The sweet trap in the imported beer market.

According to data from the General Administration of Customs in 2025, the import volume of craft beer increased by 23% year-on-year, while the number of trade dispute cases surged by 41% during the same period. As a seasoned professional who has handled 87 beer import projects,foreign trade, I've seen too many clients whoQualification ReviewandSupply Chain ManagementThe segment took a tumble. Last week, we just resolved a dispute over a shipment of a certain German dark beer being detained at the port, involving goods worth $380,000 due to the agent.Missing health certificateDetained for 27 days.

The Four-Dimensional Screening Method to Identify High-Quality Agents

• Triple Verification of Qualifications:
  • Food Distribution License must include alcohol-related business items.
  • Verification of the Registration List of Overseas Manufacturers for Imported Food Products
  • Operation records from at least three customs clearance ports.
• Customs clearance capability test:
  • Please provide the customs declaration forms (desensitized version) for at least 5 batches from the most recent 6 months.
  • Check its contingency plans for emergencies (such as the case of responding to the 2024 EU labeling regulations).
• Supply chain visibility:
  • On-site inspection report for at least 2 constant temperature warehouses
  • Traceability of temperature monitoring data during transportation
• Distribution Network Diagnosis:
  • Proof of distribution channels in at least 5 cities in East/South China.
  • Please provide a list of products with a sell-through rate ≥80% over the past 12 months.

The devil is in the details of customs clearance document verification.

In a 2023 case involving the import of Belgian white beer, the agent providedIt is recommended to verify through the following methods:Not includedHop ratio certificate, resulting in the entire container of goods being classified as blended alcoholic beverages, with the tariff rate surging from 14% to 32%. It is recommended to focus on verifying:

• Original factory-issued raw material composition analysis report (must include dual certification for malt concentration and alcohol content).
• Filling date and the time logic chain of the shipping bill of lading
• Chinese Back Label Pre-approval Service (especially the tolerance of alcohol content ±0.5% labeling).

Chronicles of Real Insurance Claims: Lessons Learned

In 2023, while acting as an agent for a certain American IPA, encountered...Bottle explosion claim disputeWorth learning from:

• Root cause: The freight forwarder unilaterally altered the shipping route without activating the temperature-controlled container when passing through the equatorial region.
• Key evidence: issued by a third-party testing agencyTemperature fluctuation curve graph
• Outcome: Successfully recovered 87% of the cargo loss, but it took 11 months.

This case reveals the necessity of clearly defining in the contractTransportation Liability Clause, it is recommended to require the agent to purchase insurance.Transportation Risk Insurance + Product Quality InsuranceCombined insurance coverage.

Veteran Trader's Pitfall Avoidance Memo

• Beware of the "all-inclusive service" trap: A German beer agent's quote is 15% lower than the market price, but in reality, it...Chinese label filingThe cost is passed on to the customer.
• Batch arrival inspection: It is recommended to ship the first order in 3 containers with a 2-week interval between arrivals.
• Establish a quality traceability code: Require the agent to provide a unique code for each bottle of wine.Blockchain traceability information

Choosing a beer agent is like tasting craft beer—don't just judge by the surface foam. We recommend bringing our...Agent Evaluation ChecklistConduct on-site inspections (including 21 core indicators), as in the imported beer sector, choosing the wrong partner could mean the loss of an entire container's worth of goods.