GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026

Congestion Surcharge

To recover costs from port or terminal bottlenecks, carriers and freight forwarders apply a congestion surcharge on top of the base freight rate.

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Last updated: 26 June 2026Published: 27 January 2026

Source: https://www.freightos.com/glossary/congestion-surcharge/

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Logistics Concept

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Definition & Explanation

To recover costs from port or terminal bottlenecks, carriers and freight forwarders apply a congestion surcharge on top of the base freight rate. The charge is triggered when infrastructure—such as a busy container terminal or an inland hub—reaches operational capacity, causing delays, extended dwell times, or degraded service levels. Unlike peak season surcharges, which follow predictable calendar cycles, congestion surcharges respond to acute disruptions such as labour strikes, weather events, or sudden cargo volume spikes. They are usually announced with short notice and remain in effect until the bottleneck eases. Shippers should check whether congestion surcharges are itemised separately in freight quotations, as they can vary significantly by trade lane and port.

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