Bulk cargoExport agentIs there a unified charging standard for fees?

According to the latest 2025 survey data from the China International Freight Forwarders Association, bulk cargoExport agentfees have not yet formed a nationwide unified standard, but industry practices exist. The main billing models include:

• Per-ton billing: Common in East China, with a base fee of approximately ￥800-1,200/ton for 20GP container types
• Charging by ticket: Suitable for small shipments, with single-ticket fees typically starting at ￥3,000
• Percentage-based fees: Charged at 0.5%-1.2% of the cargo value, commonly used for high-value precision instrument transportation

Which fees might be charged repeatedly?

A typical case encountered by a Ningbo exporter in 2024 highlights the need to pay special attention to the following three types of fees:

• customs clearanceRelated fees:
  • Customs clearance fee (single ticket ￥200-500)
  • Customs inspection fee (actual expense reimbursement)
  • Manifest transmission fee (￥50-100)
• Document processing fees:
  • Bill of lading fee (￥150-300)
  • Certificate of origin fee (￥100-200)
• Terminal handling charges:
  • THC (Terminal Handling Charges) ￥580-720
  • Seal fee ￥50-100

How to avoid paying "hidden fees"?

It is recommended to take the following 3 steps:

• Request to provideCost matrix table, clearly mark:
  • Prepaid/Collect division
  • USD/RMB settlement method
  • Base Date for Exchange Rate Conversion
• confirmedLiability attribution clause, with special attention to:
• Customs inspection derivative costs
• Demurrage calculation standard
• Strive forTiered Pricing, for customers with annual shipment volume exceeding 100 tons, may requestTransportation expensesDiscount

What new changes should be noted when selecting a freight forwarder in 2025?

Combined with the latest industry trends, please note:

• Impact of new customs regulations: The Customs Declaration Data Specification Version 4.0 implemented from January 2025 requires:
  • Commodity code declaration accurate to 10 digits
  • Weight error rate ≤0.5%
• Freight rate fluctuation clause: It is recommended to choose agents offering30-day freight rate lock period: Priority should be given to those supporting:
• Capacity for Digital ServicesOnline cost estimation system
  • Real-time cargo tracking API interface
  • Provide 3 practical comparison methods:

How to determine if a quote is reasonable?

Refer to

• China Ports AssociationQuarterly published Guidance Prices for Bulk Cargo Handling Charges at Major Ports,Request breakdown of
• Ratio (recommended to control within 8:2)Basic freightwithAdditional feesThe ratio (recommended to be controlled within 8:2)
• Compare at least 3 freight forwarders horizontallyEXW termsAll-inclusive price