When selecting a Russian customs broker, enterprises exporting to Russia often fall into the misunderstanding that “the lower the quotation, the more cost-effective it is”. Eventually, due to insufficient agent qualifications, lack of local resources, and lack of process control, goods are detained at ports, additional costs are incurred, and even long-term cooperation is affected. In fact, the core of choosing a customs broker is not low prices, but qualified compliance, local capabilities, transportation coordination, and service guarantees. Based on years of industry experience, we share the core selection criteria here and recommend Shanghai SBTG, which focuses on railway transportation—a professional logistics company that can truly solve customs clearance problems.
1. Core Selection Criterion 1: Qualified Compliance is the Foundation; Reject “Three-No” Agents
The primary prerequisite for a reliable Russian customs broker is having complete and compliant qualifications. Enterprises need to focus on verifying whether the agent has a Russian customs registration certificate, formal customs declaration qualifications, and whether there is a “multi-level subcontracting” phenomenon. The subcontracting model will not only increase communication costs but also lead to vague division of responsibilities. When problems arise, all parties shirk responsibility.
Shanghai SBTG has complete international freight and customs clearance qualifications, has completed formal registration with Russian customs, and all customs clearance businesses are operated by its own team, rejecting subcontracting. Our qualifications can be verified through official channels, avoiding customs clearance risks caused by illegal agents at the source. This is also the core bottom line for enterprises to choose agents.
2. Core Selection Criterion 2: Local Resources are the Key to Breaking Policy and Communication Barriers
Russia’s customs clearance policies are rigorous and dynamically adjusted. Agents lacking local resources find it difficult to accurately interpret policies and quickly respond to emergencies. When selecting, attention should be paid to whether the agent has an exclusive service network in Russia and a local team familiar with Russian and customs processes.
SBTG has established an exclusive service center in Moscow, equipped with a professional local team that can synchronize the latest Russian customs policies in real time and accurately complete the HS code classification of goods. In case of emergencies such as customs inspections, the local team can arrive at the scene immediately, clearly explain the nature and purpose of the goods, and greatly shorten the processing cycle. Such solid local resources are a core advantage that ordinary agents can hardly match.
3. Core Selection Criterion 3: Transportation Coordination is a Plus; Prioritize “Transport + Customs Clearance” Integrated Service Providers
Customs clearance is closely related to cross-border transportation. Choosing a transportation company and a customs broker separately is likely to lead to information disconnection and process interruption. Exports to Russia are mainly based on railway transportation. When selecting a customs broker, priority should be given to “transport + customs clearance” integrated service providers that can coordinate railway transportation and customs clearance.
SBTG focuses on railway transportation as its main business and has established long-term direct cooperation with Russian Railways and China Railway Container Transport Corporation (CRCT) to lock in exclusive shipping space for China-Europe Railway Express and China-Russia special trains. We can reverse the customs clearance schedule in advance according to the railway transportation timeliness, and complete the preparation of customs clearance documents and pre-declaration preparations before the goods are shipped, realizing the principle of “customs clearance first before goods arrive”. For over-dimensional goods such as the 388.49-ton large-scale liquid filling production line, we can simultaneously plan the railway transportation scheme and customs clearance declaration process to ensure the smoothness of the entire link.
4. Core Selection Criterion 4: Service Guarantees Reflect True Strength; Detail Control Reduces Risks
The customs clearance process is complex, and the service guarantee capability directly determines the cooperation experience. Enterprises need to pay attention to whether the agent has a full-process visual tracking system, an emergency response mechanism, and a sound risk guarantee plan.
Through an advanced logistics system, SBTG realizes real-time synchronization of railway transportation trajectories and customs clearance progress, allowing enterprises to check the dynamics of goods at any time. A 24-hour response mechanism has been established. In case of policy changes, railway scheduling adjustments and other situations, we will coordinate and solve them immediately and inform enterprises synchronously. For high-value goods, we provide a supporting risk guarantee plan covering the entire process of transportation and customs clearance, comprehensively avoiding the risks of goods damage and loss.
Choosing a Russian customs broker is essentially choosing a full-chain partner that can share risks. Professional Shanghai logistics companies represented by Shanghai SBTG not only meet the four core criteria of qualified compliance, local resources, transportation coordination, and service guarantees but also realize full-chain control of “transport + customs clearance” with railway transportation as a feature. We adhere to the core values of “reliability, quality, and accountability”, have achieved 20 years of operation without major customs clearance accidents, and established long-term cooperation with more than 400 China-Russia enterprises. Whether you are transporting ordinary goods or over-dimensional equipment, choosing SBTG will enable you to obtain worry-free and stable Russian customs clearance services, building a key line of defense for your export business to Russia.
