carried by foreign transportation enterprisesExport Agent ServicesWhat does the cost consist of?

According to the latest industry practices in 2025, the standard charges for professional export agents primarily include the following core items:

• Basic service fee: Including customs declaration document processing (averaging 800-2000 RMB per document) and trade document authentication (such asOrigin Certificate300-500 yuan)
• Logistics handling fee:
  • Booking service fee: FCL (Full Container Load) 500-1000 RMB, LCL (Less than Container Load) charged per cubic meter
  • Port Handling Charge (THC): The 2025 standard is 580-780 RMB per 20GP container.
• Collection of government fees: Inspection fee (charged at 0.15%-0.3% of the cargo value), customs inspection fee (actual cost reimbursement)

Why is there a significant difference in quotes from different agencies?

Market monitoring data for 2025 shows that the differences in export agency quotations primarily stem from:

• Differences in service depth: Whether it includesTax RebatesOperations (typically charging a refund amount of 1%-3%), foreign exchange verification, and other value-added services
• Differences in channel resources: The space guarantee capability of first-class freight forwarders directly impactsMaritime transportAdditional charges (e.g., the 2025 peak season surcharge PSS is approximately $500 per container).
• Differences in compliance costs: AEO-certified enterprises can save 3-5 working days of port storage fees due to lower inspection rates.

What new fee-based services should we be aware of in 2025?

According to the latest international trade regulations, it is recommended to pay special attention to:

• Carbon tariff surcharge: Under the EU CBAM mechanism, steel products are required to prepay carbon emission costs (approximately 2%-5% of the cargo value).
• Data Security Certification Fee: GDPR Compliance Data Processing Service (2000-5000 RMB/year)
• RCEP Rules of Origin Service Fee: Application for Regional Preferential Tax Rate (Document Review Fee: 300-800 RMB)

How to Avoid Hidden Fee Traps?

Based on 20 years of experience in handling agency disputes, the following measures are recommended:

• Request a detailed quotation sheet: Pay special attention to the last-mile delivery costs under DDP terms (which can reach up to $800 per container in some countries).
• Clarify the basis for cost calculation: The marine insurance premium is calculated at 110% of the CIF value, with a rate of approximately 0.2%-0.5%.
• Agreed exchange rate fluctuation mechanism：It is recommended to use the Bank of China's spot exchange selling rate 3 days prior to the T/T payment.

Can the agency fee for 2025 be negotiated?

Professional agencies typically offer flexible solutions:

• Annual Export Volume Tiered Pricing: Customers with over 100 cabinets can receive a 15%-20% discount on service fees.
• Combo Service Discount：Using customs declaration + tax refund + foreign exchange services simultaneously can save 5%-8% in overall costs.
• Payment Term Incentive Policy: A 30-day payment term typically incurs financial costs ranging from 1.5% to 3%.

What expenses may incur unexpected costs?

According to the data from the General Administration of Customs for January to June 2025, special precautions should be taken against:

• Customs classification dispute fee: Late declaration fee due to commodity code dispute (0.5‰ of the cargo value per day)
• Penalty for false reporting of hazardous chemicals: Penalties for missing UN packaging certification (maximum fine of 50,000 yuan per violation)
• Anti - dumping margin: Some products require a temporary deposit of 36.5%-255%.