Agency export serviceWhat items are included in the fees?

Professional foreign trade agency fees typically consist of three modules:Basic service fee, operation fee, third-party fees. The specific composition is as follows:

• Basic Service Costs(Agency fee):
  • Document preparation and review (customs clearancedocuments, commercial invoices, etc.)
  • Export tax refundAgency services
  • Commercial compliance review
• Handling fee:
  • Cargo inspection and loading supervision
  • Special packaging requirements handling
  • Port operation surcharges
• Expenses of third parties:
  • Customs reporting costs
  • International transportation insurance fees
  • Bank charges (L/C processing, etc.)

How are agency fees calculated for different cargo values?

In 2025, the mainstream charging models are divided into two types:

• Percentage of goods value: Typically 0.8%-1.5% (FOB value), applicable to regular trade
• Fixed service package fee: 3,000-20,000 yuan/order, suitable for special trade (such as hazardous goods export)

Case illustration: An LED lighting company exported goods worth USD 200,000, agency fee = 200,000 × 1.2% = USD 2,400 (approximately 17,280 yuan). Actual fees will be adjusted based on product HS code, trade terms, payment methods, etc.

Why do quotes vary significantly between different agency companies?

According to procurement department data from Fortune 500 companies, price differences mainly stem from:

• Service depth differences (whether including destination port customs clearance support)
• Tax rebate financing capability (large agencies can advance 90% of tax rebates)
• Risk coverage scope (whether including customs classification dispute handling)
• Foreign exchange risk management (value-added services like forward exchange locking)

Which hidden costs require special attention?

It is recommended to clearly specify the following fee terms in contracts:

• Document amendment fee (charged after more than 3 amendments)
• Holiday expedited operation fee
• Exchange rate fluctuation compensation clause
• Tax rebate delay penalty clause

How to judge whether the agency fee is reasonable?

According to the China Customs Brokers Associations 2024 industry survey report, reasonable fee ranges should meet:

• Basic service fee not exceeding 1.8% of cargo value
• Document amendment fee ≤ 200 yuan/time
• Financing service annualized interest rate not exceeding LPR+3%
• Minimum charge ≤ 5,000 yuan/order (except for special services)

Do payment methods affect agency fees?

Service cost differences under different settlement methods are significant:

• L/C processing fee: Typically an additional 0.3%-0.5%
• DP payment method: Additional 0.2% risk control fee
• Open account (O/A) business: Requires 1%-2% accounts receivable management fee

What annual export volume qualifies for discounts?

Tiered pricing standards for leading agency companies:

• USD 5 million/year: Eligible for 10% service fee discount
• USD 10 million/year: Basic operation fee waived
• USD 20 million/year: Customized rate agreement

What new fee items will be introduced in 2025?

Attention should be paid to fee changes brought by new industry regulations:

• EU CBAM carbon tariff declaration service fee (newly added)
• U.S. UFLPA compliance review fee (mandatory item)
• RCEP origin intelligent determination service fee (optional)

(The data in this article refers to the 2024 import and export service guidance prices of China Customs and the latest fee standards of FIATA, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations. The actual charges shall be subject to the final quotation of the service provider.)