As the core logistics method for Sino-US cross-border trade, China to US shipping undertakes the transportation needs of a large volume of goods. However, in practical operations, demurrage and detention fees are the most common additional cost risks encountered by shippers and freight forwarders. Although these two fees seem like "small additional fees", they may accumulate to an amount far exceeding the sea freight due to prolonged delays and even erode the profit from the goods. This article will start with the core definitions of demurrage and detention fees, analyze the key causes of these fees, and provide actionable avoidance methods combined with the latest 2026 industry data and practical experience, helping shippers and freight forwarders reduce costs and avoid risks.

First, Understand the Core Concepts: What is the Difference Between Demurrage and Detention Fees?

Many shippers and novice freight forwarders easily confuse demurrage and detention fees or even equate them, leading to passivity when dealing with fee disputes. Clarifying the definitions and differences between the two is the foundation for avoiding such fees and the premise for subsequent precise responses.

What is Demurrage? What are the Core Trigger Conditions?

Demurrage refers to the delayed storage fee charged by the terminal or shipping company to the shipper or freight forwarder when the shipper or its agent fails to pick up the goods within the free storage period (Free Demurrage) specified by the shipping company or terminal after the goods arrive at the port, resulting in the goods occupying the terminal yard resources. Its core trigger condition is "failure to pick up the container on time after the goods arrive at the port", which is directly related to the duration of the terminal yard occupation.

According to the latest announcement on the official website of the Port of Los Angeles in April 2026, for imported goods from China to US shipping, the free storage period for ordinary dry containers is 4 working days, and only 2 working days for refrigerated containers. After the expiration, fees are charged in a stepped manner: $100 per container per day for the 1st to 3rd days of delay, $200 per container per day for the 4th to 7th days, and $300 per container per day for delays exceeding 7 days. Accumulatively, the maximum demurrage for a container delayed for 90 days can reach $409,500 (equivalent to approximately 2.62 million RMB), which can be called "sky-high fees".

What is Detention Fee? What is the Essential Difference from Demurrage?

Detention fee refers to the delayed use fee charged by the shipping company to the relevant party when the shipper or freight forwarder fails to return the empty container to the designated location within the free container period (Free Detention) specified by the shipping company after picking up the container, resulting in the occupation of the shipping company's container resources. Its core trigger condition is "failure to return the empty container on time", which is related to the duration of the container occupation, not the terminal yard occupation.

Freight forwarders need to note: The collector of demurrage is usually the terminal or shipping company, while the collector of detention fee is only the shipping company; demurrage is related to the container pickup timeliness after the goods arrive at the port, and detention fee is related to the empty container return timeliness after pickup. The trigger scenarios and responsible subjects of the two are completely different, and the avoidance methods also need to be treated differently and cannot be confused.

According to the latest announcement on the adjustment of detention fees for US imports and exports released by Maersk in March 2026, starting from April 1, 2026, the detention fee per container per day for dry containers, non-operational refrigerated containers, and special equipment in all regions of the United States will be increased by $10, the initial detention fee for operational refrigerated containers will be increased by $10, and the charging grades for long-term detention will be extended, further increasing the overdue cost. Freight forwarders need to timely synchronize this adjustment information to shippers.

High Incidence Causes: Why Are Demurrage and Detention Fees Prone to Occur in China to US Shipping?

The high incidence of demurrage and detention fees in China to US shipping is not caused by a single factor but by the combined effect of multiple factors such as port efficiency, customs clearance processes, shipper operations, and freight forwarder services. Clarifying the high incidence causes is the key to formulating targeted avoidance strategies and reducing the occurrence of fees from the source.

Is Port Congestion the Main Inducing Factor? Revealed by the Latest Port Data

Port congestion is the most important cause of high demurrage in China to US shipping. The Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach on the US West Coast, and the Port of New York and Port of Savannah on the US East Coast, as the core calling ports for China to US shipping, have long been faced with problems such as yard saturation, shortage of trailers, and low operational efficiency, leading to the failure to pick up goods in a timely manner after they arrive at the port, thus generating demurrage.

