FoodExport AgentWhat are the mandatory payment items included in the fee?

In 2025, the food export agency fee is mainly composed of three core parts:

• Basic Agency Service Fee
  • Document preparation (including CO/health certificate/certificate of origin)
  • Trade termsConversion services (FOB/CIF, etc.)
  • HS code classification consultation
• Government fees
  • Customs inspectionAdditional fees(Since 2025, the usage fee of the new intelligent inspection system has been added)
  • Inspection and QuarantineFee (including the detection of new GB4806 food contact materials)
• Additional logistics costs
  • Cold chain transportation temperature control record fee (mandatory requirement of FDAs new regulations)
  • Special packaging handling fee (such as halal food certification packaging)

What are the common modes of calculating the agency fee?

In 2025, the mainstream charging methods show a diversified trend:

• Proportional value system: Usually charge 0.8% - 1.5% (for bulk food, it can be negotiated to 0.5%)
• The ladder fee.: Starting from 10,000 yuan for the first container, and reducing 500 yuan for each additional container
• Modular billing:Customs declaration800 yuan per ticket + 300 yuan per document + 200 yuan per day for logistics monitoring

Case of a condiment enterprise: Exporting 20 containers with a value of $500,000, choosing the mixed billing mode saves 12,000 yuan compared with the pure proportional system.

Which hidden costs are easily overlooked?

• Certificate expediting fee: The expediting handling fee for EU novel food certification can reach 3 times the normal amount
• Port demurrage allocation: African ports generally charge a demurrage fee of 1% of the cargo value per day
• Technical trade measures: Japans positive list system has added 138 pesticide residue detection indicators

Typical case in 2025: A freeze - dried food enterprise lost $6,500 for a single batch of goods due to not including the renewal fee of the Australian import license.

How to avoid traps in fee calculation?

• Confirm fee coverage scope
  • Whether it includes pre - review of destination port customs clearance documents
  • Special declaration fees for cross - border e - commerce channels
• Pay attention to policy changes
  • Tariff preferences brought by the RCEP origin accumulation rules
  • New traceability requirements of the US FSMA Food Modernization Act
• Suggestions on negotiation skills
  • If the annual export volume exceeds 100 containers, tiered rebates can be negotiated
  • Adopting the EXW trade term can reduce the comprehensive cost by 3% - 5%