Calculation Method for Ocean Freight and Delivery Costs

Marine Card Delivery is a logistics service model that transports goods from the port to an inland destination. It typically involves container transportation, land delivery, and related customs clearance procedures. For cargo owners, understanding how to calculate freight costs is very important because it directly affects overall supply chain cost control and efficiency improvement.

First, we need to clarify the specifics of the card delivery service. Generally speaking, card delivery refers to door-to-door services, i.e., from picking up at the port to final delivery to the customer. This process may include trucking transport from the dock to the warehouse or designated location, warehousing management, customs agency, and other value-added services. When calculating freight costs, in addition to basic ocean freight, these additional fees also need to be considered.

Basic Freight

Basic freight refers to the basic cost paid for transporting goods from the exporting country to the importing country via international routes. This part of the fee mainly depends on the pricing strategy of shipping companies, route distance, market supply and demand conditions, and other factors. In recent years, due to the impact of global economic recovery and post-pandemic demand surge, ocean freight prices have fluctuated significantly worldwide. For example, during 2025, affected by the pandemic, the shortage of containers on many major routes caused freight rates to rise sharply. According to media reports, at that time, the average freight rate for trans-Pacific routes once exceeded $10,000 per FEU Forty-foot Equivalent Unit, setting a historical high. Although the market has eased somewhat now, it is still higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Additional Fees

In addition to basic freight, there are several additional fees that need to be included in total costs

1. BAF Bunker Adjustment Factor This is a fee set up to compensate for increased costs due to fluctuations in oil prices.

2. PSS Port Congestion Surcharge When a port experiences severe congestion, shipping companies may charge this fee.

3. Document Handling Fee Used to cover the cost of preparing and submitting documents.

4. Storage Fee If goods arrive at the destination port but are not picked up promptly, additional storage fees will be incurred.

5. Inland Transportation Fee The cost of road transport required to transfer goods from the port to the final destination.

Specific Calculation Method

Assuming a batch of goods weighing about 20 tons plans to use standard-sized 20-foot dry cargo containers for loading. Based on current market price estimates

Ocean freight is approximately $1,500/FEU;

BAF is $300/FEU;

PSS is $200/FEU;

Document handling fee is $100/FEU;

Inland transportation fee is $600/FEU.

Therefore, the total freight cost for this batch of goods is approximately $2,700/FEU. It should be noted that in actual operations, various rates need to be adjusted according to specific terms, and there may be differences between different shipping companies.

Conclusion

In summary, calculating marine card delivery freight costs is a complex task involving multiple considerations. As a cargo owner, one should thoroughly research market price trends before choosing a service provider and communicate with multiple suppliers to obtain the best quotation. At the same time, attention should be paid to industry dynamics to respond timely to impacts caused by unexpected situations. In short, reasonably planning logistics solutions can not only reduce operating costs but also enhance the flexibility and competitiveness of the entire supply chain.