According to the latest data released by the Shanghai Shipping Exchange on April 20, 2026, the freight rate for the China to US West Coast route is $2,412/FEU, and the freight rate for the US East Coast route is $3,428/FEU. Affected by port congestion, the average waiting time for ships arriving at the US West Coast route in recent periods has reached 3.5 days, an increase of 0.3 days compared with the previous month, and the average container pickup timeliness has been delayed by 2-3 working days, directly leading to a 12% year-on-year increase in the incidence of demurrage.

A common misunderstanding is that some shippers believe that port congestion is an act of force majeure, which cannot be avoided, and they can only passively pay demurrage. The recommended approach is: query the congestion index of the destination port in advance through the official websites of the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach, choose ports with lower congestion rates (such as the Port of Oakland on the US West Coast and the Port of Charleston on the US East Coast) for calling, or avoid shipping during peak port operation periods (such as after US holidays and e-commerce promotions) to reduce the storage time of goods at the port.

Why Does Customs Clearance Delay Indirectly Trigger Two Types of Fees?

Customs clearance delay is an important indirect cause of demurrage and detention fees in China to US shipping. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has strict supervision and high requirements for cargo declaration, HS code classification, and document completeness. Improper customs clearance operations will lead to goods being inspected and detained, making it impossible to pick up the container on time, thus generating demurrage; at the same time, after picking up the container, it is impossible to unpack and return the empty container in a timely manner due to incomplete customs clearance, which will further generate detention fees.

According to the latest data from UNCTAD in the second quarter of 2026 (as of mid-April), the average customs clearance time for goods shipped from China to the United States is 1-2 working days, while the average customs clearance time for goods with delayed customs clearance is as long as 7-10 working days. Among them, 65% of customs clearance delays are caused by inconsistent documents and incorrect HS code classification, and the average expenditure on demurrage and detention fees for such goods is $800-1,200 per container.

Freight forwarders need to note: They should assist shippers in checking customs clearance documents in advance to ensure that the information on commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading (B/L), and other documents is consistent, accurately complete the HS code classification, and check for customs clearance risks in advance; at the same time, establish in-depth cooperation with local US customs brokers so that when encountering customs clearance inspections, they can quickly coordinate and handle them to shorten the customs clearance cycle.

What Are the Operational Mistakes of Shippers and Freight Forwarders?

In addition to port and customs clearance factors, operational mistakes of shippers and freight forwarders are also important causes of fees. The common operational mistakes of the two types of subjects need to be clearly distinguished to avoid them in a targeted manner.

On the shipper's side, common mistakes include: failing to confirm container pickup information in a timely manner, failing to prepare the required documents for container pickup in advance (such as delivery orders, customs clearance release orders), failing to unpack and return the empty container in a timely manner after picking up the container, and failing to pay terminal miscellaneous fees and sea freight in a timely manner after the goods arrive at the port; on the freight forwarder's side, common mistakes include: failing to synchronize the goods arrival information to the shipper in a timely manner, failing to remind the shipper of the free storage period and free container period, failing to coordinate container pickup and return matters in a timely manner, and failing to check for potential risks in customs clearance documents in advance.

The recommended approach is: Shippers should be familiar with the container pickup and return process of China to US shipping in advance, prepare all required documents in advance, and respond to the container pickup notice in a timely manner after the goods arrive at the port to avoid fees caused by their own operational delays; freight forwarders should establish a complete cargo tracking mechanism, notify the shipper 24 hours in advance before the goods arrive at the port, clearly inform them of the free storage period, free container period, and overdue charging standards, and assist the shipper in completing the container pickup and return operations throughout the process.

Practical Avoidance Strategies: Reduce Fee Risks from 4 Dimensions

In view of the above high incidence causes of fees, combined with the latest 2026 industry rules and practical experience, shippers and freight forwarders can formulate targeted avoidance strategies from 4 core dimensions: port selection, customs clearance preparation, timeliness control, and contract agreement, to minimize the risks of demurrage and detention fees.

Port Selection: How to Avoid Congested Ports and Shorten Storage Time?

Choosing a suitable destination port is the primary step to avoid demurrage. The destination ports of China to US shipping are divided into two major regions: the US West Coast and the US East Coast. Different ports have significant differences in congestion, operational efficiency, and free storage periods. Shippers and freight forwarders can choose the most cost-effective port according to the goods' timeliness requirements and cost budget.

