I. EntryExport RepresentationWhat are the common calculation methods for fees?

According to the latest industry survey by the China International Freight Forwarders Association in 2025, the mainstream charging models can be divided into the following five types:

• Value - proportion system: Ranging from 0.8% to 3%, applicable to general trade (Medical EquipmentUsually charged at 2.5%)
• Fixed service fee: 8000-50000 yuan per order, commonly seen in small amountsCross-border E-commercebusiness based on this
• Progressive rate by brackets: Below 1 million 1.2%, 1-5 million 0.8%, above 5 million 0.5%
• Mixed billing system: Base service fee + percentage of cargo value (e.g., 5000 yuan + 0.6%)
• Project lump-sum system: Includes comprehensive services such as customs clearance, logistics, and documentation (average cost approximately 38,000 RMB per 20GP container).

2. What factors influence the level of agency fees?

According to the 2025 customs supervision data from the General Administration of Customs, the following six factors have a significant impact on costs:

• Fluctuation in cargo value: $2 millionEquipment ImportsThe rate is 0.6 percentage points higher than the $20,000 sample fee.
• Product Characteristics:
  • The hazardous materials handling fee has increased by 40%.
  • Food items require an additional inspection fee (approximately 0.3% of the cargo value).
• Trade terms: The average cost under CIF conditions is 0.2% lower than that under FOB.
• Service scope: The document certification service will increase the total cost by 15-25%.
• Settlement Methods: ForwardL/CA settlement fee of 0.05% per month will be charged for fund occupancy.
• Policy time limit: The agreed tariff rate under RCEP can save 0.8% in agency service fees.

3. Will the agency charge hidden fees?

According to the Measures for the Administration of Value - Added Tax on Cross - border Taxable Activities in 2025foreign tradeDispute case database statistics highlight the need to pay special attention to the following four types of potential costs:

• Emergency handling fee: The expedited customs clearance service fee can be up to 3 times the regular cost.
• Special documentation fee:It is recommended to verify through the following methods:The average fee for a Ming Jia signature is 800 yuan per document.
• Port Detention Surcharge：Container demurrage will be charged at RMB 200 per day.
• Exchange Rate Compensation Fee: A 0.5% exchange rate risk deposit is required for the 90-day payment term service.

Avoidance recommendations:Please provide a tiered quotation and clearly stipulate the clause stating "no additional fees beyond those specified in this agreement."

IV. Self-operationimport and exportIs it really more cost-effective than hiring an agent?

According to the 2025 corporate cost audit report, the hidden costs that can be saved through the agency model include:

• Late declaration fees caused by documentation errors (average annual savings of 92,000 yuan).
• Customs system maintenance costs (annual savings of 150,000-300,000 yuan)
• Trade compliance training costs (new employee training cycle: 6 months)
• Risk of Policy Misinterpretation (Avoid fines up to 30% of the cargo value)

Actual case: After switching to an agent, an automotive parts company reduced its annual customs costs by 37% and improved customs clearance efficiency by 62%.

V. What are the new changes in agency fees for 2025?

Three noteworthy trends to watch this year:

• Digital service fees: The blockchain traceability system charges an additional 0.15%.
• Green channel fee: AEO-certified enterprises enjoy a 0.3% preferential rate.
• Carbon Tariff Service Package: The average price for EU CBAM declaration services is 12,000 RMB per batch.

Special reminder: Starting from January 2025, an additional 0.2% electronic payment supervision fee will be required for cross-border e-commerce businesses.