I. What are the charging models of agency import and export services?

According to the latest industry practices in 2025, professional agency companies mainly adopt the following 5 charging methods:

• Charging by ticket: Single - ticket service fee is 500 - 3000 yuan, applicable to simple cases.customs clearanceBusiness
  • Influencing factors: Number of customs declarations/Complexity of documents/Special port requirements
• According to the proportion of the goods value: Usually charge 0.5% - 1.2% of the cargo value.
  • Case: The agency fee for goods worth 1 million US dollars is approximately 8000 yuan (0.8%).
• Tiered fee rates: The higher the cargo value, the lower the rate (for example, 1% for less than 1 million, 0.8% for 1 - 5 million).
• Packaged service fee: Includes full - process services such as customs declaration/logistics/documentation, about 20,000 - 50,000 yuan per month.
• Additional service fee: Separate charging for special requirements (such as express/dangerous goods/artwork transportation)

II. Which items may incur additional fees?

According to the 2024 annual report of the General Administration of Customs, the following 6 expenses are most likely to be overlooked:

• Customs Declaration and Inspection Abnormal Handling Fee (starting from 2000 yuan per time)
• Overtime Pay for Special Periods (an additional 50 - 100% during legal holidays)
• Interest on Advance Payment of Port Detention Fee (calculated at 0.05% per day)
• Expedited Fee for Certificate of Origin (500 - 2000 yuan)
• Commodity Classification Dispute Resolution Fee (3000 yuan per time)
• AEO Certification Counseling Fee (20,000 - 50,000 yuan)

III. Which factors will significantly affect the agency fee?

Based on the data statistics of serving more than 300 enterprises in the past three years, the core influencing factors include:

• Cargo attributes: The cost of dangerous goods is 30 - 50% higher than that of general goods.
• Trade terms: The cost of general trade is 20% lower than that of cross - border e - commerce.
• Complexity of documents: The cost of goods that need 3C certification increases by 15%.
• Port selection: The cost at Shanghai Port is 10 - 15% lower than that at inland ports.
• Enterprise qualificationsAEO-certified enterprises can get a 5 - 8% discount.
• Settlement MethodsThe TT prepayment is 10% lower than the letter of credit.

IV. How to avoid hidden - charge traps?

It is recommended to adopt the "Three-Step Verification Method":

• Contract review: Focus on reviewing the coverage of the "Other Expenses" clause.
• Case verificationRequire the provision of detailed charging information for similar businesses in the recent period.
• system connectedSelect an ERP system that supports real - time expense inquiries.

A garment export company compared and found that Agent A's "bundled price" was 23% higher than the total of Agent B's itemized quotes, ultimately opting for the transparent pricing solution.

V. What are the new trends in fees in 2025?

• The proportion of digital service fees has increased (now reaching 15% of the total cost).
• The business fees for RCEP agreement countries are reduced by 5 - 8%.
• Green customs clearanceAdditional fees(The carbon tariffsRelated services + 10%)
• Usage fee of the intelligent customs declaration system (2000 yuan/month)

It is recommended that enterprises conduct an audit of agency fees once a year. We once helped a certain machinery manufacturer save 460,000 yuan in agency fees annually by adjusting the combination of trade methods.