According to the latest data from the Port of Los Angeles, Port of Long Beach, and Port of Oakland in April 2026, the current container storage saturation rate of the Port of Los Angeles is 78%, that of the Port of Long Beach is 72%, while the storage saturation rate of the Port of Oakland on the US West Coast is only 55%, and its operational efficiency is 30% higher than that of the Port of Los Angeles. The free storage period is also 4 working days, which can effectively shorten the storage time of goods and reduce the risk of demurrage.

Freight forwarders need to note: They should actively recommend suitable destination ports according to the shipper's goods timeliness and cost needs and avoid blindly choosing popular ports such as Los Angeles and New York; at the same time, understand the free storage period and charging standards of the destination port in advance and timely remind the shipper to ensure that the goods are picked up within the free period to avoid overdue.

Customs Clearance Preparation: How to Avoid Customs Clearance Delay and Ensure Container Pickup Timeliness?

The smoothness of customs clearance directly affects the container pickup timeliness, which in turn determines whether demurrage and detention fees are generated. Shippers and freight forwarders should make thorough preparations for customs clearance in advance, standardize customs clearance operations, and avoid fees caused by customs clearance delays.

The recommended approach is: Shippers should provide accurate goods information in advance, including goods name, specification, quantity, value, HS code, etc., to ensure that the document information is true, complete, and consistent, and eliminate false declarations; freight forwarders should assist shippers in checking documents, check for customs clearance risks in advance, and prepare relevant certification documents (such as certificates of origin, inspection and quarantine certificates) in advance for sensitive goods and special goods (such as dangerous goods, food) to avoid customs clearance inspections due to inconsistent documents.

At the same time, choose a professional local US customs broker to improve customs clearance efficiency and shorten the customs clearance cycle; freight forwarders need to understand the latest supervision policies of US Customs in advance and timely synchronize them to shippers to avoid customs clearance delays caused by policy changes.

A common misunderstanding is: Some freight forwarders choose customs brokers with insufficient qualifications to save costs, leading to low customs clearance efficiency and frequent inspection problems; some shippers conceal the true information of goods and try to avoid customs supervision, which ultimately leads to the goods being detained and generates high demurrage, detention fees, and fines, which is not worth the loss.

Timeliness Control: How to Plan Reasonably to Ensure Timely Container Pickup and Return?

Reasonably planning the time for goods transportation, container pickup, and return is the core of avoiding demurrage and detention fees. Shippers and freight forwarders should predict the timeliness of each link in advance and reserve sufficient buffer time to avoid overall timeliness being out of control due to delays in a certain link.

Specific measures include: First, plan the shipping time in advance, avoid holidays and peak port operation periods, and reduce the waiting time for ships to berth after arriving at the port; second, prepare the required documents for container pickup in advance and contact the trailer company before the goods arrive at the port to ensure that the goods can be picked up in a timely manner after arriving at the port and avoid storage overdue; third, after picking up the container, reasonably arrange the unpacking and unloading time to ensure that the empty container is returned to the designated location within the free container period to avoid detention fees.

According to the latest data from the Freightos Baltic Index (FBX) on April 20, 2026, the average transportation timeliness of China to US shipping is 18-25 days, among which the direct flight timeliness to the US West Coast is 12-15 days, and the direct flight timeliness to the US East Coast is 25-30 days. Freight forwarders need to note: They should inform the shipper of the goods arrival time in advance according to the ship's navigation timeliness, urge the shipper to prepare for container pickup and return, and reserve 3-5 working days of buffer time to deal with emergencies (such as temporary port congestion, trailer delays).

Contract Agreement: How to Avoid Fee Disputes Through Clauses?

Clear contract agreements are an important guarantee for avoiding demurrage and detention fee disputes. When signing a cooperation contract, shippers and freight forwarders should clarify the rights and obligations of both parties and the method of bearing fees to avoid being unable to define responsibilities when disputes arise later.

