Pricing & Surcharges
THC (Terminal Handling Charge)
Fees charged by the port or terminal for loading, unloading, and handling containers or cargo. Applied at origin and/or destination and often listed separately from ocean freight.
In depth
Terminal handling charges cover lift-on/lift-off, staging, and terminal admin at ports. Origin THC (OTHC) and destination THC (DTHC) may be prepaid by seller or collected at destination per Incoterm. LCL has CFS handling charges analogous to THC.
Key points
- Usually quoted per container for FCL; per CBM for LCL at CFS
- Clarify all-in freight vs THC separate line items
- Heavy or oversize cargo may incur additional handling fees
- Port strikes or congestion can add peak-season surcharges