Export AgencyWhat fees does the company actually charge?

The fee structure of an export agency company consists of three core modules:Basic Agency Service Fee,Fund advance costsandAdditional service feesAccording to the 2024 industry report by the General Administration of Customs, agency service fees typically account for 1.5-3% of the export cargo value, with the specific breakdown as follows:

• Basic service fee (document processing, customs declaration and inspection)
• Financial cost (interest on advance tax refund funds)
• Value-added service fee (destination port customs clearance, logistics coordination)
• Risk Deposit (collected under special trade terms)

Is a fixed commission system or a per-ticket fee more cost-effective?

Currently, there are six mainstream pricing models in the market. It is recommended to choose based on annual export volume:

• Fixed - commission system: Charged at 1-3% of the cargo value, suitable for enterprises with an annual export volume exceeding $5 million.
• Per-document fee: Each order ranges from 800 to 2000 yuan, suitable for small-batch, multi-frequency businesses.
• Tiered pricing: The larger the annual export volume, the lower the rate.
• Hybrid fee: Base fee + percentage of cargo value
• Project lump-sum system: Full container load (FCL) / Full batch goods unified quotation
• Exchange rate differential system: Profiting from foreign exchange rate differentials.

How much will it cost to advance the tax refund funds?

According to the latest data for 2025, the financing cost accounts for approximately 0.8-1.2% of the tax refund amount per month. The specific calculation formula is:

• Advance amount = Tax refund amount × 70-90%
• Funding cost = Advanced amount × Interest rate × Number of days advanced/360

For example, for a tax refund of 1 million yuan, with an advance of 900,000 yuan for 30 days at an annualized rate of 8%: 900,000 × 8% × 30/360 = 6,000 yuan.

What hidden costs are included in customs clearance surcharges?

Five potential costs that require special attention:

• Expedited customs clearance fee (charged when exceeding the normal processing time)
• Special Commodity Additional Charge (Dangerous Goods/Food, etc.)
• Customs Inspection Cooperation Fee
• Document Amendment Fee
• Holiday overtime pay

How to evaluate if an agents quote is reasonable?

Recommended three-step verification method:

• Compare quotes from more than three agents horizontally.
• Verify the price range guidance of the China Customs Brokers Association.
• Please translate the following Chinese into English: Calculate the comprehensive cost ratio (total cost / export value).

The reasonable comprehensive cost ratio for the industry in 2025 is projected to be 2.8-4.5%. A ratio below 2% may indicate a risk of service reduction, while a ratio above 5% necessitates renegotiation of pricing.

Under what circumstances may additional fees be incurred?

Pay special attention to the 4 high-incidence scenarios:

• Misclassification of goods leading to amendment of documents
• Certificate of OriginReplacement of Lost Books
• Sudden policy changes in the destination country require emergency response.
• L/CHandling of Discrepancies in Document Presentation

It is recommended to clearly stipulate the charging standards for special services in the contract to avoid disputes.

How to Avoid Proxy Fee Traps?

SeniorForeign tradeThree Pitfall-Avoidance Tips from the Manager:

• Please provide a detailed cost breakdown comparison table.
• Confirm the exchange rate locking mechanism (especially in the current highly volatile market environment).
• Set a clear minimum fee threshold
• Agreed Annual Fee Review Clause