Demurrage and detention charges: Save money in top 10 ports [2024]

Demurrage and detention (D&D) charges were significantly high during the pandemic due to supply chain disruptions and port congestions. From 2020 to 2022, shipping lines collected about $6.9 billion in D&D costs. While there is some increase in these fees in 2024, it’s still much lower than the peak levels during the pandemic. This blog gives you a complete overview of these notorious surcharges and helps you learn how to avoid them altogether. 

Freight forwarders and shippers are no strangers to the dreaded demurrage and detention charges. Shipping lines charge these surcharges, which have become one of the most controversial topics in the shipping industry in recent years.

You pay D&D when you exceed the use of containers. They continue to add up daily on a per-day basis until you deliver the containers back to the shipping lines.

While freight forwarders might view these high charges as “unjust and unreasonable”, shipping lines argue that this ensures the efficient use of their containers.

As you progress on the blog, you’ll learn how geo-political and climatic disruptions impact demurrage and detention charges in some major ports worldwide. We will also help you find solutions to avoid them. But you can also cut to the chase and get a quick lowdown on how xChange can help you avoid these expensive fees with shipper-owned containers (SOC).

If you’ve been in the industry for too long and already know how SOCs can help you avoid D&D charges, why not secure your SOC using our public search below today? This easy, hassle-free, and secure process will get you SOCs at the best prices in your preferred locations.

What are demurrage and detention charges in shipping?

Demurrage charges in shipping refer to the fee paid for using the container within the terminal beyond the allotted free days. Detention charges are fees paid for using containers outside the terminal or depot, beyond the free time.

To break it down even further, let’s start with the basics.

Shipping lines provide boxes to container users for the shipment of their cargo. These containers are called carrier-owned containers (COCs).

For shipping lines to turn around their containers, shippers need to return these COCs within a stipulated time called ‘free days’. The free days determine the number of days a shipper can use the container for free. In conventional shipping, the free days are often somewhere between 3-5 days after the container has been discharged from the vessel.

If you fail to return these containers within the free days, the shipping lines will start charging late fees—demurrage and detention. These charges are usually calculated on a per-day basis.

In principle, demurrage and detention have two main purposes:

• Compensating the shipping line for the use of its container.
• Working as an incentive for the customers to return empty containers and have a fast turnaround.

Demurrage charges vs. detention charges: What’s the difference?

Most people confuse demurrage and detention fees to mean the same. It’s true that conceptually both are essentially ‘late fines’ for the return of containers. However, the difference between the two charges depends on the location of the containers at the time of the delay.

Since a demurrage charge is for the delayed use of the container within a terminal, this fee is applied when the full container isn’t moved out of the terminal within the free days.

And since detention charges mean fees applied for the delayed use of the container outside a terminal, it comes into play if the container isn’t returned empty to the shipping line within the free days.

What are the causes of demurrage and detention charges?

Demurrage and detention charges revolve around anything that can cause delays in the shipping process. They include

• Discrepancy or error in documentation
• Late receipt or loss of documentation
• Issues in customs clearance or cargo inspection
• Congestion at the port
• Labor strike or labor shortage at the port
• Delay or abandoning of cargo by the consigneeWhat is a consignee? When transporting freight (by ocean, air, or land), there are two parties involved — one who is shipping and the other who is receiving the freight. The recipient of the goods b... More
• Failure to pay freight charges in full
• Bad weather
• Container rollovers

Now, since demurrage and detention are present in both import and export activities, here’s a thorough understanding of both journeys so you can make an informed decision for your next shipment.

Demurrage and detention during import

Let’s picture this: Your container has been unloaded at the Port of Los Angeles. But the congestion on the roads to the port has delayed your truck from reaching the port in time. As a result, your cargo container is stuck at the port beyond free days. Now, the shipping line will charge you demurrage until your container is picked up and gated from the terminal. Usually, demurrage has to be paid before the cargo is picked up from the port.

