You’re not losing margin in the market.You’re losing it inside the quote.
Most exporters know their gross margin. Few know what they actually keep after freight, relabelling, samples, distributor support, payment terms, and hidden costs. XportStack shows you the real number before you commit.
A quote went out at
38% gross margin.
After the relabelling job, the sample courier, the delayed shipment, the revised packing list, and the distributor support:
Actual margin: 11%
The next quote was built in XportStack. The margin floor flagged the deal before it left the building.
One alert. One conversation. One month of operating profit saved on a single container.
Where export margin actually disappears.
Relabelling and artwork
Costs that repeat every market but rarely appear in quotes.
Samples and courier costs
Small line items that add up across every new distributor.
Payment terms cost of capital
60-day terms mean you fund their inventory from your cash flow.
Distributor support with no ROI tracking
Marketing spend with no visibility into what it actually returned.
Below-MOQ order inefficiency
Small orders cost disproportionately more per unit to fulfil.
LCL freight premium
Partial containers cost more per cubic metre than full loads.
Calculate your true export margin now.
See your real export margin after every cost, not just the gross number.
Open the calculator →The margin protection features in XportStack.
True margin engine
Calculates your real contribution margin after every cost: freight, relabelling, samples, payment terms, distributor support, and contingency.
Quote floor enforcement
Set a minimum margin threshold. Any quote that falls below it is flagged before it leaves the building, with an explanation of why.
Bad revenue detector
Identifies orders that generate revenue but destroy margin. Low-MOQ, high-support, and slow-paying customers you should renegotiate or decline.
Order economics warning system
Alerts you when an order's true economics have changed mid-shipment. Delayed loading, revised packing, additional distributor asks. Caught before the damage is done.
Common questions
What is a true export margin?
True export margin is your real profit after subtracting every cost between your factory and the distributor's warehouse — including freight, insurance, duties, certification fees, packaging compliance, and payment terms. Most exporters only calculate FOB margin, which overstates profit by 8-15%.
How does a margin floor work?
A margin floor is the minimum acceptable profit percentage you set for each market or distributor. XportStack blocks any quote that falls below this floor, preventing your team from accidentally agreeing to unprofitable deals.
Why do export margins erode over time?
Margins erode because costs change between quoting and shipping — freight rates fluctuate, exchange rates move, certification renewal fees increase, and distributors negotiate better terms on reorders. Without real-time margin tracking, these changes go unnoticed until your quarterly review.
Margin protection by buyer segment
See how margin protection works for your specific stage and category.