How do export agency companies charge? These 6 major charging models must be understood in advance

Export RepresentationWhat fees does the company actually charge?

The fee system of export agency companies consists of three core modules:Basic Agency Service Fee,Fund advance costsandAdditional service fees. According to the General Administration of Customs 2024 industry report, agency service fees average 1.5-3% of export value, with specific composition 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 (charged under special trade terms)

Is fixed commission or per-shipment billing more cost-effective?

Currently there are 6 mainstream charging models in the market, recommended selection based on annual export volume:

• Fixed - commission system: Charge 1-3% of cargo value, suitable for enterprises with annual exports over $5 million
• Per-document fee: 800-2,000 yuan per shipment, suitable for small-batch multi-frequency businesses
• Tiered pricing: The higher the annual export volume, the lower the rate
• Hybrid fee: Base fee + percentage of cargo value
• Project lump-sum system: Unified quotation for full container/full batch goods
• Exchange rate differential system: Obtain profits through foreign exchange rate differences

How much cost will advance tax refund funds generate?

Latest 2025 data shows that capital advance costs account for approximately 0.8-1.2%/month of tax refund amount, with specific calculation formula:

• Advance amount = Tax refund amount × 70-90%
• Capital cost = Advance amount × interest rate × advance days/360

For example, 1 million yuan tax refund amount, advance 900,000 yuan for 30 days at annualized 8%: 900,000×8%×30/360=6,000 yuan

What hidden costs are included in customs declaration surcharges?

5 potential fees requiring special attention:

• Expedited customs declaration fee (charged when exceeding normal processing time)
• Special item surcharge (dangerous goods/food etc.)
• Customs inspection cooperation fee
• Document amendment fee
• Holiday overtime fee

How to determine if an agents quotation is reasonable?

Recommended three-step verification method:

• Horizontal comparison of quotes from 3 or more agents
• Verify the guidance price range of China Customs Brokers Association
• Calculate comprehensive cost rate (total cost/export cargo value)

The reasonable industry comprehensive cost rate for 2025 is 2.8-4.5%. Below 2% may indicate service reduction risks, above 5% requires renegotiation

What situations may generate additional costs?

Pay special attention to 4 high-frequency scenarios:

• Cargo classification error leading to document amendment
• It is recommended to verify through the following methods:Document reissuance
• Sudden policy changes in destination country requiring emergency handling
• L/CDiscrepancy handling in document submission

It is recommended to clearly specify special service fee standards in contracts to avoid disputes

How to avoid agent fee traps?

Seniorforeign tradeManagers 3 suggestions to avoid pitfalls:

• Request provision of fee breakdown comparison table
• Confirm exchange rate locking mechanism (especially in current volatile market conditions)
• Clarify minimum fee threshold
• Include annual fee review clause