Market Status and Common Challenges of Nantong Chemical Exports

Nantong’s chemical exports showed a significant growth trend in 2026.According to data from the local foreign trade association,in the first 8 months of this year,Nantong’s exports of chemical raw materials to Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam,Thailand and Malaysia increased by 18% year-on-year,with particularly prominent demand for products such as organic chemical raw materials and synthetic resins.However,many Nantong enterprises still face multiple challenges in the export process: some enterprises have their documents returned by customs because they fail to update the environmental protection certification of the target country in time; some hazardous chemicals are detained due to non-compliant packaging that does not meet the requirements of Southeast Asian ports; other enterprises see their export tax refund cycle extended to more than 30 days due to unclear export contract clauses.

Core Value of Zhongshen’s Nantong Chemical Export Agency Services

Zhongshen has been deeply engaged in the foreign trade agency industry for more than 20 years.In view of the characteristics of Nantong’s chemical exports and combined with the latest trade policies of Southeast Asian countries in 2026,it provides enterprises with full-process customized agency services.The core value is reflected in three aspects: first,accurately matching the policy requirements of the target country to avoid shipment delays caused by compliance issues; second,integrating resources such as customs declaration,transportation and warehousing to improve overall efficiency; third,optimizing the tax refund process to accelerate the capital turnover of enterprises.

Disassembly of Core Service Modules of Nantong Chemical Export Agency

1.Document Compliance Service: Matching Certification Requirements of Southeast Asian Countries

In 2026,Vietnam and Thailand added two key requirements for documents of imported chemicals: first,a Life Cycle Assessment Report is required,and second,hazardous chemicals need to be attached with 2026 Revised Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals Labels.Some Nantong enterprises have had their labels returned due to non-compliant content as they failed to pay attention to policy updates.

Manager Duan of Zhongshen’s document team will connect with enterprises in advance to obtain product parameters,and formulate differentiated document plans for different target countries:

• Vietnammarket:assistinpreparingLifeCycleAssessmentreportsandproductsafetycertificatesissuedbythird-partytestinginstitutionsrecognizedbytheMinistryofIndustryandTradeofVietnamtoensurethatthereportcontentcomplieswithlocalenvironmentalstandards;
• Thailandmarket:checktheaccuracyoftheThaitranslationofGHSlabelstoensureconsistencywiththeHazardousChemicalLabelSpecificationissuedbytheMinistryofIndustryofThailandin2026;
• Alldocumentsaresubmittedtotheagencycustomsclearanceteamofthetargetcountryforpre-audit3workingdaysinadvancetoavoiddelayscausedbyformatissues.

2.Customs Clearance Service: Responding to Special Supervision Measures of Southeast Asian Ports

In 2026,Bangkok Port in Thailand and Ho Chi Minh Port in Vietnam implemented a dual-track system of pre-declaration + on-site inspection for imported chemicals,covering the physical form of products and whether the packaging complies with the Southeast Asian Chemical Transport Packaging Specification.In addition,the anti-dumping duty rate imposed on organic chemicals by some countries is adjusted once a year.If Nantong enterprises fail to update the tax rate information in time,the customs clearance cost may increase by 10% to 15%.

Zhongshen’s customs clearance team’s response plan:

• Obtainthelatestanti-dumpingdutylistofthetargetcountry10workingdaysinadvance.Iftheproductisincludedinthelist,assistenterprisestopreparesurrogatecountrypricecertificationmaterialstoavoidpayingexcessivetariffsbymistake;
• MaintaindailycommunicationwithlocalcustomsinThailandandVietnam,completepre-declarationforchemicalproductsofNantongenterprisesinadvance,andarrangededicatedpersonneltofollowupduringon-siteinspection,withtheaveragecustomsclearancecycle2daysshorterthantheindustryaverage;
• Forliquidchemicals,confirmthecomplianceofportstoragetanksinadvancetoavoidcargodetentionattheportcausedbystoragetanksthatdonotmeetenvironmentalprotectionrequirements.

3.Export Tax Refund Service: Accelerating Capital Turnover of Nantong Chemical Enterprises

Export tax refunds for Nantong chemical enterprises are often delayed due to problems such as "inconsistent information between customs declaration forms and VAT invoices" and unclear export contract clauses.In 2026,the State Taxation Administration’s audit focus for chemical export tax refunds is on "the matching degree between products and HS codes on customs declaration forms".Some enterprises have their tax refund cycle extended to more than 30 days due to incorrect HS code classification.

Optimization measures of Zhongshen’s tax refund team:

• EstablishagreencommunicationchannelwiththelocaltaxbureauinNantong,checkHScodesandrelevantdocumentinformationinadvancetoensurethattheproductname,quantityandspecificationonthecustomsdeclarationformarecompletelyconsistentwiththoseontheVATinvoice;
• Supplementkeyinformationrequiredfortaxrefundssuchas"productspecifications,packagingmethods,transportclauses"forexportcontractsofNantongenterprisestoavoidauditrejectionduetomissingcontractclauses;
• Automaticallymatchthelatest2026exporttaxrefundpoliciesthroughtheinternalsystem,shorteningtheaveragetaxrefundarrivaltimetowithin15workingdays,7daysfasterthantheindustryaverage.

Summary of Zhongshen’s Experience in Improving Nantong Chemical Export Efficiency

In view of the characteristics of Nantong’s chemical exports,Zhongshen has established a product classification database,covering the latest 2026 policies,certification requirements and HS codes of various Southeast Asian countries.Each team member is responsible for 2 to 3 countries and is familiar with local regulatory details.In addition,it has established a priority audit channel with customs brokers in Shanghai and Nantong,and feedback can be obtained within 24 hours after document submission; it has established long-term cooperative relations with customs clearance agents in Thailand and Vietnam,which can arrange cargo inspection on a priority basis.

Customized Services Help Nantong Chemical Enterprises Expand Overseas Markets

Nantong chemical enterprises can contact Zhongshen for customized agency services according to their own product types (such as organic chemical raw materials,hazardous chemicals,synthetic resins,etc.) and target countries (Vietnam,Thailand,Malaysia,etc.).Zhongshen will match an exclusive service team according to the needs of enterprises,solve policy barriers and efficiency problems in the export process,and help enterprises improve their competitiveness in overseas markets.