Paying supplier invoices in China
and other countries — agency payment under contract
Paying a supplier invoice in China or elsewhere is more than a transfer: the bank checks that invoice, contract and payee match, and a wrong payment reference means a returned payment and lost weeks. We make an agency payment for your goods on your instruction: we check the documents before paying and follow the payment through to crediting.
It suits companies without an FX account or an established payment channel in the required currency. The supplier contract stays yours; the payment is made under an agency agreement and Federal Law 173-FZ, in CNY, USD, AED and other currencies. Fees and conversion are quoted per deal.
Specification
Specification · Supplier invoice payments. Standard terms · amount, currency and fee are confirmed per payment
Service
- What we pay
- overseas suppliers' invoices and proformas
- Scheme
- agency agreement, payment at the client's expense
- Options
- deposit and balance in parts, combined with delivery and customs
Terms
- Timing
- payment 1–2 days after instruction; crediting depends on banks
- Documents
- contract, invoice, instruction, agent's report
- Currency
- CNY, USD, AED, etc. — per contract
Process
- Before payment
- contract, invoice and payee check
- Payment
- in invoice currency, reference per contract
- After
- confirmation, agent's report, advance closed by DT
Price
- Base
- agency fee — quoted per deal
- Extras
- conversion — at the bank's rate on the payment date
Service flow
- 01
Deal check
We review the contract, specification and invoice: amount, currency, payment terms, bank details. We confirm the payee is the seller under the contract and advise whether the contract needs to be registered with your bank (UNK).
1–2 days - 02
Agreement and instruction
The agency agreement is signed once; each invoice gets its own instruction. We agree the calculation: amount in currency, conversion at the bank's rate and the agency fee.
1 day - 03
Payment
We transfer the funds to the supplier in the invoice currency — CNY, USD, AED or another — with a payment reference quoting the contract and invoice numbers and the goods paid for.
1–2 days - 04
Crediting
We send you and the supplier proof of payment, track crediting and answer banks' document requests. If a payment is returned, we find out why and agree a re-send.
depends on banks - 05
Agent's report
We deliver the agent's report with payment records. Once the goods are imported, the customs declaration (DT) closes the advance in your currency control; we can help pull the documents together.
1–3 days
Problems
The supplier asks you to pay a different company — a trading entity or partner not named in the contract. The bank sees a third-party payment and raises questions.
We pay the seller named in the contract. If a change of payee is justified, an addendum to the contract is signed first — and only then is the payment made.
The payment bounced: the payee name doesn't match the bank's records, a required bank code is missing, or the reference failed the receiving bank's compliance check.
We verify the bank details with the supplier before paying, request full bank data for CNY payments and word the reference according to the contract and goods.
The advance is paid but the goods are late. Under Law 173-FZ the importer must ensure the goods are imported or the advance is returned within the contract terms.
We recommend realistic delivery dates and payment terms in the contract (deposit / balance before shipment); for large amounts, consider a letter of credit.
Documents
The set of documents the bank needs to pay the supplier, which your currency control will need later as well. The Incoterms rule decides what you pay the supplier for and what you pay the carrier for.
Incoterms
- FOB
- the most common term with China: the invoice covers goods to on board, freight is paid separately
- EXW / FCA
- you pay for the goods only; all logistics are yours
- CFR / CIF
- the invoice price includes freight to the destination port
Documents
- Contract
- foreign trade contract with specification, delivery dates and payment terms
- Invoice / PI
- supplier's invoice or proforma: amount, currency and bank details match the contract
- Agency agreement
- signed once; an instruction is issued for each payment
- Agent's report
- with proof of payment — for accounting and currency control
- Customs declaration (DT)
- confirms import of goods paid in advance
FAQ
There are two legitimate routes: pay yourself from your FX account through your bank, or via a payment agent under an agency agreement. Either way you need a contract with the supplier, an invoice and a payment reference that matches them; an import contract of RUB 3 million equivalent or more must be registered with your bank.
It is a payment an agent makes on your instruction and at your expense under an agency agreement (Chapter 52 of the Russian Civil Code). It is legal when the documents line up — your supplier contract, invoice, instruction and agent's report — and the operation meets Law 173-FZ. We check the basis and reference of each payment before making it.
Yes, if the import contract is worth RUB 3 million equivalent or more (Bank of Russia Instruction No. 181-I). The contract receives a unique number (UNK) and must be registered before the first payment or the filing of the customs declaration. It is the importer's obligation; we help assemble the documents.
Usually a few business days, but timing depends on the currency, correspondent banks and the receiving bank's checks — it cannot be guaranteed. If the supplier needs payment by a specific shipment date, we pay with a margin and send the proof of payment straight away.
Don't pay until it is documented. A payment to an entity not named in the contract is treated by the bank as a third-party payment and may be held or rejected. A change of payee is formalised by an addendum to the contract, and only then is payment made.
As a payment agent we are responsible for making the settlement correctly. Delivery obligations lie with the supplier under your contract. If needed, we add quality control and logistics so the goods are looked after once paid for.
Companies without an FX account, without an established channel for payments in the required currency, or without the resources to run FX operations in-house. You remain the party to the deal and the owner of the goods; we act as your settlement agent.