Agency export,What items are included in the companys charging standards?

The fee structure of professional export agency companies typically includes three core modules:

• Basic Service Costs: Charged at 0.8%-1.5% of the cargo value (2025 market conditions)
• Financing costs: Includes tax rebate financing interest (annualized 4.5%-6.8%) and exchange rate risk premium
• Additional service fee:
  • Document processing: 200-800 RMB per order
  • Special certifications: Charged by project (e.g., FDA certification agency fee is approximately 3500 RMB)

Why do quotations from different agencies vary by over 40%?

According to 2025 General Administration of Customs research data, quotation differences mainly stem from:

• Differences in capital costs: Different bank credit lines lead to interest rate differences in advance funding
• Differences in service depth: Whether it includes extended services such as destination port customs clearance
• Scope of Risk Undertaking: Some quotations include 0.3%-0.5% cargo damage liability insurance

How to verify if the quotation is reasonable?

Recommended adoptionThree-dimensional price:

• Compare quotations from at least 3 leading agency companies horizontally
• Verify the service fee fluctuation curve for the same category over the past three years vertically
• Cross-verify bank trade financing rates for the same period

How to calculate the specific cost of advance funding?

Take an export amount of 1 million USD and a tax rebate rate of 13% as an example:

• Total advance funding = Cargo value × (1 + tax rebate rate) = 1.13 million USD
• Financing cost = 1.13 million × interest rate × advance days/360
• Assuming an annual interest rate of 5% and 60 days of advance funding: 1.13 million × 5% × 60/360 ≈ 9416 USD

How to avoid being charged hidden fees?

Special attention should be paid to5 types of potential clauses in contracts:

• Non-working day operationsAdditional fees(Usually should not exceed 200 RMB per instance)
• Excessive document modification fees (reasonable range: free within 3 times)
• Exchange rate fluctuation compensation (normally should specify a floating range of ±2%)
• Non-routine inspection coordination fee (should not exceed actual incurred costs)
• Annual service minimum spending (SMEs should carefully consider such contracts)

What details should be paid attention to when selecting an agency company?

Key evaluation pointsFour dimensions:

• Payment channels: Whether multi-currency foreign exchange collection/payment qualification is available
• Risk control system: Completeness of SOPs for handling exceptional situations
• Data interface: Compatibility with enterprise ERP systems
• Geographical coverage: Whether there are cooperative customs clearance agents in major export countries

What are the new changes in agency services in 2025?

Based on the latest Cross-Border Trade Facilitation Regulations, attention should be paid to:

• Cost optimization brought by the popularization of electronic VAT special invoices
• Self-service printing service for RCEP regional certificate of origin
• Some ports are piloting a "second refund" service (shortening the fund advance period).

Case study: Cost calculation for garment export

A company exporting $500,000 worth of knitwear to the US:

• Basic service fee: 500,000 × 1.2% = $6,000
• Capital advance cost: 565,000 × 5.5% × 45/360 ≈ $3,815
• Document processing fee: 500 yuan (approximately $70)
• Total cost ratio: (6,000 + 3,815 + 70)/500,000 ≈ 1.98%

This case shows that the total cost of quality agency services should be kept within 2% of the cargo value to be reasonable.