Export RepresentationWhat are the core components included in the total cost?

According to the 2025 International Trade Service Standards, a complete export agency cost should include the following seven elements:

• Basic service fee(0.8%-3% of the cargo value)
• International shipping costs (Maritime Transportation/Air Transportation/Land Transport)
• Customs declaration and inspection fees (including customs inspection reserve funds)
• Document Handling Fee (Document Preparation/Authentication/Translation)
• Special service surcharge (e.g., hazardous materials declaration)
• Exchange rate fluctuation reserve (for mitigating payment cycle risks)
• Emergency Handling Fund (for sudden returns/order changes, etc.)

What are the two common models for calculating service fees?

In 2025, mainstream proxy service providers will adopt two billing methods:

• Flat fee model
  • Charged based on the proportion of the cargo value (suitable for bulk commodities)
  • Example: $1 million in goods value × 1.5% = $15,000
• Tiered pricing model
  • The base service fee for the first 5 tons is 5,000 yuan.
  • An additional charge of 300 yuan per ton will be applied for overweight.

How to determine if logistics costs are reasonable?

It is recommended to adoptThree - dimensional price comparison method:

• Compare the quotations from more than three agencies side by side.
• Conduct a vertical comparison of price fluctuations on the same route over the past three months.
• Conduct an in-depth verification of the cost breakdown (e.g., whether it includes fuel surcharges).

Taking the 2023 Customs Tariff Adjustment Calculation Standard as an example, the logistics cost in the CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) price should be controlled within the range of 12-18% of the cargo value.

What hidden costs are easily overlooked?

• The time cost trap: The expedited customs clearance fee can be up to 3 times the regular cost.
• Document sunk cost: The special document certification fee may exceed 2000 yuan per instance.
• Exchange rate fluctuation loss：A 3-month payment term may result in an exchange loss of 1.2%-2.5%.
• Return Reserve Fund: An emergency fund equivalent to 5% of the reserved inventory value must be set aside.

How to optimize export agency costs in 2025?

Based on service case data from the past three years, four major optimization strategies are recommended:

• Logistics planning front-loading：Booking 45 days in advance can save 12% on shipping costs.
• Service Package Integrated Procurement：Customs declaration + tax rebate service bundle can reduce fees by 8%
• Establish a long-term service agreement: Annual framework contracts are eligible for tiered rebates.
• Application of Intelligent Price Comparison System: Digital tools reduce the cost of manual comparison.

How to avoid falling into the low-price trap?

Identify the three characteristics of a problematic quotation:

• The service fee is below the industry warning line (<0.6% of the cargo value).
• The contract terms are ambiguous regarding the key cost bearers.
• Incomplete qualification documentation

It is recommended to request the service provider to provide actual settlement statements for similar services over the past six months as a benchmark for price comparison, with special attention to the changes in liability allocation under the new 2024 version of International Commercial Terms (INCOTERMS 2024).