How to Calculate the Agency Fees for Exporting Forklifts? Analysis of the Latest Quotations in 2025

What items are included in the agency fees for exporting forklifts?

The agency fees for exporting forklifts consist of basic service fees and extended service fees:

• Basic service fees (mandatory)
  • Customs declaration fee: In 2025, the benchmark price for declarations at the single customs window is 380 yuan per ticket
  • Document processing fee: including the preparation of commercial invoices, packing lists,It is recommended to verify through the following methods:and other documents (about 800 - 1500 yuan)
  • Port operation fee: including container lifting, yard storage, etc. (charged according to the tonnage of the forklift)
• Extended service fees (optional)
  • Special packaging fee: anti - rust/anti - shock packaging (starting from an average market price of 2000 yuan per unit)
  • Cargo insurance: charged at 0.15% - 0.3% of the cargo value
  • Destination port clearance: about USD450 - 800 per container in Europe and the United States

Why can the price quotes of different agents vary by up to 40%?

According to the industry research data in 2025, the core factors affecting the price quotes include:

• Goods attribute
  • Internal combustion forklifts require fuel certification documents (increasing the cost by 200 - 500 yuan)
  • Lithium - battery forklifts require UN38.3 certification (increasing the certification fee by 1500-3000 yuan)
• Transportation method
  • Full - container load transportation: The average price of a 40HQ container is USD2800-4500
  • Less - than - container load (LCL) transportation: charged according to 12 - 15 cubic meters per unit (about USD85/m3 for the European route)
• Trade terms
  • Under the FOB terms, the exporter bears the costs before loading onto the ship
  • Under the CIF terms, the entire journey needs to be calculatedMaritime TransportationFreight + Insurance Premium

Analysis of typical price quote cases in 2025

Case 1: Export of 3 - ton diesel forklifts to Vietnam

• Transported in a full - container load of 2 units (40HQ utilization rate is 75%)
• Composition of total costs:
  • Basic customs declaration: 920 yuan
  • Ocean freight: USD1850 (from North China to Ho Chi Minh City)
  • Fuel surcharge: USD220

Case 2: Export of 1.5 - ton electric forklifts to Germany

• Transported in a LCL of 4 units (total volume is 28m3)
• Points of cost difference:
  • UN certification fee: 2800 yuan
  • CE certification verification: 1500 yuan
  • EU energy efficiency label: 800 yuan

How to reduce the agency cost by more than 20%?

• Transportation optimization strategy
  • Booking the shipping space 30 days in advance can enjoy an 8 - 12% freight discount
  • When multiple units are consolidated in a less - than - container - load (LCL) shipment, use a flat - rack container for loading (saving 15 - 20% of space)
• Document preparation skills
  • Providing CE/ISO certificates by yourself can save the certification agency fee
  • Complete HS code classification can save the customs declaration amendment fee
• Transportation Arrangement
  • Quarterly settlement can get a 3 - 5% service fee discount
  • Using cross - border RMB payment to avoid exchange rate losses

How to identify common quotation traps?

Hidden charge items that need special attention:

• Container demurrage fee (USD40 - 80 per day)
• Destination port unpacking fee (USD120 - 250 per unit)
• Special commodity surcharge (for lithium - battery - type products + USD500 per container)
• Customs inspection service fee (800 - 2000 yuan each time)

a full - process cost listComparison table of expense details, and compare the terms with the Specification for International Freight Forwarding Services (GB/T 22152-2025).