I. Foreign tradeExport agentWhich parts are the costs made up of?

Professional foreign trade agency services typically include three basic fees:

• Basic agency fees: Charged at 0.8%-3% of cargo value (2025 market average)
• Document handling fee: Includingcustoms clearance/Inspection/Certificate of Origin document processing
• Fund advance costs1. : InvolveExport tax refundInterest expenses on advance payments

Special attention is neededHidden fee items: Special commodity supervision fees (e.g. hazardous materials), expedited service fees, destination port clearance surcharges, etc.

II. What Key Factors Influence Agency Fee Calculations?

• Goods value amount: Bulk commodities may be negotiable below 0.5%, while small batch orders may reach 5%
• Trade terms: EXW terms typically incur 1.2% higher service fees than FOB on average
• Scope of Services:
  • Basic agency: 1%-1.5% of goods value
  • Full-process services (including logistics, tax rebates): 2.5%-3.5% of goods value
• Enterprise qualifications: Class A customs declaration enterprises charge 15%-20% higher than regular agents

III. What Is the Reasonable Agency Fee Range for 2025?

According to 2025 research data from China Council for the Promotion of International Trade:

• According to the proportion of the goods value: 0.8%-3% (for mechanical and electrical products) to 2%-5% (special categories)
• Fixed service fees: 5000-20000 RMB per order (suitable for orders with goods value <500000 RMB)
• The mixed billing model: Base fee + 0.5% of goods value (for clients with annual export volume exceeding 10 million RMB)

Beware of abnormal quotations: Quotations below 0.5% may carry risks of fraudulent VAT invoices, while those above 6% require verification of value-added services.

IV. How to Avoid Agency Fee Calculation Traps?

• Clarify service list: Require written confirmation of 12 basic service items
• Verify additional fees: Confirm in advance derivative fees such as EDI declaration and tax bureau pre-review
• Payment schedule control: Recommended payment mode: 30% advance + 60% upon bill of lading + 10% final payment
• Voucher management: Maintain complete fee breakdowns and special VAT invoices

V. Common Questions Authority Answers

Q: Does agency fee include VAT?
Standard agency quotations are exclusive of tax, with additional 6% VAT (2025 current tax rate).

Q: Can self-handling customs declaration reduce costs?
Theoretically possible, but requires bearing risk costs such as AEO certification maintenance and commodity classification errors.

Q: Are there rate discounts for long-term cooperation?
Clients with annual export volume exceeding 5 million RMB may apply for tiered rates, with maximum discounts up to 30%.

Q: How to handle fee disputes?
It is recommended to specify in the agency agreement: 50% of the disputed amount shall be temporarily deposited in a joint custody account, to be settled after mediation by the CCPIT.