---
title: "How Are 2026 Import Agency Fees Calculated? Full Analysis of Durian Import Costs - Zhongshen Trading China"
description: "In 2026，Shanghai's fresh fruit import volume continues to grow，and import cost accounting for products such as Thai durian has become a pain point for small and medium-sized traders. Import agency fees are not only service charges，but also involve hidden costs such as document compliance and tariff optimization. Manager Wei from Zhongshen points out that reasonable planning of import processes can help enterprises save 12%-15% of comprehensive costs and avoid losses caused by customs cleara..."
url: "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/import-agent-services/2026-proxy-import-fee-calculation-durian-import-cost.html"
language: "en"
type: "Article"
category: "Import agent"
datePublished: "2026-10-09"
dateModified: "2026-10-09"
brand: "Zhongshen Trading China"
image: "https://cndpic.sh-zhongshen.com/uploads/tradepics/forex/uhWyVLoyZWAaU.webp"
---

# How Are 2026 Import Agency Fees Calculated? Full Analysis of Durian Import Costs

## Thai Monthong Durian Import: Cost and Compliance Challenges in the 2026 Shanghai Market

In the 2026 Shanghai fresh fruit import market,demand for Thai Monthong durian continues to rise.According to data from the Shanghai Agricultural Products Wholesale Market,import volume in the first half of the year increased by 18% year-on-year compared with 2025,but many small and medium-sized traders have encountered setbacks in cost accounting and compliance details during import.Ms.Ma’s Shanghai-based food trading company imported 3 containers of Monthong durian last year,with a total budget of 1.2 million yuan.However,due to missing documents and customs clearance delays,the final cost reached 1.32 million yuan.Of the extra 120,000 yuan spent,60,000 yuan was for storage fees,40,000 yuan for miscalculated tariffs,and 20,000 yuan for commodity inspection fines.

![Reduce Import Costs! Hidden Optimization Tips for Import Agency Fees](https://cndpic.sh-zhongshen.com/uploads/tradepics/forex/uhWyVLoyZWAaU.webp)

The core of such problems is usually not the level of import agency fees,but whether the agency can accurately control the unique compliance requirements for durian imports.After all,every link in the import process of fresh animal and plant products hides cost traps.As an agency company with over 20 years of experience in foreign trade in Shanghai,Zhongshen has assisted 17 traders in completing Thai durian imports this year,helping customers save an average of 12%-15% in comprehensive costs.

### 1.Document Pre-audit: Avoid the "Certificate of Origin Trap"

The first hurdle for Thai durian imports is document compliance.In 2026,China Customs upgraded document requirements for fresh durian exported to China: three core documents must be provided at the same time – the Phytosanitary Certificate issued by the Ministry of Agriculture of Thailand,the Certificate of Origin issued by the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand (which must indicate the durian variety as "Monthong" or "Mao Shan Wang"),and the Quarantine Treatment Certificate for Fruits Exported to China (which specifies the fumigation or cold treatment method).

Zhongshen implements "pre-audit" at this stage: after the customer signs the agency agreement,they first send scanned copies of the Thai supplier’s documents to Manager Wei,who will check them one by one against the latest 2026 Rules of Origin of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area.In October last year,the certificate of origin submitted by Ms.Ma’s supplier only stated "durian" without marking "Monthong".Manager Wei reminded them to correct it immediately,avoiding customs return of documents due to inconsistent certificate of origin after the goods arrive at the port.If corrections are made after the goods arrive at the port,the additional port demurrage fee alone will cost 2,000 yuan per day.

- 3 key precautions for pre-audit of Thai durian documents:
- The certificate of origin must be consistent with the variety and origin stated on the bill of lading;
- The quarantine treatment certificate must indicate "cold treatment temperature ≤ 0,duration 12 hours";
- The validity period of the documents shall not exceed 15 days (from the date of issuance to the date of customs declaration).

### 2.Port Customs Declaration: Do Not Let HS Code Lead to Extra Costs

The most error-prone part of durian customs declaration at Shanghai Port is the HS code.In 2026,customs adjusted the HS code for fresh durian: mainstream varieties such as Monthong and Mao Shan Wang are classified as 0810909090,with a tariff rate of 10%; while some niche varieties classified as "other unlisted fresh fruits" (0810909990) will be subject to a tariff as high as 15%.

