Terminal Handling Charge (THC)
What Is a Terminal Handling Charge?
A Terminal Handling Charge (THC) is the fee for moving a container through a port terminal: lifting it on and off the vessel, moving it around the yard, and stacking it so it is ready for pickup or loading. The ocean carrier collects it on behalf of the terminal and passes it on as a separate line item.
THC is a container-level port charge. It does not include the ocean freight itself, customs duty, import tax, or inland trucking. Storage beyond the terminal’s free time is also separate — that is demurrage (the daily charge for leaving a container at the terminal past its free time), not THC.
Every FCL quote includes THC at one or both ends, so it is worth knowing exactly which end you are paying. The next section breaks down how it is billed.
How THC Is Charged
THC is billed per container, and the rate depends on the container size and the port. As a 2026 market reference, terminal handling typically runs $150–300 for a 20ft container and $250–500 for a 40ft. Ports set their own tariffs, so the same box can cost different amounts at different gateways — a Mexican gateway, for example, may quote $180–260 for a 20ft and $270–380 for a 40ft.
Quotes separate the two ends. Origin THC (OTHC) covers loading at the port of departure, and destination THC (DTHC) covers discharge at arrival. Many headline freight rates already include OTHC, while DTHC is usually billed separately at destination — one reason an attractive base rate can still grow after arrival.
LCL cargo does not pay a per-container THC directly. The shared container’s THC is divided across the shipments inside and usually folded into the per-CBM rate or the destination CFS charge.
When you compare quotes, ask which THC is included: origin, destination, or both. Confirm it in writing per container size, and the line item stays predictable from booking to delivery.
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