Costs and charges
Ocean freight
The main charge for carrying goods by sea from the port of loading to the port of discharge.
In four languages
Ocean freight is the price of the sea leg itself: per container for FCL, or per W/M for LCL. It is only one part of the total cost. A complete quote also lists origin charges, surcharges such as fuel and war risk, destination terminal handling, the delivery order fee, customs clearance and delivery, and states what is excluded, such as duty, VAT, inspections, storage and demurrage. Rates change often with the shipping lines, so quotes carry a validity date. Who pays the ocean freight depends on the Incoterm: the buyer under EXW, FCA and FOB, the seller under CFR, CIF and the D-terms. Example: a Dubai buyer compares two FOB Shenzhen quotes. One shows a lower ocean freight but excludes surcharges and destination charges, so the buyer asks both for a full breakdown before deciding.
Questions
Why does ocean freight change so often?
Shipping lines adjust rates with demand, capacity, fuel costs and route conditions, often weekly. That is why quotes have a short validity.
Does ocean freight include destination charges?
Not usually. Destination terminal handling, delivery order fees and local charges are often billed separately to the consignee, so ask what the quote includes.