Does the export agent earn more than the factory? Is this reasonable?

"Mr. Zhang is very troubled recently. The high-quality furniture produced by his factory is saturated in the domestic market, and he has no idea how to explore the overseas market. Until he contacted the export agency service, not only did the order volume double, but he also discovered a shocking fact - The profit of the agent is even higher than his own production cost." This is not an isolated case. In the global trade chain, the profit margin of the export agent has always been an "open secret" in the industry, but how is it calculated exactly? And what are the key factors? This article will unveil this mystery.

The profit composition of the export agent is much more complex than imagined:

• Service fee difference: The basic agency fee is usually 1-3% of the goods value, but for bulk commodities it may be as low as 0.5%

• Value-added service premium: Including customs declaration, tax rebate, logistics integration, etc., with a profit margin of up to 15-20%

• Exchange rate arbitrage space: Utilize the time difference of foreign exchange settlement to obtain additional income in a volatile market

Taking Ms. Li's textile export as an example, the agent will package the sea freight cost into the service fee by "quoting FOB as CIF", and earn an additional 7% profit for each single order.

Even for the same export agent, some people earn millions a year while others barely make ends meet. The differences lie in:

• Category barrier: The profit rate of medical device agency can reach 8%, while that of daily necessities is only 2%

• Regional dividend: The agency fee in emerging markets is 30-50% higher than that in mature markets

• Economies of scale: Customers with a monthly shipment volume of more than 20 containers can enjoy stepped rates

• Capital turnover: Agents who advance tax rebates may actually have an annualized return on investment of more than 15%

The market research of Zhongshitong shows that the leading agency enterprises can stably maintain a comprehensive profit margin of 12-18% through the "combination punch" model.

High profit must be accompanied by high risks:

One agent suffered a loss of 40% of the goods value due to customer letter of credit fraud; another one had all its profits evaporated because the tariff standard of the destination country was suddenly raised. Industry veterans all understand that The real profit is the net value after deducting these "tuition fees". It is recommended that beginners reserve at least 20% of the profit as a risk reserve fund.

With the deepening of agreements such as RCEP, three new opportunities are emerging:

• Agency for small B customers of cross-border e-commerce (profit margin increased by 3-5%)

• Export certification services related to carbon neutrality (premium space up to 8-12%)

• Digital system output (SAAS model brings sustainable income)

The essence of the export agent is to price uncertainty with professional ability. When you see the agent easily earning 10 points, don't forget the 20-year accumulation of customs clearance data, the legal consultant network covering 54 countries behind them, and those sudden crises handled in the middle of the night. This industry always welcomes those who truly create value - perhaps, you are the next breaker?

Welcome to share in the comment section: What is the most unexpected charge item of the export agent you have contacted?