Export Lead Times and Demurrage: Avoiding Bad Surprises

Q: Demurrage, detention, free time: what's the difference?

Direct answer: the free time is the grace period (often a few days) during which the container can stay at the port without charge. Demurrage is charged per day when the full container exceeds this free time at the terminal. Detention is charged when the empty container is not returned in time after unloading. The three counters are disti

Q: How long does maritime transit take?

Direct answer: transit time depends on the line and the destination — from a few days for nearby Europe to several weeks for distant markets. Departing from Radès , expect an order of magnitude of about 18 days to Europe depending on the line. Always add the clearance time on arrival to estimate the total time to availability. This transi

Q: What is demurrage and how do you avoid it?

Demurrage is charged per day when the full container stays at the terminal beyond the free time. Its frequent cause: a missing document that blocks clearance. It is avoided by finalising the documentary file before shipment and by anticipating clearance as soon as the B/L is received. See the documentary checklist.

Q: What is the difference between demurrage and detention?

Demurrage concerns the immobilisation of the full container at the terminal beyond the free time. Detention concerns the late return of the empty container after unloading. Both are charged per day and add up if neglected.

Q: What is free time?

Free time is the grace period, often a few days, during which the container can stay at the port without charge after its arrival. Past this deadline, demurrage runs per day. Free time is negotiated beforehand, not once the container is blocked.

Q: Who pays the demurrage, the buyer or the seller?

In practice, it is whoever suffers the delay . Under FOB and CIF, import clearance is the buyer's responsibility, so they generally bear the demurrage on arrival if they are slow. A DAP/DDP incoterm can shift this charge onto the seller. See the incoterms guide.

Export Lead Times and Demurrage: Avoiding Bad Surprises

Article

In brief. Beyond the maritime transit time, two counters can derail an olive oil quote. Demurrage is charged per day when the container stays at the terminal beyond the free time (grace period, often a few days). Detention hits the late return of the empty container. Their number-one cause: a missing document that blocks clearance. They are avoided by finalising the file before shipment. Order of magnitude: expect an indicative transit of about 18 days departing from Radès to Europe.

An impeccable FOB or CIF quote can turn into a money pit on arrival if the container stays blocked at the port. Demurrage and detention are avoidable fees — provided you understand how they are triggered and where to act. Here is the mechanism and the reflexes to avoid suffering them.

Demurrage, detention, free time: what's the difference?

Direct answer: the free time is the grace period (often a few days) during which the container can stay at the port without charge. Demurrage is charged per day when the full container exceeds this free time at the terminal. Detention is charged when the empty container is not returned in time after unloading. The three counters are distinct and add up if neglected.

This is the most common confusion: demurrage and detention do not measure the same thing. One concerns the container immobilised full at the terminal, the other the container returned empty late. The acronyms (B/L, demurrage, detention, free time, etc.) are defined in the glossary.

The table of the three counters

Notion	On what	When it runs	Frequent cause
Free time	Full container at the terminal	Grace period, often a few days	— (granted period)
Demurrage	Full container not picked up	Per day, after the free time	Missing document, blocked clearance
Detention	Empty container not returned	Per day, after unloading	Late return, lack of slot

July 2026 data, indicative, to be confirmed with your freight forwarder and the shipping line. Free time and rates vary according to the line, the port and the contract.

Key point: demurrage = full container that stays; detention = empty container that lingers. In both cases, it is whoever suffers the delay who pays — often the importer on arrival. Anticipating clearance is the best lever.

How long does maritime transit take?

Direct answer: transit time depends on the line and the destination — from a few days for nearby Europe to several weeks for distant markets. Departing from Radès, expect an order of magnitude of about 18 days to Europe depending on the line. Always add the clearance time on arrival to estimate the total time to availability.

This transit is only part of the lead time. The total lead time = pre-carriage + waiting for a slot + maritime transit + clearance + final delivery. It is this complete lead time that matters to plan an order and avoid stockouts. The choice of port weighs here: see the ports and transit guide.

Why a container stays blocked (and how to avoid it)

The number-one cause of demurrage is not maritime, it is documentary. A missing document or one in the wrong format blocks clearance, the container stays at the terminal, the counter runs. The typical blockages:

Missing or incorrect EUR.1: no 0% within the EU quota, clearance suspended.
COA in the wrong format or from a non-IOC-accredited laboratory: quality control blocked.
Phytosanitary or health certificate as a copy, incomplete or expired.
Invoice / packing list inconsistent with the goods.

The defence fits in one sentence: finalise the documentary file before shipment. It is the number-one argument for not suffering demurrage — see the documentary checklist.

Buyer's tip: upon receipt of the bill of lading (B/L), anticipate clearance before the arrival of the vessel. A customs agent notified early prevents the free time from running out while you search for a document.

Who pays the demurrage according to the incoterm

The incoterm does not make demurrage disappear, but it determines who bears the risk and where. Under FOB and CIF, import clearance is always the buyer's responsibility: so it is generally they who suffer the demurrage on arrival if they are slow to retrieve the container. A DAP/DDP-type incoterm shifts more responsibilities onto the seller, but remains reserved for trusted clients. Details in the incoterms guide.

The classic mistake

Costing a delivered cost while forgetting the potential demurrage. A quote that ignores this risk seems competitive… until the first missing document makes the counter run for several days. The other trap: believing that free time is extendable. No — it is contractual, starts as soon as the goods arrive at the terminal and is only negotiated beforehand, not once the container is blocked.

FAQ

What is demurrage and how do you avoid it?

Demurrage is charged per day when the full container stays at the terminal beyond the free time. Its frequent cause: a missing document that blocks clearance. It is avoided by finalising the documentary file before shipment and by anticipating clearance as soon as the B/L is received. See the documentary checklist.

What is the difference between demurrage and detention?

Demurrage concerns the immobilisation of the full container at the terminal beyond the free time. Detention concerns the late return of the empty container after unloading. Both are charged per day and add up if neglected.

What is free time?

Free time is the grace period, often a few days, during which the container can stay at the port without charge after its arrival. Past this deadline, demurrage runs per day. Free time is negotiated beforehand, not once the container is blocked.

How long does transit from Tunisia take?

It depends on the line and the destination: from a few days for nearby Europe to several weeks for distant markets. Departing from Radès, expect an order of magnitude of about 18 days to Europe. Add the clearance time for the total time to availability.

Who pays the demurrage, the buyer or the seller?

In practice, it is whoever suffers the delay. Under FOB and CIF, import clearance is the buyer's responsibility, so they generally bear the demurrage on arrival if they are slow. A DAP/DDP incoterm can shift this charge onto the seller. See the incoterms guide.

How do you factor demurrage into my import budget?

Provision a demurrage risk in your delivered cost, especially on a first import or a market where clearance is slow. The best way to reduce it to zero remains to anticipate the documentary file and clearance. The maritime transport guide details each cost item.

Do you want a quote without bad surprises? Request a free quote: we cost the dated delivered cost, specify the indicative transit by line and list the documents to gather to avoid any blockage. Go deeper with the maritime transport guide, the ports and transit guide and the documentary checklist.

July 2026 data, indicative and to be re-verified before any commitment. Sources: maritime container logistics practices (free time, demurrage, detention), indicative transit departing from Radès, Incoterms 2020.