Why your freight quote is never the whole cost
Ask three forwarders for a rate to Jebel Ali and you'll get three numbers that look comparable and aren't. One quotes ocean freight only. One includes terminal handling. One includes handling but not the customs clearance you'll be invoiced for separately. The gap between the headline rate and the money that actually leaves your account is routinely 40–60% on a Gulf shipment, and higher on short-sea lanes where the local charges dwarf the freight.
This tool shows every line so you can compare quotes properly. When a forwarder gives you a number, ask which of these lines it covers.
The lines that catch exporters out
- Terminal handling (THC) — charged at the load port per container, and it is not in the ocean freight. On a short Gulf lane it can be a third of the total.
- VGM, seal and port miscellaneous — small individually, and always there.
- Commodity-specific certification — fumigation and phytosanitary for coir, timber and agricultural cargo; EIC and MPEDA inspection for marine products. Not optional, and rarely quoted upfront.
- Inland haulage — the number that decides whether Cochin or Vizhinjam is cheaper for you, and the one most quotes exclude entirely.
- Marine insurance — only yours under CIF, but a real cost when it is.
Which incoterm should you quote?
The incoterm decides where your responsibility ends and the buyer's begins — and therefore which of the lines above are yours to pay.
- EXW — buyer collects from your factory. Cheapest for you, hardest for a first-time overseas buyer to accept.
- FCA — you get the goods to the carrier, cleared for export. Increasingly preferred over FOB for containerised cargo.
- FOB — you cover everything up to loading on board. Still the most common term on Indian export contracts.
- CFR — FOB plus ocean freight. You control carrier choice, which is often worth more than it costs.
- CIF — CFR plus marine insurance. Often required by buyers opening a letter of credit.
DAP and DDP go further, adding destination handling, import duty and delivery. Those need a country-specific quote — ask us and we'll price them.
Frequently asked
How accurate are these numbers?
Local charges — THC, customs clearance, documentation, VGM — are stable and these figures should be close. Ocean freight is volatile and moves with capacity, season and fuel, which is why it is shown as a band rather than a figure. Treat the total as a planning number good enough to budget with and to sanity-check a quote against, not as a rate you can book at.
Why is there a range instead of one number?
Because an honest estimate has one. Ocean freight on the same lane in the same week can vary 30% between carriers depending on contract volume, equipment availability and how badly they want the box. Anyone quoting you a single precise figure without knowing your carrier and your volume is guessing and hiding it.
Does shipping from Vizhinjam actually save money?
It depends almost entirely on where you are. Direct mainline sailings from Vizhinjam avoid a transshipment relay, which helps on long-haul lanes to Europe and the Americas. But if you are in Ernakulam or further north, the extra 200-plus kilometres of road haulage can wipe that out. Run the comparison above with "Compare both" selected and the difference is shown explicitly.
Do these rates include GST?
No. Export freight and most associated services are zero-rated or exempt for exporters registered under GST, but treatment varies by service and by whether you claim a refund. The figures here are pre-tax. Confirm with your accountant.
What about demurrage and detention?
Not included, because they only arise if a container sits beyond its free days. They can be substantial when they hit. Build a buffer into your planning if your buyer's documentation tends to run late.
Indicative only. Ocean freight, local charges and haulage rates change constantly and vary by carrier, contract, season and negotiated terms. This tool is a planning and comparison aid, not a quotation, and no commercial commitment should rest on it alone. Rates reviewed September 2026, exchange rate as configured on the page. Kerala Ports accepts no liability for decisions made on these figures — confirm with your carrier or with us before booking.