Freight forwarders need to note: When signing a contract with the shipper, they should clearly inform the shipper of the free storage period, free container period, and overdue charging standards, and clarify the responsibilities of both parties in links such as container pickup, return, and customs clearance; when signing a contract with the shipping company and terminal, they should strive for a more relaxed free period, clarify the fee reduction and exemption policies in cases of port congestion and force majeure, and reduce their own fee risks.

The recommended approach is: The contract should clearly stipulate that "demurrage caused by port congestion and force majeure shall be shared through negotiation between both parties", "demurrage and detention fees caused by the freight forwarder's operational mistakes shall be borne by the freight forwarder", and "fees caused by the shipper's operational mistakes shall be borne by the shipper". At the same time, clarify the fee settlement method and objection handling process to avoid subsequent disputes and protect the legitimate rights and interests of both parties.

Emergency Handling: How to Reduce Losses When Demurrage and Detention Fees Have Been Generated?

Even if comprehensive avoidance preparations are made, demurrage and detention fees may still be generated due to emergencies (such as sudden port congestion, sudden customs clearance inspections, bad weather, etc.). At this time, taking timely emergency measures can effectively reduce losses and avoid continuous accumulation of fees.

How to Apply for Fee Reduction or Extension?

When demurrage and detention fees have been generated, shippers and freight forwarders can timely apply to the shipping company and terminal for fee reduction or extension. Especially for fees caused by non-self reasons such as port congestion and force majeure, the success rate of applying for reduction is relatively high.

Freight forwarders need to note: When applying for fee reduction, relevant certification materials should be provided, such as port congestion announcements, customs clearance inspection notices, force majeure certificates, etc., to clearly explain the cause of the fees, which are not caused by their own operational mistakes; at the same time, take the initiative to communicate and negotiate with the shipping company and terminal to strive for partial fee reduction or extension of the payment period to reduce financial pressure.

According to Maersk's latest fee reduction policy in April 2026, demurrage and detention fees caused by port congestion can be reduced by 30%-50%. The application must be submitted within 7 working days after the fees are generated; otherwise, it will not be accepted. Freight forwarders need to timely assist shippers in preparing relevant materials and submitting the application.

How to Quickly Handle Overdue Goods and Terminate Fee Accumulation?

If the goods have been overdue and generated fees, the most critical thing is to quickly handle the goods and terminate the fee accumulation. Shippers should immediately arrange container pickup, unpacking, and unloading, and return the empty container in a timely manner to avoid continuous increase of fees; if the goods cannot be picked up in a timely manner, they can apply to transfer the goods to an off-dock yard to reduce the terminal storage fee (the storage fee of the off-dock yard is usually lower than that of the terminal).

A common misunderstanding is: Some shippers choose to delay container pickup because the fees are too high, leading to continuous accumulation of fees. Finally, the fees far exceed the value of the goods, and they even face the risk of abandoning the goods. The recommended approach is: Even if the fees have been generated, the goods should be picked up in a timely manner to avoid further increase of fees, and at the same time, actively negotiate with the freight forwarder and shipping company for fee reduction to minimize losses.

Conclusion: Core Points for Avoiding Demurrage and Detention Fees in China to US Shipping

Demurrage and detention fees in China to US shipping are not unavoidable additional costs. The core lies in "advance prediction, standardized operation, and active response". Shippers and freight forwarders should clarify the core differences between demurrage and detention fees, master the high incidence causes of fees, formulate avoidance strategies from 4 dimensions of port selection, customs clearance preparation, timeliness control, and contract agreement, and do a good job in emergency handling to minimize the risk of fees.

Freight forwarders need to note: They should improve their professional capabilities, be familiar with the port rules, customs clearance processes, and shipping company fee policies of China to US shipping, take the initiative to provide professional avoidance suggestions for shippers, assist shippers in handling container pickup, return, customs clearance, and other matters throughout the process, and establish an honest cooperative relationship; shippers should cooperate with the operation of freight forwarders, make various preparations in advance, and respond to relevant notices in a timely manner to avoid fees caused by their own operational mistakes.

With the continuous deepening of Sino-US trade, the demand for China to US shipping will continue to grow. Avoiding demurrage and detention fees can not only reduce logistics costs but also improve the efficiency of goods transportation, ensure the smooth development of cross-border trade, and achieve a win-win situation between shippers and freight forwarders.