Two of the most common surprise fees in shipping, and how planning makes them disappear.
Demurrage and detention are the fees that catch exporters off guard. Both come down to one thing: containers sitting longer than the free time allows.
The difference
Demurrage is rent for a container sitting inside the port beyond its free days. Detention is rent for a container kept outside the port, for example at your warehouse during unpacking.
How they add up
Both are charged by the shipping line per container per day, and the rate often climbs the longer the box sits. A few days across several containers becomes a real number fast.
How to avoid them
- Clear customs quickly with documents prepared in advance.
- Unpack and return the container inside the free period.
- Ask for the free-time terms on every quote, which KWT flags upfront.
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