Demurrage and Detention: The Storage Charges That Catch Stocklot Buyers
The direct answer: demurrage is charged when a container sits at the port or terminal longer than the free time allowed, and detention is charged when it sits outside the terminal at your depot or warehouse after it has been released. Both accrue daily, both are payable before you get the goods, and between them they are the most common surprise cost in a garment stocklot import.
Part of the buyer journey: Pay, Ship and Clear Customs Without Surprises — stage 3 of 8, with the other guides for this stage.
Which charge you are looking at
Demurrage starts the moment the container is discharged and covers storage while it is still in the terminal, waiting on customs clearance or on paperwork. Free time is short, commonly measured in days from discharge, and it applies to the whole box whether or not your goods are the reason it is waiting.
Detention applies once the container has been released and moved out, and covers the days it sits at your depot before you have unloaded it. It is a capacity charge on the container owner, which is why hauliers push hard to move boxes out of the terminal even when there is nowhere for them to go.
Why clearance takes longer than you expect
The most common causes are documentary mismatches rather than the goods themselves: an invoice that does not match the purchase order, a packing list whose quantities differ from the bill of lading, an HS classification the customs authority disagrees with, or a certificate the product requires that nobody mentioned.
On apparel specifically, labelling and origin questions generate real holds. A lot with branded labels, a value that looks understated, or country-of-origin statements that do not line up with the manufacturing description will attract attention, and every day of attention is a day of storage.
Keeping a lot moving without paying for storage
Use a customs broker who is appointed before the vessel sails and give them the complete document set in advance, not on arrival. The single most effective thing a first-time importer can do is have the paperwork reviewed by the broker before the container is even loaded, because a mismatch found in Pakistan costs nothing to fix.
Arrange your clearance slot, your haulage and your unloading capacity before the discharge date. A container that cannot be collected because nobody booked a lorry pays detention even though the goods are ready to come out, and that is a purely self-inflicted charge.
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Buyer questions, answered
What is the difference between demurrage and detention?
Demurrage is storage at the port or terminal while the container is waiting to be cleared. Detention is the charge for the container after it has been released and moved out, sitting at your depot or warehouse before you unload it. Both accrue daily after free time expires.
How long is free time before demurrage starts?
Free time is set by the terminal and is typically short, commonly a handful of days from discharge, but it varies by port and container type. Confirm it with your forwarder or broker before the vessel sails so you know the real deadline you are working to.
Can I avoid demurrage if customs delays clearance?
The charges normally remain payable because they attach to the container rather than to the reason for the delay, although a good broker and complete paperwork usually prevent the delay in the first place. The realistic answer is that you avoid it by having documents reviewed and clearance arranged before discharge.