Export Agent Quotation: Hidden Secrets?

"The same container, company A quotes 30,000, company B only 18,000?" Mr. Teng stared at two completely different export agent quotation sheets, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the desk. As a newcomer to foreign trade, he vaguely felt something was amiss, but couldn't pinpoint the problem. Today, we will uncover the industry hidden rules of export agent quotations and teach you to deconstruct the secrets hidden behind the numbers with a professional eye.

"Word Games" in Quotation Sheets

Mr. Teng recently fell into a trap: an agent's "all-inclusive price" was 15% lower than the market price. After signing the contract, she discovered that 6 fees such as port congestion surcharges and express document fees were not included at all. In fact, a formal quotation should clearly list:

• Basic handling fees (including customs declaration/booking, etc.)
• Sea/air freight main freight (including fuel surcharge)
• Destination port fixed fees (THC/documentation fees, etc.)
• Potential fluctuating fees (demurrage/amendment fees, etc.)

Four Invisible Factors Affecting Price

Why can quotations for the same route differ by 30%? Besides differences in company size, these factors are key:

• Cargo category: Chemicals require more dangerous goods packaging certificates/special warehousing fees than ordinary goods.
• Payment cycle: Monthly payment clients often have 5-8% higher prices than spot payment clients.
• Service depth: Does it include export tax rebate agency/letter of credit review?
• Route advantage: An agent specializing in African routes may have no price advantage on European routes.

Professional Price Comparison Like This

Smart foreign trade professionals prepare standardized inquiry templates: including 20 data points such as cargo volume, product name, HS code, and delivery time. One client discovered through this method that an agent's "ultra-low quotation" was actually calculating a 40HQ container based on a 20GP standard, resulting in an actual total price increase of 22%.

Three Questions You Must Clarify

Before placing an order, be sure to confirm:

• "How long is the quotation valid?" (Sea freight market prices can change every three days)
• "Under what circumstances will the fees change?" (e.g., who bears the customs inspection fees)
• "How will you compensate for container rollovers?" (risk of up to 30% vessel delay during peak season)

Now, open your current quotation sheets and compare. Are those seemingly cheap options quietly eroding your profits in unseen ways? Welcome to share your price comparison experiences in the comment section. The reader with the most likes will receive an electronic template of the export cost calculation sheet.