đź“„ Shipping Charges Explained

Shipping Charges Explained


Quick answer

Shipping charges are the costs involved in moving goods from one point to another.

For international shipments, the total cost is usually not one single charge. It may include origin charges, international freight, destination charges, customs-related charges, delivery charges, documentation charges, storage, demurrage, detention, and other shipment-specific costs.

For South Africa import shipments, customs duties and import VAT may also apply separately from freight and logistics charges.

Service page: Sea freight

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Important note: This article is educational only. It does not provide live rates, duty calculations, VAT calculations, tariff classification advice, or shipment-specific cost advice.

Who this applies to

This page applies mainly to:

  • Commercial Freight
  • importers
  • exporters
  • traders
  • businesses moving goods to or from South Africa

Some concepts may also help international household moving customers, but household goods and personal effects may involve different documentation, customs treatment, destination charges, and route-specific costs.

What this page covers

This page explains:

  • why shipping costs are usually made up of several charge groups
  • the difference between freight charges and customs-related charges
  • common origin, freight, destination, and delivery charges
  • what can cause final charges to differ from an estimate
  • how South Africa-specific customs costs may fit into the wider shipment cost
  • what varies by route, country, cargo type, and service level
  • what this page does not cover

General Principle

A shipping quote is usually built from several parts.

The main cost groups commonly include:

  • origin charges
  • international freight
  • destination charges
  • customs-related charges
  • inland transport or delivery charges
  • special handling charges
  • possible delay-related charges

This is why the cheapest freight rate is not always the cheapest total shipment cost. A low freight line can still become expensive if destination charges, storage, demurrage, detention, inspections, or document issues are not understood early.

Main charge groups

Origin charges

Origin charges are costs that arise before the cargo leaves the origin country.

They may include:

  • collection
  • packing or cargo preparation
  • origin warehouse handling
  • export documentation
  • export customs-related handling
  • terminal handling at origin
  • carrier or agent documentation charges
  • special handling where required

The exact charges depend on the shipment, country, route, carrier, cargo type, and service arrangement.

International freight

International freight is the cost of moving cargo between countries.

This may be:

  • sea freight
  • air freight
  • road freight
  • multimodal freight

The freight charge can depend on:

  • shipment size
  • weight
  • volume
  • container type
  • route
  • carrier availability
  • sailing or flight availability
  • seasonality
  • fuel-related adjustments
  • service level

For sea freight, the cost structure for FCL and LCL shipments can differ.

For air freight, chargeable weight is often important because carriers may charge based on the greater of actual weight or volumetric weight.

Destination charges

Destination charges are costs that arise when cargo reaches the destination country.

They may include:

  • destination terminal handling
  • destination agent charges
  • release fees
  • documentation fees
  • unpacking or warehouse handling
  • delivery order charges
  • port or terminal charges
  • destination customs-related handling
  • storage if cargo is not released or collected in time

Destination charges are often where customers are surprised, especially when they compare only the international freight line and not the total landed or delivered cost.

Demurrage, detention and storage are different

These charges are often discussed together, but they do not mean exactly the same thing.

Demurrage commonly relates to cargo or carrier equipment remaining within the port or terminal environment beyond the applicable free time.

Detention commonly relates to carrier equipment being kept outside the terminal beyond the applicable free time before it is returned.

Storage relates to the physical space occupied by cargo or equipment at a terminal, depot or warehouse.

More than one of these charges can arise during the same shipment delay.

Exact definitions, free-time allowances, charging periods and responsible parties depend on the carrier, terminal, depot, route and service agreement. They should therefore be checked against the specific booking rather than assumed to be universal.


Customs-related charges

Customs-related charges can include administrative, authority, clearing, inspection, duty, VAT, or permit-related costs depending on the shipment.

For South African imports, customs duties and import VAT are separate from the freight forwarder’s transport charges.

Customs costs can be affected by:

  • goods description
  • tariff classification
  • customs value
  • country of origin
  • permits or restrictions
  • inspection outcomes
  • supporting documents
  • whether duties, VAT, or other levies apply

This page does not calculate duties or VAT and does not provide tariff classification guidance.

Inland transport and delivery charges

Inland transport charges are costs for moving cargo before or after the international leg.

They may include:

  • collection from supplier
  • delivery to warehouse
  • delivery from port, depot, airport, or terminal
  • cross-border road movement
  • waiting time
  • special vehicle requirements
  • abnormal access or delivery conditions

Delivery charges can change if the final delivery address, cargo dimensions, access conditions, or required equipment differ from what was quoted.

Special handling charges

Special handling may apply where cargo needs additional care, equipment, or compliance handling.

