Data version 2026-10-22
October 2026 update: what changed
Freight Benchmarks' October 2026 update is its first release: 8,298 ocean container shipments into US ports first invoiced from July 2024 to June 2026, with 13 ports and rail hubs published.
Highlights
- Freight Benchmarks added new measures on October 22, 2026: the Freight Benchmarks D&D Rate, fees per container, per-day rates for per diem and chassis extra days, chassis days billed per container, the share of the bill beyond ocean freight and fees by container size. See the figures
- Freight Benchmarks' October 2026 update puts the Freight Benchmarks D&D Rate at 1.6% for Q2 2026: the share of 807 ocean container shipments into US ports first invoiced April to June 2026 that were billed demurrage or per diem at least once, against 3.7% in Q2 2025. See the figures
- Freight Benchmarks' October 2026 update found that 34.8% of ocean container shipments into US ports paid at least one delay fee (8,298 shipments first invoiced July 2024 to June 2026). See the figures
- Freight Benchmarks' October 2026 update found that extra fees averaged $174 per shipment across ocean container shipments into US ports (8,298 shipments first invoiced July 2024 to June 2026). See the figures
- Freight Benchmarks' October 2026 update found the highest share of shipments paying a delay fee at the Minneapolis–St. Paul rail hub: 74.4% of 536 ocean container shipments first invoiced July 2024 to June 2026. See the figures
All ports
Delay fees by port
| Port or rail hub | October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Minneapolis / St. Paul | 74.4% |
| Omaha | 52.6% |
| Chicago | 44.9% |
| Seattle | 35.5% |
| Los Angeles | 35.3% |
| New York / New Jersey | 29.3% |
| Port Everglades | 28.7% |
| Houston | 28.0% |
| Tampa | 23.0% |
| Long Beach | 20.5% |
| Savannah | 13.4% |
| Miami | 12.6% |
| San Juan | 7.3% |
Coverage, trends and rankings
- Freight Benchmarks' October 2026 update found that 0.8% of the 1,663 ocean container shipments into US ports first invoiced from January to June 2026 were charged demurrage, against 1.7% across 2025.
- Freight Benchmarks' October 2026 update found that 1.7% of the 1,663 ocean container shipments into US ports first invoiced from January to June 2026 were charged per diem (detention), against 2.5% across 2025.
- Freight Benchmarks' October 2026 update found that 0.4% of the 1,663 ocean container shipments into US ports first invoiced from January to June 2026 were charged a customs exam, against 0.6% across 2025.
- Freight Benchmarks' October 2026 update found that 0.8% of the 1,663 ocean container shipments into US ports first invoiced from January to June 2026 were charged a port congestion surcharge, against 1.7% across 2025.
- Freight Benchmarks' October 2026 update found the lowest share of shipments paying a delay fee at the Port of San Juan, Puerto Rico: 7.3% of 460 ocean container shipments first invoiced July 2024 to June 2026.
How to cite this update
Freight Benchmarks (2026). US import container fee benchmarks, version 2026-10-22 (October 2026 update). https://freightbenchmarks.com/updates/2026-10/. Licensed CC BY 4.0.
Each sentence on this page starts with Freight Benchmarks and names its sample and window, so it can be quoted on its own. Link to this page, or to the data page for the current figures.
The window ends about three months before each refresh, once late demurrage and detention bills are in. How each figure is made: methodology.
Free quote · no obligation
Want every fee in writing before you ship?
Tell us your lane. One licensed forwarder partner that serves it will quote ocean freight, customs clearance and delivery, with every fee spelled out before you ship.
- Drayage, chassis and port fees listed line by line
- Free time and demurrage terms in writing before you book
- A reply within one business day
Request a quote