ELTOSAI Logistics Guide
Demurrage: Definition, Free Time and How to Avoid It in Mexico
Updated October 2026 · By the ELTOSAI brokerage team
Demurrage is the charge levied when a container stays at the port or terminal beyond the agreed free time. It compensates the carrier or terminal for equipment tied up inside the port, and it accrues daily until the container is picked up.
Free time and rates
Carriers typically grant 3 to 5 days of free time at Mexican ports (it varies by carrier, contract and port). After that, demurrage accrues per container per day, often on an escalating scale: the daily rate rises the longer the box sits. A container stuck two weeks can accumulate demurrage well into four figures.
Demurrage is distinct from detention (see below), which covers the container outside the port, and from terminal storage, which is the port's own warehousing charge. A delayed container can attract all three at once.
Avoiding demurrage at Mexican ports
Almost all demurrage is a documentation problem, not a port problem. The playbook: pre-file the pedimento before the vessel arrives, confirm trucking before discharge, and make sure your broker has daily presence at the port. At Manzanillo, where free time is short and volumes are high, this discipline is the difference between 1-day clearance and a $2,000 surprise.
- Typical free time: 3 to 5 days, varies by carrier and contract
- Daily charges escalate the longer the container sits
- Demurrage (inside port) vs detention (outside port) vs storage (terminal)
- Pre-filed pedimento + pre-booked trucking = near-zero demurrage
Frequently asked questions
What is demurrage in shipping?
Charges for keeping a carrier's container inside the port or terminal beyond the free time. They accrue daily, usually on an escalating scale.
What is the difference between demurrage and detention?
Demurrage applies while the container sits inside the port/terminal; detention applies once it is out of the port but not returned empty on time. Both punish slow turnarounds.
How can I avoid demurrage charges in Mexico?
Pre-file customs documents before arrival, confirm trucking before discharge, and use a broker with daily presence at your port. Most demurrage comes from paperwork delays, not port congestion.
Related shipping routes
Mexican gateways
Mexico customs guides
Logistics glossary
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