Agency export serviceWhat basic items are included in the fees?

Basic fees for professional export agency services typically include three core modules:Processing fees(Customs declaration forms, certificates of origin, etc.),Trade agency service fees(Order tracking, foreign exchange settlement, etc.),Basic operation fee(Bank charges, document certification, etc.). According to 2025 industry standards, basic service fees account for approximately 0.8%-1.5% of contract value, with specific rates depending on:

• HS code category of export products
• Annual total export volume scale
  • Below $5 million: 1.2%-1.5%
  • $5-20 million: 1.0%-1.2%
  • Above $20 million: 0.8%-1.0%
• Settlement currency (RMB settlement typically has 0.2% lower rate)

What types of charging models are available?

Current mainstream charging models can be divided into three types:

• Fee calculations mainly follow the following five models:: Suitable for long-term stable cooperation with predictable order volume. For example, charging fixed service package fees for exporting 20 containers monthly
• Commission percentage modelCharged at an agreed percentage of the actual export amount, suitable for enterprises with significant order value fluctuations
• Mixed charging modelBasic service fee + excess commission, commonly used in initial cooperation stages

Enterprises with annual export amounts below $2 million are recommended to choose the percentage commission model, while those exceeding $5 million are more suitable for negotiated tiered rates.

Export tax refundHow are services billed?

The latest 2025 tax refund service billing methods show significant differentiation:

• Standard tax refund service: 1%-1.5% of the refund amount charged as service fee
• Expedited tax refund service: Fee increases to 2%-2.5%, reducing processing time by 30%
• Risk agency model: Only 0.5% basic fee charged, but requires enterprises to bear partial tax refund risks

Special attention should be paid to liability clauses regarding failed tax refunds in agency contracts. Priority should be given to selecting agencies that providetax refund guarantee depositsThere are two main methods for logistics cost settlement:

How to settle logistics costs more economically?

Collection and payment agency model

• The agency company advances freight costs, which are later deducted from the paymentPackage service price including basic logistics fees
• Lump-sum pricing modelAccording to 2025 industry data, enterprises choosing FOB terms + collection and payment agency model can save 8%-12% in logistics costs, but must bear transportation risks themselves. Enterprises with monthly export volumes exceeding 10 containers are recommended to negotiate CIF terms.

Easily overlooked costs in agency export processes include:

Which hidden fees require special attention?

foreign exchange

• differences (recommended to choose exchange rate locking services)The exchange rateAbnormal situation handling fees (such as customs inspections, document reissuance)
• Expedited document certification fees (special requirements like embassy certification)
• Storage demurrage fees (port congestion during peak seasons)
• Formal agency companies should clearly list all possible additional fees in contracts and be wary of vague clauses like other fees in quotations.Additional fees) is

A legitimate agency should clearly list all potential additional fees in the contract and be wary of vague terms such as "other expenses" in the quotation.

What changes will occur in mainstream 2025 settlement methods?

Traditional telegraphic transfer (T/T) proportion has decreased to 58%

• Letter of credit (L/C) usage has rebounded to 25%
• Digital RMB cross-border settlement pilot enterprises have grown by 300%
• DP payment method proportion remains stable at 12%
• Small and medium-sized enterprises are recommended to prioritize

30% deposit + T/T balance payment30% deposit + T/T balance paymentCombination, orders over $5 million can be requestedStandby letter of creditGuarantee.

How to verify the reasonableness of an agency companys fees?

Can be evaluated from the following three dimensions:

• Compare quotes from 3-5 similar agents horizontally
• Verify industry reference prices published by China Customs Brokers Association
• Request detailed fee breakdowns for same-category transactions in the past six months

Notably, in 2025 all compliant agency firms must register with MOFCOMs Service Trade System, which can be checked viaUnified Social Credit Codeto verify company qualifications.