AnalysisCarriers and ports · The index, and the invoice
How much does it cost to ship a 40-foot container internationally, and what the index leaves out
Drewry’s World Container Index assessed a 40-foot container at $4,374 in the reading of 07/23/2026, down 4% on the week. Three qualifications turn that into a planning number. It is a composite across many shippers, volumes and contract positions, and a small shipper sits above it more often than below. It is port-to-port. And on a full container the ocean line is around 70% of the delivered total, so the invoice lands roughly 40% above the freight itself before duty.
What the index is, and what it is not
A composite index averages assessed spot rates across a basket of routes, shippers and volumes. It answers whether the market is rising or falling. It does not answer what you will be quoted, for four reasons: your volume is smaller than the average in the basket, your contract position is probably spot, your lane may not be in the basket, and the assessment is a week old by the time you read it.
Publishers also measure different things. Drewry and Freightos publish spot composites; Xeneta publishes contracted rates alongside spot. Quoting one while implying another is where most of the confusion in this cluster comes from.
From the ocean line to the delivered total
| Line | Published range | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean freight | Lane and week specific | Per container |
| Terminal handling, each end | $138-340 | Per container |
| Customs brokerage entry | $100-250 | Per entry |
| ISF filing | $35-100 | Per shipment |
| Documentation | $50-100 | Per bill |
| Chassis | $50-150 | Per day |
| Merchandise processing fee | 0.3464%, $33.58-$651.50 | Entered value |
| Harbor maintenance fee | 0.125%, no cap | Cargo value |
Duty sits outside all of it and depends on the HTSUS classification, the country of origin and any measures in force. There is no average duty rate, and a calculator supplying one is guessing.
What moves the rate between two quotes on the same lane
- The week. Spot repricing is
weekly; a quote's validity window is part of its price.
- The service scope. Port-to-port against door-to-door is not a price difference, it is a
different product.
- Surcharges named or folded in. BAF, PSS, GRI, ISPS and CAF all ride on the base rate, and an
"all-in" number that does not list them cannot be checked.
- Free time and what follows it. Three to seven days is typical, and published demurrage runs
$75 to $300 per container per day after that.
Where this goes next
Three pages carry the rest of this question: the number behind it, the comparison of whoever would do it, and the check that runs before you pay.
- the arithmetic of the total, duty and federal fees included — the figure behind it
- what the China to USA lists are built on — who does it
- the two-minute check that runs before you pay — check the licence
Two neighbouring pieces sit closer to this one than any of them: What is the cheapest way to ship a container, and the entity, not the brand.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship a 40 foot container internationally?
Drewry assessed its 40-foot composite at $4,374 on 07/23/2026, down 4% on the week. That is port-to-port and averaged across many shippers; the delivered total is roughly 40% higher before duty.
Why is my quote different from the index?
The index averages larger volumes and contract positions across a basket of routes. Small shippers on spot terms sit above it more often than below, and the index excludes destination-side charges.
How often do container rates change?
Spot rates reprice weekly, which is why an index print carries its assessment date. Contract rates move on their own cycle and do not track the index closely.
Is a 40ft container twice the price of a 20ft?
No. A 20-foot box commonly lands at 70-90% of the 40-foot rate because handling, documentation and gate work do not halve with the box.
What is not included in an ocean freight quote?
Typically terminal handling at each end, brokerage, ISF, documentation, chassis, the two federal fees and duty. On a full container those come to around 30% of the delivered total.
Sources
- Drewry World Container Index, $4,374 per 40-foot container, assessed 07/23/2026, down 4%.
- SeaRates measurement of 299 pages ranking for landed cost queries, 07/26/2026 — published ranges for the handling lines.
- Customs and Border Protection — merchandise processing fee 0.3464%, floor $33.58, ceiling $651.50; harbor maintenance fee 0.125%. Checked 07/26/2026.