By the Waymore Shipping Operations Team | Last updated: October 2026 | 5 min read

Does Ocean Freight Include THC? One Article to Clarify

Usually not at both ends. Most ocean freight quotes include origin THC but exclude destination THC, which lands on the consignee's invoice. Whether each end is covered depends on the quote — so always ask for the itemized breakdown.

What Exactly Is THC?

THC is what the terminal and carrier charge to physically handle your container: crane lifts, terminal labor, and gate movements. It exists at both ends of the journey — once when your container is loaded onto the vessel in China, and once when it's discharged abroad. Because the charge is collected by whoever issues the bill of lading, it can be bundled into freight or billed separately, which is exactly where confusion starts. Carrier tariff pages such as Maersk's surcharge lookup list THC as a distinct local charge, separate from ocean freight.

Who Pays THC Under Each Incoterm?

Incoterms decide the split. Under FOB, your Chinese supplier handles origin charges including origin THC; you, the buyer, pay destination THC and everything after arrival. Under CIF or CFR, the seller pays freight to the destination port including origin THC, but destination THC still belongs to the buyer. Under DDP, one party — often your forwarder — covers both ends. Our shipping terms explained guide covers these splits in plain English.

Example: Where THC Sits in a Real Quote

Illustrative breakdown for a 40HC, Shenzhen to Rotterdam (Q4 2026 levels):

The pattern is consistent: the destination-side items are the ones that surprise importers. For more on this, see our walkthrough of hidden fees in freight quotes.

How to Check Your Quote in 30 Seconds

Ask your forwarder three questions: Is origin THC included? Is destination THC included? Are destination local charges (docs, handling, delivery order) included or billed to my agent? Forwarder bodies like FIATA recommend itemized local-charge lists precisely to prevent arrival-day surprises. A transparent all-in quote answers all three on one page — which is the standard our team uses for every Waymore quote.

If any answer is vague, assume the charge exists and budget for it. Destination THC rarely disappears; it just moves from one line to another. The importers who get burned are not the ones who paid THC — they're the ones who paid it twice, once inside a "free" bundled rate and once on the destination agent's invoice.

THC Works Differently for LCL

If you ship LCL rather than FCL, THC stops being a flat container charge and becomes part of the per-CBM handling fee. Instead of one $145 origin THC for the box, every consignee in the consolidated container pays a slice of it, bundled into the LCL rate alongside CFS (container freight station) charges. The same logic applies at destination — and destination CFS fees for LCL are notoriously variable between ports, sometimes exceeding the origin side by a wide margin. This is why two LCL quotes for the same volume can differ by 30%: one bundles destination handling honestly, the other quotes a low per-CBM rate and lets the destination agent invoice you separately. FCL or LCL, the principle from earlier in this article holds — the label on the fee matters less than whether both ends are visible in your quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does ocean freight include THC?

Rarely at both ends. Most quotes include origin THC at the Chinese port but exclude destination THC, which is billed to the consignee. Whether each end is inside your rate depends entirely on the quote terms, so always ask for an itemized breakdown.

Who pays THC under FOB terms?

Under FOB, the seller in China normally pays origin THC as part of delivering the goods on board, while the buyer pays destination THC plus all charges after arrival. This is why destination-side THC and local fees appear on the buyer's invoice.

How much is THC at Chinese ports?

Origin THC at major Chinese ports typically runs about USD 90–160 per container depending on port, container size and carrier tariff. Destination THC varies far more widely: roughly EUR 200–350 in North Europe, or USD 300–500 at US ports when charged.

How do I avoid surprise THC charges?

Request a full origin and destination local-charge breakdown before booking, not just the ocean freight line. A forwarder quoting all-in prices, like Waymore, shows every THC, documentation and handling fee upfront so nothing appears on arrival.