Export agentWhat basic items are included in the service fee?

The salary structure of professional foreign trade agencies typically consists of three parts:Basic Service Costs(0.5%-1.5% of goods value),Processing fees(200-800 RMB/order) andValue Added Services(such as inspection, certification, etc.). 2025 industry data shows that the average agency fee rate for exports to European and American markets has increased by 18% compared to 2020, mainly due to rising customs compliance costs.

Three mainstream calculation models for agency fees

According to the 2025 research report by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the current charging models mainly include:

• Fee calculations mainly follow the following five models:
  • Suitable for SMEs with annual export volume below 5 million
  • Monthly fee range: 8000-20000 RMB
• Goods value percentage model
  • 0.6%-1.2% for regular commodities
  • 1.5%-3% for special categories like hazardous goods/food
• The mixed billing model
  • Base fee + excess commission combination
  • Case study of a Fortune 500 company: monthly base fee of 12,000 RMB, with 0.3% charged on excess amount

Six key factors affecting agency costs

• Trade region: EU agency fees are 40% higher than Southeast Asia
• Product HS code: 20% surcharge for anti-dumping tax categories
• Settlement Methods: 30% additional document fee for L/C payment
• Shipping terms: CIF includes 0.2% more for insurance premium payment service than FOB
• Export frequency: Tiered discounts available for monthly shipments exceeding 10 containers
• Enterprise qualifications: AEO certified enterprises enjoy preferential rates

Real case analysis of pricing

Case comparison of a medical device export company (annual export volume of 80 million) in 2025:

• Company A: Pure commission model at 1.1%, annual fee 880,000 RMB
• Company B: Base fee 60,000 RMB/month + 0.6% commission, totaling 840,000 RMB
• Company CPackage price of 780,000 yuan including commodity inspection certification

Ultimately chose Company B with the hybrid model, negotiated the excess commission down to 0.55%, achieving actual savings of 96,000 yuan.

How to avoid agency fee disputes?

• clearly9. Basis for cost calculation(FOB or CIF price)
• AgreedExchange rate fluctuation handling solution
• confirmedOrder cancellation and re-declarationFee standards
• IndicatePolicy-based fee adjustmentsmechanism

2025 Agency Service New Trends

Emergence driven by digital service platformsPer-order billingModel, a cross-border supply chain platform quotes: standardcustoms clearanceOrder at 298 yuan/ticket, including basic documentation and system integration. However, note this model may incur hidden costs, such as emergency fees up to 3 times regular rates.