Zhongshen’s customs declaration team conducts "pre-classification" in advance: after receiving the customer’s durian variety certificate,they first contact the Shanghai Customs Classification Center to confirm the code before filling out the customs declaration form.In March this year,Manager Lan’s client wanted to import Thai "Kan Yao" durian,and the code they found themselves was 0810909990.After verification,Zhongshen found that Kan Yao belongs to "listed fresh durian" and the code should be 0810909090,so the tariff was directly reduced from 15% to 10%.For 50 tons of goods,the tariff saving alone amounted to 45,000 yuan.

### 3.Commodity Inspection and Storage: Keeping Fresh Goods Fresh Saves Money

![Shanghai Import Agency: Compliance Standards and Cases of Import Agency Fees](https://cndpic.sh-zhongshen.com/uploads/tradepics/5aPyV551Vb9FX.webp)

Durian is a product requiring high preservation standards.The shipping time from Thailand to Shanghai is about 5 days,and commodity inspection sampling must be completed within 24 hours after arrival at the port,otherwise temperature fluctuations will cause pulp deterioration.In 2026,the Shanghai Commodity Inspection Bureau’s sampling requirements for fresh durian are: 5 samples per container,tested for pesticide residues (such as imidacloprid,cypermethrin) and heavy metals (lead,cadmium).The testing cycle has been shortened from 3 days in 2025 to 2 days,provided that the goods are stored in designated refrigerated container warehouses.

Zhongshen’s warehousing team has pre-coordinated with 3 designated refrigerated container warehouses at Yangshan Port,and can obtain storage prices 5% lower than the market average,as well as priority arrangement for commodity inspection sampling time.In December last year,after Ms.Ma’s durian arrived at the port,Zhongshen arranged commodity inspection sampling on the same day,and the results were released in 36 hours.The goods were stored in the refrigerated container for only 4 days,3 days less than the 7 days when she operated on her own last year,saving 3,000 yuan per container in storage fees.

## The "Hidden Value" of Import Agency Fees: More Than Just Service Fees

Many customers ask "how are import agency fees calculated".In fact,Zhongshen’s charging model is not a "single service fee",but is charged by "process nodes": document pre-audit 200-300 yuan/ton,customs declaration agency 600-800 yuan/ton,commodity inspection coordination 300-500 yuan/ton,storage and preservation 1200-1500 yuan/ton,totaling 2300-3100 yuan/ton.However,compared with the cost of self-operation,the gap is far more than the superficial service fee:

| Item | Self-operation cost (yuan/ton) | Zhongshen agency cost (yuan/ton) | Reason for difference |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Document pre-audit service fee | 300-500 | 200-300 | Bulk cooperation with Thai suppliers,discount on document audit |
| Customs declaration agency fee | 800-1200 | 600-800 | Long-term cooperation with Shanghai customs brokers,preferential customs declaration fee |
| Commodity inspection coordination fee | 500-700 | 300-500 | Pre-book commodity inspection to reduce waiting costs |
| Storage and preservation fee | 1500-2000 | 1200-1500 | Cooperation with Yangshan Port refrigerated container warehouses,bulk price |
| Tariff miscalculation/fine | 0-5000 (occasional) | 0 | Pre-classification + document audit to avoid compliance risks |
| Total | 3100-8400 | 2300-3100 | Average saving of 800 yuan/ton,occasional risks eliminated |

In March this year,Manager Wei received a client who imports red wine.He originally planned to operate on his own,and calculated that the service fee would be 200 yuan/ton lower than Zhongshen’s.However,Zhongshen reminded him that red wine imports require "Chinese label filing",which would take 3 trips to the commodity inspection bureau and 10 days if operated by himself,while the agency only takes 3 days.The client finally chose the agency service,because the 10-day time difference allowed him to distribute goods one week in advance,earning an extra 120,000 yuan.

## Conclusion: The Essence of Import Agency Fees is "Risk Hedging"

In the 2026 Shanghai import market,what small and medium-sized traders lack is not supply sources,but compliance experience and resource connection capabilities.Zhongshen’s agency service is not simple errand running,but helps customers avoid hidden costs such as document errors,tariff miscalculations,and goods deterioration.For example,the 3 containers of durian imported by Ms.Ma this year not only cost no extra money,but also went on sale before the Dragon Boat Festival due to early customs clearance,selling for 2 yuan more per jin,and her net profit was 180,000 yuan higher than last year.

For import enterprises,import agency fees are never a "cost",but an "investment in risk hedging".After all,the loss from a single compliance error may be higher than the annual agency service fee.

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