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In addition to the “pure” freight rate, there are also various miscellaneous charges, such as Local Surcharges, some of which are charged by the shipowner, some are charged by the international shipping port/destination terminal, and some are charged by the shipping agent under his own name.
About Local Surcharges includes the following points
Booking Fee: Generally speaking, RMB290/20′, RMB420/40′ GP/HQ.
Customs declaration fee: RMB100-120/copy (if a shipment has N families, then the total customs declaration fee is 100N, in addition to the name of more than 5, every increase of 5 also need to add money, we pay to the customs broker is so RMB30/+5 name).
THC: RMB370/20′, RMB560/40’GP/40’HQ (paid to the port terminal).
Documentation fee: (Shipping company charge RMB115/BILL).
Operation Fee: RMB150-200 (usually on delivery, but not on prepaid).
AMS: USD25/RMB210 (US, Singapore line).
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Drag card fee (depending on where): another few periods of pickup period is to speak. General 4 period of the box plus RMB100/CONTAINER, into the 4 period 5 period of the terminal, plus RMB200/CONTAINER.
LOCAL CHARGE, literally translated is “local charge”. Generally refers to in addition to international air (sea) freight, in the “other country” generated by other costs. These include: customs clearance fees, inspection and quarantine fees, documentation fees, security fees, storage fees, warehousing fees, door-to-door pickup (delivery) fees and other fees. But the “other country” of customs duties and fees are generally not included.
In the usual use of FOB, CIF terminology, for China’s import and export enterprises, generally does not produceLocal Surcharges, export CIF,Local Surcharges is borne by the consignee of the other country; import FOB,Local Surcharges is borne by the consignor of the other country.
Only goods involved in door-to-door transportation, such as door-to-door, port-to-door, door-to-port goods, will produceLocal Surcharges.
For example: import EXW, factory pickup.Local Surcharges from the other country’s manufacturers to pick up the goods until the goods shipment of this section are to be borne by our importer.
Export DDU or DDP, fees paid to the designated destination. From the goods to the other country’s port, until the consignee to the consignee of theLocal Surcharges occurred between the designated place are to be borne by our exporters.
Several ways of trade between the cost of bearing
Factory delivery price (EXW = Ex Works)
Place of delivery: factory or warehouse in the exporting country.
Transportation: the buyer is responsible for.
Insurance: buyer’s responsibility
Export formalities: buyer’s responsibility.
Import formalities: buyer’s responsibility.
FOB (Free on Board)
Place of delivery: port of shipment; Transportation: buyer’s responsibility; Import formalities: buyer’s responsibility.
Transportation: Buyer’s responsibility; Insurance: Buyer’s responsibility; FOB
Insurance: buyer’s responsibility.
Export formalities: seller’s responsibility.
Import formalities: buyer’s responsibility.
For more information on shipping surcharges, check out this video:
CIF (Cost + Freight + Insurance, CIF=Cost+Insurance+Freight)
Place of Delivery: Port of Shipment;.
Transportation: Seller’s responsibility; Insurance: Seller’s responsibility; CIF (Cost + Freight + Insurance + Freight)
Insurance: Seller’s responsibility.
Export formalities: seller’s responsibility.
Import formalities: seller’s responsibility.
If you want to know more content about CIF,click it:
CIF Clearance Tax Exemption And Credit | Most Complete Formula
Cost plus Freight (CFR=Cost+Freight)
Place of delivery: port of shipment.
Transportation: Seller’s responsibility.
Insurance: buyer’s responsibility.
Export formalities: seller’s responsibility.
Import formalities: buyer’s responsibility.
Common miscellaneous charges include:
- ORC: OriginReceivingCharge
- DDC: DestinationDeliveryCharge
- THC: TerminalHandlingCharge
- BAF: BunkerAdjustedFactor
- CAF: CurrencyAdjustmentFactor
- DOC: Document
- PSS: Peak Season Surcharge
- AMS: AmericaManifestSystem
Shipping from China to the USA
Accounting for local surcharges is an essential part of accurate freight planning. When organizing shipping from China to USA, importers often focus solely on base rates, overlooking miscellaneous fees like Terminal Handling Charges (THC), customs declaration costs, and AMS filings. These local charges significantly alter your final shipping cost calculation. Depending on your chosen trade terms, you might be responsible for various origin or destination fees.
Failure to anticipate these costs can disrupt operations when managing freight from China to USA. If local handling or documentation fees remain unpaid, terminal authorities will not release your cargo. This completely stalls your US customs clearance and unnecessarily extends your transit time, frequently causing expensive daily storage penalties. Understanding these specific surcharges ensures a predictable budget and a smooth delivery process when shipping from China to the USA.
To better understand these fees and optimize your logistics strategy, read our Complete guide to shipping from China to the USA.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are local surcharges, and how do they affect my shipping costs from China?
When shipping from China to the United States, your base freight rate does not cover everything. Local surcharges are extra fees added at the origin or destination port. These include Terminal Handling Charges (THC), customs declaration fees, and documentation costs. You must factor these hidden expenses into your total budget to accurately calculate your overall shipping costs and avoid surprise bills.
Who is responsible for paying local surcharges when importing from China to the US?
The person responsible for paying local surcharges depends entirely on your agreed trade terms (Incoterms). If you buy goods under FOB (Free on Board) terms, your Chinese supplier pays the origin fees, while you cover the destination charges in the United States. However, if you use EXW (Ex Works), you must pay every local surcharge from the Chinese factory all the way to your door.
Can unpaid local surcharges delay my US customs clearance?
Yes, ignoring local surcharges can cause massive delays during your US customs clearance. If you fail to pay terminal handling or documentation fees on time, the port authorities will refuse to release your cargo. Your shipment from China will sit at the American terminal, accumulating expensive daily storage penalties. Always settle these miscellaneous fees quickly to keep your supply chain moving without interruption.