Now, let’s imagine your container has reached the distribution center. However, due to the shortage of labor, you were unable to unload the cargo in time. As a result, the container is now stuck at the distribution center beyond free days. The shipping line will now charge you detention until the empty container is returned to the carrier. These charges are an attempt to decrease the container’s turnaround time and make shipping more efficient.

Demurrage and detention during export

Demurrage charges can occur during export. Let’s picture your container waiting to get loaded onboard a vessel in the port of Shanghai. However, due to issues in the documentation, the container is not able to load in time for the vessel’s scheduled departure. The container will, therefore, have to stay in the port until the next departure. The shipping line will now charge you demurrage for the storage period until then.

Now, let’s imagine you have picked up an empty container from the shipping line to load your goods. But the weather turns bad and you’re unable to send the container to the terminal in time. Typically, shipping lines allow 5 free days to pick up the container, load it, and return it to the port. The shipping line will now charge you detention for the extra days before the container returns to the terminal.

You already have to pay so much for international shipping container charges. Certainly, you can avoid demurrage and detention charges by taking precautions and preparing well in advance. But in the last several years, we have seen unprecedented external causes to shoot up the demurrage and detention tariffs.

You already have to pay so many charges for international shipping container charges. Certainly, you can avoid demurrage and detention charges by taking precautions and preparing well in advance. But in the last several years, we have seen unprecedented external causes shoot up the demurrage and detention tariffs.

Let’s look at what the industry has undergone in the last few years.

Decoding the increase in detention demurrage charges using our annual benchmark reports

In the last few years, shipping lines have drastically reduced the number of free days and increased the tariff of demurrage and detention charges. These soaring demurrage and detention charges have become the most hotly debated topic in the shipping industry.

In the previous edition of our annual benchmark report, we compared these charges across 60 ports and 8 shipping lines from 2020 to 2022. Our analysis showed that the global average of demurrage and detention charges increased from US $586 in 2020 to US $664 in 2022. That’s a steep rise of 12%!

A rise of 12% on a per-day basis can rack up to become a huge amount. And hence, shipping lines were labeled ‘abusive’ for increasing these surcharges. Especially, when the volatility of the shipping industry is often out of the shipper’s hands.

What do demurrage and detention charges in shipping look like in 2023?

The landscape of D&D is changing, and the recently published 4th edition of our demurrage and detention report gives you a thorough understanding. Here’s a quick snapshot of the results:

Average D&D drops by 25% YoY, and even 14% lower than 2020. This is looking good for shippers – and feels like things are going back to normal.

• Average D&D drops by 25% YoY, and even 14% lower than 2020. This is looking good for shippers – and feels like things are going back to normal.

• Having said that, 11 ports exhibit D&D fees that are still higher than in 2020. These include Antwerp, Jebel Ali, Ningbo, Port Kelang, Rotterdam, Shenzhen, Singapore, Tianjin, Xiamen, Hong Kong and Guangzhou.  

Despite some relief for D&D in 2023, it’s a given that the shipping industry tends to remain volatile and quite unpredictable. Therefore, it’s best to look for alternate container sourcing methods for security and flexibility.

The good news is, that Container xChange can help you with that. You can easily lease 100,000+ SOC containers from genuine container owners on our online container leasing platform. SOCs are owned by shippers. So, when you lease containers from shippers, you’re under no obligation to pay demurrage and detention charges to carriers. We have 1,700+ members leasing SOC containers for one-way use daily in 2,500+ locations globally. Go ahead and try it for yourself!

Make informed decisions and save on detention and demurrage fees

Europe is often considered one of the best continents for intermodal transport due to its well-developed infrastructure, interconnected rail network, geographic proximity, and efficient customs procedures within the European Union, so it can be highly advantageous to compare ports within the region, even if they are geographically distant.

