How do you find export buyers without paying commission to an agent?

An agent's value is their buyer relationships. You can build the same list directly:

1. Get the importer list from customs data for your product and target countries — the same companies an agent would introduce you to.
2. Get the procurement contact for each and reach them yourself.
3. Run your own follow-up sequence and intro calls. This is the work an agent does; doing it in-house keeps the margin.
4. Keep an agent only for markets where language, relationships, or on-the-ground presence genuinely need one.

Direct contact also means you own the relationship — and the repeat orders.