Demurrage and Detention: Avoidable Charges That Cost Buyers
The direct answer: demurrage is charged when a container stays at the port too long, and detention when it stays at the terminal too long after release. Both are charged per day, both are entirely avoidable, and both are among the most common avoidable costs in clothing importing.
Part of the buyer journey: Pay, Ship and Clear Customs Without Surprises — stage 3 of 8, with the other guides for this stage.
The difference matters
Demurrage accrues while the container is with the carrier or terminal. Detention accrues while the container is outside the port with someone who has not returned it. They are separate charges with separate deadlines, and tracking one without the other is how a cheap shipment becomes an expensive one.
Confirm both deadlines when you book, write them down, and set internal reminders well before them.
Why clothing shipments attract them
Because clothing shipments are often small relative to the container they arrived in, which means arranging collection and transport can take longer than for a full container. Combine that with customs documentation delays and the free time runs out.
Another common cause is planning the arrival around a holiday or a closed business day, which seems efficient and generates storage charges for no reason.
Preventing them
Book customs clearance before the goods arrive, so nothing is waiting on paperwork. Arrange transport and storage before arrival. Confirm the exact free-time allowance with the carrier in writing rather than assuming it.
And never let the container sit in your yard “for a few days”. Each idle day is a charge, and the habit of leaving containers on site is the single most common way buyers generate unexpected import costs.
What stocklots are available right now?
Reading is step one. Send your requirement and we will check the factory network for current options.
Buyer questions, answered
What is the difference between demurrage and detention?
Demurrage applies while the container is held at the port or terminal; detention applies after it has been released and is with someone else who has not returned it. They are separate charges with separate free periods.
How much do demurrage charges cost?
They vary by carrier, port and container type, and they are charged per day. Because the amounts are modest per day but accumulate quickly, the cheapest protection is simply not leaving a container idle.
Can these charges be shared or negotiated?
Some carriers offer waivers in specific circumstances, and a good freight forwarder will know which ones apply. The far more reliable approach is planning so they never arise.