Looking at the above graph, we can see that the “cheapest” shipping line and port combination (in terms of D&D fees) after 14 days is Antwerp with COSCO at US $242. The most expensive is Hamburg, with an HMM of $3,498. So, by shipping your container to Belgium instead of Germany, especially in times of tumult, you could theoretically save US $3,256 just in late fees. But if you did need to ship to Germany, it would make best sense to select Hamburg as your port but go with COSCO as your carrier, which would still save you around US $3000!

As you can see, carefully comparing these combinations before making a choice can save you a lot of money. There are many such tips, comparisons, learnings, comments, and the latest analysis to discover in the report we talked about earlier, Demurrage & Detention: Annual Benchmark 2023 report. Get an in-depth overview and industry insights about demurrage and detention charges across 65 ports and 7 shipping lines for free. Click here to get your free copy today!

Avoid detention and demurrage charges by using SOCs on Container xChange

Start your journey with SOC today! All you’ve got to do is choose your pick-up and drop-off locations and the container type. You’ll receive a list of offers from vetted container companies or owners in one dashboard. You can then compare these offers carefully to narrow down the best deal for you.

Avoid demurrage and detention charges and save thousands of dollars for your company by clicking the banner below.

Top ports with the highest and lowest demurrage and detention charges

In our comprehensive report on the latest trends of demurrage and detention charges, we ranked 65 ports based on the highest to lowest charges across shipping lines. Let’s take a look at the top 10 most expensive ports for D&D.

These are the average accumulated demurrage and detention charges you will pay after 14 days for a standard container. So according to this data, if your containers are stuck in New York (the US) for 14 days, you’ll have to pay the shipping line a whopping $2,478 – per container!

You can also see that the top 7 most expensive locations are all in North America. This is because the demurrage and detention charges not only differ from port to port but also based on regions and circumstances.

Houston, TX, has emerged as a key player in the global shipping industry, particularly noted for its competitive demurrage and detention charges. With a robust market for shipping containers for sale, Houston offers significant advantages to shippers looking to minimize costs. Other major ports like Singapore, Rotterdam, and Shanghai also contribute to the dynamic landscape of shipping fees, each presenting its unique opportunities and challenges.

So, why are charges in the US currently this high? As we know, China is the US’ biggest trade partner. Since American ports were overwhelmed by Chinese imports during the pandemic, they suffered from major congestion and container pile-ups. High charges are a result of containers stuck both inside and outside American ports.

For more info on US ports, check out our blog on the 10 busiest ports in the US.

List of the least expensive ports for demurrage and detention

Now, let’s look at the 10 cheapest ports for D&D from our list.

These are the average accumulated demurrage and detention charges you will pay after 14 days for a standard container. So according to this data, if your container is stuck in Busan (South Korea) for 14 days, you’ll only have to pay the shipping line $40.

So why does Busan have such low demurrage and detention fees? This is because the South Korean port has high productivity and very few restrictions. Plus, Busan acts as a transshipment facility. This reduces demurrage and detention requirements, as cargo is just transiting through the hub.

Detention and demurrage charges by popular shipping lines

Did you know that the shipping lines make the majority of the decisions regarding these charges? So, choosing which shipping line to opt for can make a huge difference in these charges.

The industry is, today, ruled by few shipping lines. Let’s look at how the demurrage and detention charges differ across 9 such shipping lines. Here are the shipping lines ranked by highest to lowest D&D charges across ports:

You should be careful when narrowing down your carrier service. As seen in the table above, different shipping lines have different demurrage and detention tariffs. One informed decision can save you thousands of dollars in the long run! Let’s see this through an example.

