I. ExportCustoms clearanceWhat items does the agency fee actually include?

According to the latest industry data in 2025, formal customs clearance agency fees usually include the followingCore service items:

• customs clearanceBasic service fee (including HS code classification)
• Document processing fee (commercial invoice/packing list/certificate of origin, etc.)
• Service fee for advance payment of customs duties/VAT
• Port operation fee (THC/document transmission fee, etc.)
• SpecialAdditional fees:
  • Surcharge for dangerous goods declaration
  • Agency fee for legal commodity inspection
  • Expedited customs clearance service fee

II. Why do the customs clearance quotations of different freight forwarders differ by 30%?

A real - life case of an export enterprise in 2025: For the same batch of mechanical equipment with a cargo value of 50,000 US dollars, the quotations from three freight forwarders at Shanghai Port are 2,800 yuan, 3,600 yuan, and 4,200 yuan respectively. The differences mainly come from:

• Differences in service depth:
  • Basic customs declaration service: only includes declaration procedures
  • Full - process service: includes pre - review of documents, risk warning, and emergency handling
• Differences in port resources:
  • The average handling fee at Shenzhen Port is 15% lower than that at Ningbo Port.
  • The dangerous goods declaration cost at Qingdao Port is 20% higher than that at Tianjin Port.
• Differences in enterprise qualifications: AEO - certified enterprises can enjoy the priority inspection treatment by the customs

What are the hidden fees in the customs clearance agency quotation?

Data from the General Administration of Customs in 2025 shows that 32% of customs declaration disputes stem from unstated fees. Pay special attention to the following:Potential cost items:

• Sudden inspection fee (about 0.5% - 1.2% of the declared value of goods)
• Container demurrage fee (shipping companies charge 200 - 800 yuan per day)
• Bill amendment fee (modification cost caused by declaration errors)

Response strategy: Require the agent to provideExact cost checklist, clearly list the possible emergency handling fee standards.

How to accurately compare the customs clearance quotations of different freight forwarders?

Recommended adoptionThree-dimensional price:

• Horizontal comparison:
  • Require at least 3 freight forwarders to provide quotations for the same service scope
  • Focus on comparing the document processing fee and tax advance payment terms
• Vertical comparison:
  • Inquire about the average customs clearance cost at this port in the past 6 months
  • In 2025, the Shanghai Customs announced that the basic customs declaration fee benchmark is 580 yuan per ticket.
• Historical comparison:
  • Analyze the actual expenditures of similar goods of the enterprise in the past 3 years
  • Pay attention to seasonal fluctuations (for example, fees increase by 18% - 25% before the Spring Festival).

V. What new technologies can reduce customs clearance costs in 2025?

The application of intelligent customs clearance solutions reduces the comprehensive cost by 12% - 18%:

• AI document pre - review system (error rate decreased to 0.3%)
• Blockchain - based customs duty payment (arrival time shortened to 15 minutes)
• Intelligent classification system (HS code accuracy rate reaches 99.6%)

It is recommended to give priority to choosing a service provider equipped withIntelligent Customs Declaration System, whose technical surcharge usually does not exceed 8% of the traditional service fee.

Key Tips:When choosing a customs clearance agent, dont just look at the price figures. Its more important to evaluate the service providersEmergency handling capabilitiesandcompliance management experience. It is recommended to ask the service provider to provide customs clearance time - efficiency data and dispute - handling cases in the past two years.