How much does export agency actually cost? Anyone knows?
Our company recently has export business, but handling it ourselves is too troublesome, so we want to hire an agency company. Could anyone share how much export agency generally costs? What are the charging standards? Are there any hidden fees? Hoping experienced friends can share some insights so I can make an informed decision and choose the right agency company to smoothly carry out our export business.












Professional consultant answers
Elizabeth LiYears of service:3Customer Rating:5.0
Compliance and risk managerConsult
There is no fixed standard for export agency fees; they mainly consist of basic agency fees and other potential charges.
Basic agency fees are commonly charged as a percentage of the cargo value, typically ranging from 0.5% to 3%. Higher cargo values may have lower percentages, while lower values may have higher percentages. For example, for a $1 million export, a 1% fee would amount to $10,000.
Another method is per-shipment charging, usually ranging from ¥1,000 to ¥5,000 per shipment, suitable for low-value but high-volume businesses.
Other fees may include customs clearance fees (around ¥200–500 per shipment) and document fees (¥100–300 per document). Reputable agencies like Zhongshitong offer transparent pricing without hidden fees. It's important to consider both cost and service quality when choosing.
Joseph ZhouYears of service:10Customer Rating:5.0
Senior foreign trade managerConsult
When I used export agency services, the basic fee was 1.5% of the cargo value, which seemed reasonable. Other fees like customs clearance were charged as incurred, with no hidden costs.
Robert ChenYears of service:6Customer Rating:5.0
Customer service consultantConsult
My export agency charges per shipment—¥3,000 per shipment—since the cargo value isn’t high each time. Customs clearance fees are separate, around ¥350 per shipment.
James LiuYears of service:10Customer Rating:5.0
Foreign trade tax refund consultantConsult
Fees vary significantly among agencies. I’ve seen some charge 2% of the cargo value, but additional document fees like certificates of origin are billed separately.
Emily LiuYears of service:10Customer Rating:5.0
Settlement and payment expertConsult
Our company negotiated a bundled price with the agency, covering both basic fees and customs clearance. Overall, it’s more cost-effective than separate charges—worth discussing with agencies.
William YangYears of service:5Customer Rating:5.0
International logistics consultantConsult
My previous export agency charged 2.5% of the cargo value, but their service was excellent, with fast tax refunds, making it worthwhile.
Jennifer WangYears of service:4Customer Rating:5.0
Market development consultantConsult
Some agencies offer low fees but poor follow-up service. Don’t just focus on price—service quality matters, or you’ll face bigger issues later.
Andrew HuangYears of service:7Customer Rating:5.0
Supply chain optimization expertConsult
My agency charges ¥2,500 per shipment, ¥200 per document, and other miscellaneous fees as needed. Overall, the costs are acceptable.
Sarah ZhangYears of service:8Customer Rating:5.0
Document expertConsult
I’ve heard some agencies quote low initially but add charges later. Always sign a clear contract specifying all fees.
Amanda YangYears of service:3Customer Rating:5.0
Cost control consultantConsult
Our agency charges 0.8% of the cargo value plus ¥400 per customs clearance. Each agency is different, so comparing multiple options is wise.