Ways to avoid demurrage and detention charges

After having a look through the charges at different ports in varying locations, and costs for shipping lines, you now have a clear idea that demurrage and detention charges are, in most cases, out of your hands. But there are ways to avoid demurrage and detention fees; check them out below:

• Be prepared for local customs​ – Ensure that you are aware of the customs process and the port regulations at the location where your goods are headed.
• Leave no room for miscommunication – It’s important to be 100% sure about what “available” means. For some ports, a container is available as soon as it hits the ground. While others argue that it needs to be accessible to be available.
• Manage your schedule efficiently​ – It’s important to be on time and prepared. Always have all the documentation required to move cargo from one location to another updated and ready.
• Negotiate terms and free days​ – Try to negotiate instead of accepting a quote as it is. Negotiate with port officials or carriers. You can, for instance, request more free days for your cargo and thereby save on demurrage and detention.

Container visibility

Real-time container tracking is good for supply chain visibility as it enables you to monitor your shipment locations and status in real time. This helps you improve operational flexibility and identify potential delays or disruptions. On xChange we have a tracking feature that monitors your containers in near real-time and gives you alerts on ETAsWhat is estimated time of arrival?  Estimated time of arrival, commonly known as ETA, is a frequently used term globally to denote the time of coming. In the shipping & logistics industry, it is ... More, delays, rollovers and so much more. You can read more about our tracking feature here.

Easy access to Information

Manual data collection is very time-consuming but using automation to streamline processes and access data stored virtually allows you to improve your daily operation, proactively plan for disruptions, and avoid D&D fees. On our platform, our management software helps you manage and automate your daily tasks. It increases efficiency and output by streamlining the entire process, which includes sourcing containers at good rates, invoicing and payment tracking, and getting all necessary shipping documentsWhat are shipping documents? In shipping, shipping documents are documents that provide information about the goods being shipped. They may include information such as the origin and destination of th... More in one place. To learn more, you can read our separate blog here.

Integrated (API) Solutions

API integration facilitates container tracking, communication, management of fleets, documentation and so much more. This gives you the power to optimize operations to help prevent demurrage and detention. On xChange, we have an API-integrated interface that can manage your fleet of containers, automate your data collection process, and give you more control over your shipment by providing real-time information. Read more about it here.

Lease SOC containers

Using shipper-owned containers (SOCs) instead of COCs helps you avoid demurrage & detention charges. Just as the name suggests, SOCs are owned by shippers. So, when you lease containers from shippers, you’re under no obligation to pay demurrage and detention charges to carriers.

You simply use SOCs for one-way use and return them to your partner’s depot at the port of destination. Most of the time, you don’t even have to pay any per diem charges on top of the pick-up charges. This is because most container owners aren’t only interested in a quick turnaround. They want you to just reposition their equipment. In that way, they can keep a good balance and charge almost no per-diem fees. It’s a win-win!

The good news for you is that you now know where you can lease SOC containers from container owners directly: Container xChange.

Lease SOCs on xChange to avoid expensive demurrage and detention charges

You already know the benefits you’ll get with SOCs when it comes to D&D but did you also know that after you’ve moved your SOC on a one-way trip, you can sell the container again on our platform at a good price and help in repositioning them too?

Also, by using a SOC container, you can save a lot of money on demurrage and detention, as your daily rental fees do not depend on the duration of the rental. They stay the same price per day. The benefits just keep getting better!

So, find your SOC container from our 100,000+ containers in 2,500+ locations worldwide. Source them from reliable and vetted 1,700+ partners directly at negotiable prices that suit you. You’ll see all the prices up front, thanks to our market price transparency. Following this, you can compare prices and pick deals. You won’t get these competitive rates anywhere outside our platform, so make the best of it.

And speaking of payments, by delivering you a single, combined bill, our payment handling feature secures and streamlines your transactions. Additionally, when it comes to tracking, you can receive updates on the estimated time of arrivalWhat is estimated time of arrival?  Estimated time of arrival, commonly known as ETA, is a frequently used term globally to denote the time of coming. In the shipping & logistics industry, it is ... More, misuse warnings, and track your boxes in near real-time.

We’ve got you covered from all angles, haven’t we? It’s time you make your move now. Join our platform by clicking the banner below to lease your SOC so you can do away with D&D charges for good!

Demurrage and detention: Common FAQs