1. Market background and core challenges
Against the backdrop of rising global trade protectionism, China's galvanized color-coated steel exports face multiple barriers, including the US 265% anti-dumping duty, the EU carbon tariff (CBAM) extension, and India's minimum import price restrictions. Data from Q1 2025 showed that Southeast Asia became the largest incremental market, with Vietnam's imports increasing by 23% year-on-year, while the share of traditional European and American markets fell to 47%. Enterprises need to restructure their supply chains through re-export trade and achieve a double breakthrough in cost and efficiency by combining overseas warehouse logistics optimization.
2. Re-export trade strategy: an innovative path to break through trade barriers
① Transit country selection and logistics path design
Malaysia/Singapore hub: Using RCEP rules of origin, through container exchange and labeling operations, galvanized color-coated steel produced in China is transferred to third-country exports. Cases show that this model can reduce US tariff costs by 18-22%.
China-Europe Express + Bonded Zone Combination: Xi'an-Duisburg Express (18 days) combined with Chongqing Bonded Zone processing to achieve the compound advantages of "logistics + deep processing", suitable for urgent replenishment of European infrastructure projects.
② Document compliance and policy dividends
Origin certificate operation: Apply for FORM D certificate through Malaysia's MTCC certification agency, and delay tariff payment in combination with the bonded area's "domestic and foreign customs" policy.
Free Trade Agreement Superposition: Exports to Australia can achieve zero tariffs with FORM S certificates, and use RCEP accumulation rules to optimize the cost accounting of origin for ASEAN countries.
③ Financial risk control and payment innovation
30% T/T + 70% bill of lading copy payment: Combined with Sinosure's 80% payment insurance, avoid the risk of US dollar fluctuations (the fluctuation range of RMB against the US dollar will reach 8% in 2025).
Forward settlement locks the exchange rate: Bank of China's 6-month forward contract controls the exchange rate risk within ±2%.
3. Overseas warehouse logistics optimization plan: key nodes for cost reduction and efficiency improvement
① Warehousing network layout strategy
Three-level warehousing system:
Regional hub warehouses (such as Dubai and Rotterdam): store regular inventory, covering the Middle East/European market.
Forward warehouses (such as Ho Chi Minh City and Mexico City): store 20% of hot-selling specifications to meet the 48-hour delivery needs of the Southeast Asian/North American market.
Micro-warehouse network: cooperate with local building materials supermarkets to achieve "last mile" delivery.
② Intelligent inventory management system
Dynamic replenishment algorithm: based on Google Analytics real-time sales data, automatically trigger replenishment instructions. Cases show that this system has reduced the out-of-stock rate in the Vietnamese market to 3.2%.
Consolidation optimization technology: 20GP containers can load 25 tons of galvanized color-coated steel, and consolidation with building materials can reduce freight sharing by 30%.
③ Logistics time efficiency improvement technology
Blockchain traceability system: record the source of zinc ore and carbon footprint data to meet the ESG audit requirements of European and American customers.
AI route planning: integrating sea, rail and air transport resources, the timeliness of European routes increased by 27% and the cost decreased by 19%.