Planning to import goods and uncertain about who bears the import agent fees, inquiring about the responsible party in general situations and under special contract stipulations. The best answer points out that, without specific agreement, the importer usually bears the costs as they are the direct beneficiary; if the contract has an agreement, it will be executed as agreed. Different trade terms can also affect cost bearing. In summary, prioritize contract stipulations, and follow industry norms in the absence of an agreement.
What fees do import agents generally charge?
Resolved
I recently have a batch of goods that need to be handled by an import agent company for import-related matters, but I'm not very clear about what fees import agents usually charge. Worried about being overcharged, I want to understand it beforehand. Are there any friends familiar with this who can provide detailed information on the common fee items involved in import agency services? What are the approximate charging standards?
Trade Expert Insights Answers
Import agents generally charge the following types of fees:
First is the agency fee, which is the remuneration charged by the import agent company for providing services. It is generally calculated as a certain percentage of the cargo value, typically around 1%-5%, depending on the complexity of the business and other factors.
Next is the customs declaration fee, used for handling the import and export customs declaration procedures for goods. The fee per customs declaration is approximately 200-500 yuan.
There are also transportation fees, including international and domestic transportation. International transportation fees vary significantly depending on the mode of transport and distance, while domestic transportation is calculated based on the route, cargo weight, and volume.
Additionally, there are miscellaneous fees such as terminal fees and storage fees. Terminal fees are charged according to the type of goods and terminal regulations, while storage fees are calculated based on the cargo storage time and volumetric weight.
Furthermore, taxes and duties, such as customs duties and VAT, are calculated based on the goods' HS codes and relevant policies and regulations, and are paid by the import agent company on behalf of the client.
Commonly, there's a documentation fee, used for organizing and preparing relevant import documents, typically a few hundred yuan. There's also an inspection fee; if goods are inspected by customs, the actual costs incurred are reimbursed, with fees ranging from several hundred to thousands of yuan.
Some import agents charge a document exchange fee, generally 100-300 yuan, for obtaining the delivery order. Additionally, there's a telex release fee, approximately 100-200 yuan, if telex release is chosen.
There might be an operation fee, covering various services during the operational process, usually several hundred yuan. Additionally, there's a commodity inspection fee, charged proportionally based on the goods' condition, for commodity inspection and quarantine.
If wooden packaging is involved, there will also be a fumigation fee for the fumigation treatment of wooden packaging, specifically depending on the quantity and specifications of the packaging. Additionally, there's a tally fee for organizing the goods, calculated by the quantity or weight of the goods.
Insurance fees may also be involved for purchasing transportation insurance for the goods, with the fee calculated based on the cargo value and insurance policy rates. There's also an expedited service fee; if there's an urgent business need, an additional expedited service fee may be required.
There's also a late declaration fee; if customs declaration exceeds the stipulated deadline, customs will impose a daily late declaration fee, the amount of which is related to the cargo value. There's also a disinfection fee for treating specific goods.
Labeling fees also cannot be overlooked, referring to fees incurred for producing and affixing compliant labels to goods. Additionally, in some cases, there might be a distribution fee, incurred for cargo distribution and transshipment.
Some import agents charge a drayage fee for short-distance transportation of goods, charged based on transportation mileage and vehicle type. There's also a container lifting fee for operations involving container lifting, with charges based on specific operational circumstances.
There might be a terminal security fee, which is a security-related fee charged by the terminal. Additionally, there's an overdue storage fee; if goods are stored at the terminal beyond the free period, this fee will be incurred.