationFor coffee targeting the Jewish market, it needs to be certified by an Israeli rabbinical institution (such as OK Kosher), otherwise it may affect sales in specific channels.
  It is recommended that clients confirm the certification requirements with French suppliers before signing the contract, and the agent can assist in verifying the authenticity of the certificates (for example, by checking the validity of the organic certification through the EU Regulation EC 1235/2008).

VII. Risk Avoidance and Service Commitment: Ensuring the Entire Import Process is Controllable

The common risks of French coffee imports include: ① Document discrepancies (e.g., certificates of origin lacking HS codes); ② Transportation losses (e.g., spoiled coffee beans due to cold chain failure); ③ Tariff disputes (e.g., misreporting roasted beans as raw beans, resulting in incorrect tax rates). Zhong Shen mitigates these risks through a **pre-audit + full tracking** model: - Pre-auditing documents to identify over 95% of discrepancies; - Providing **temperature loggers** (Reefer Data Logger) to monitor container temperatures in real time during transportation; - Ensuring accurate tariff rates via **pre-classification services** (HS code pre-determination). Additionally, the company commits to covering 50% of port-detention fees (up to a maximum of 20,000 RMB) for customs clearance delays caused by the agent’s operational errors.

ConclusionThe import of French coffee is a business that requires both technical expertise and practical experience. Choosing professional agency services not only reduces operational risks but also enhances efficiency through resource integration. Zhong Shen, backed by 20 years of agency experience, focuses on two core aspects: documentation and logistics, helping clients build a "coffee import highway" from French plantations to Chinese dining tables. For customized agency solutions, please feel free to contact us for consultation at any time.