Examples may include:

  • hazardous goods
  • oversized cargo
  • heavy cargo
  • fragile cargo
  • temperature-sensitive cargo
  • controlled or restricted goods
  • cargo requiring permits
  • cargo needing inspection or special documentation

Special handling should be checked early because it can affect both cost and routing.

Delay-related charges

Some charges arise because cargo is delayed, not because the transport itself is more expensive.

Examples include:

  • storage
  • demurrage
  • detention
  • waiting time
  • additional handling
  • amendment fees
  • inspection-related costs
  • extra delivery attempts
  • rework caused by document issues

These charges are often avoidable or reducible when the document pack, delivery plan, and customs requirements are checked early.

Quote versus final invoice

A quote is usually based on the shipment information available at the time.

The final invoice may differ if:

  • cargo weight or dimensions change
  • the number of packages changes
  • the route changes
  • the carrier changes charges
  • destination charges differ from expectation
  • customs queries or inspections occur
  • storage, demurrage, or detention is incurred
  • duties, VAT, or authority charges apply
  • documents need correction
  • delivery requirements change
  • special handling is required

A good shipping estimate should separate predictable charges from variable or shipment-specific charges where possible.

Common mistakes

Common mistakes include:

  • comparing only the freight rate and not the total shipment cost
  • ignoring destination charges
  • assuming duties and VAT are included in freight charges
  • not checking whether cargo is FCL, LCL, air freight, or road freight
  • giving incorrect weight or dimensions
  • using vague cargo descriptions
  • failing to check permit or restricted-goods requirements early
  • assuming delivery is included when only port-to-port or airport-to-airport freight was quoted
  • not allowing for storage, demurrage, or detention risk
  • assuming household goods and commercial cargo have the same cost structure

What affects cost, time, or risk

Shipping charges can be affected by:

  • mode of transport
  • route
  • origin and destination countries
  • shipment size
  • shipment weight
  • cargo value
  • cargo type
  • packaging
  • container type
  • carrier availability
  • service level
  • collection and delivery addresses
  • customs requirements
  • document accuracy
  • permit requirements
  • inspections or holds
  • storage or delay risk
  • exchange rates
  • third-party charges

The earlier the shipment details are clear, the easier it is to produce a realistic cost estimate.

South Africa Context

For shipments to or from South Africa, it is important to separate logistics charges from customs-related amounts.

Logistics charges may include freight, handling, documentation, collection, delivery, warehousing, and coordination costs.

Customs-related amounts may include duties, import VAT, levies, inspection-related costs, or other authority-related charges where applicable.

A freight forwarder can help coordinate the shipment and explain the cost structure, but duties, VAT, classification, permits, inspections, and release outcomes depend on the specific shipment and the relevant authority process.

Route / Country Variation

Shipping charges vary by route and country.

The same cargo may have different costs depending on:

  • origin country
  • destination country
  • port or airport pair
  • shipping line, airline, or road carrier
  • inland transport distance
  • local handling charges
  • customs process
  • permit requirements
  • inspection risk
  • destination agent charges
  • currency and exchange rates

This is why a quote for one route should not be assumed to apply to another route.

Sterdts Operational Practice

This section describes Sterdts’ operational approach. It is not a statement of law, customs advice, tax advice, or a guarantee of final charges.

Sterdts generally aims to separate major cost groups clearly so that customers can see the difference between freight, origin charges, destination charges, customs-related costs, delivery charges, and possible variable charges.

Where a cost may depend on customs, authority decisions, inspection, final cargo details, third-party charges, or destination handling, Sterdts may present it as estimated, variable, excluded, or subject to confirmation.

The goal is to reduce surprises by making the structure of the cost clearer before the shipment moves.

What this page does not cover

This page does not provide:

  • live freight rates
  • live carrier charges
  • live port or terminal charges
  • customs duty calculations
  • import VAT calculations
  • tariff classification advice
  • legal advice
  • customs advice
  • tax advice
  • guaranteed final shipment costs
  • route-specific charge tables
  • volatile disruption or surcharge updates

Shipment-specific charges should be confirmed through a current quotation and, where relevant, with the relevant authority or qualified professional.

Key takeaway

Shipping charges are easier to understand when they are separated into clear cost groups.

The most useful question is not only “What is the freight rate?” but “What is included, what is excluded, what is estimated, and what could still vary?”

Related topics

Official references used for regulatory context

  • SARS — Customs and Excise
  • SARS — Duties and Taxes
  • SARS — Duties and Taxes for Importers
  • SARS — Tariff
  • SARS — Goods Declaration
  • SARS — Value-Added Tax

Last updated

June 2026

Version

v1.0 — Initial public Knowledge Base version.