[Practical Guide to Save] Cargo Length Exceeds Limit in Ocean Shipping? Check These 10 Countries’ Fee Rules!

I. Must-Know Before Saving: 3 Core Understandings

1. “Exceeding the limit” is not an absolute concept: Different countries have different definitions of “over-length” (e.g., the Netherlands charges fees for cargo over 8m, while the U.S. West Coast only charges for cargo over 15m). You must first clarify the destination country’s threshold to avoid unnecessary expenses due to assumptions.
2. Fees depend on more than just length: Some countries impose additional weight requirements (e.g., Australia charges fees if either “length over 8m or weight over 15 tons” is met), Europe mandates environmental fees, and the U.S. has policy-specific surcharges—all of which must be included in cost calculations.
3. Data timeliness: All rules in this article are the latest versions updated after March 2025, including the basic freight benchmark following rate hikes by carriers like Maersk and CMA CGM. After saving, it is recommended to verify the data quarterly (focusing on policy changes in the EU and the U.S.).

II. Quick Check by Region: Core Over-Length Fee Rules for 10 Countries

(I) Asia: Moderate Thresholds, Focus on Cargo Type

1. China (Must-Know for Exports, Unified Standards Across Four Major Ports)

• Over-Length Threshold: 12m for general cargo, 10m for dangerous goods, and 6m for single-containerized cargo.
• Fee Standard:
• 12-15m: 10%-15% of basic freight or \(800-\)1,200 per shipment (whichever is higher; e.g., for \(6,000 basic freight, 15% equals \)900, which is higher than the fixed fee, so the proportional rate applies);
• 15-20m: 20%-30% of basic freight or \(1,500-\)2,500 per shipment;
• Over 20m: Additional \(3,000-\)5,000 for special loading/unloading fees (e.g., 400-ton cranes).
• Tips to Avoid Extra Costs: Cargo of 12.1m can be split into 11.9m to be fully exempted; a 10% heavy-lift fee applies to cargo over 20 tons—do not omit this.

2. Japan (Differentiates Between Construction Materials/Equipment, Significant Seasonal Impact)

• Over-Length Threshold: 12m for construction materials, 10m for equipment, and 6m for containerized cargo.
• Fee Standard:
• Construction materials (12-18m): \(800-\)1,500 per shipment + \(200/meter for the part exceeding 12m (e.g., 14m cargo costs \)1,500 + \(200×2 = \)1,900);
• Equipment (10-15m): \(1,200-\)1,800 per shipment + $250/meter for the part exceeding 10m.
• Tips to Avoid Extra Costs: A 15% winter surcharge applies to shipments from December to February. For example, 18m construction materials shipped in January would cost an extra \(300 on top of the original \)2,000—delay until March if possible.

3. Singapore (Top Choice for Transshipment, Charged by Cargo Space)

• Over-Length Threshold: Based on 40-foot containers, fees apply to cargo over 12.2m.
• Fee Standard:
• 12.2-15m: Occupies 1.2 cargo spaces, charged 20% of basic freight;
• Over 18m: Calculated as “ceiling(cargo spaces) – 1” (e.g., 20m cargo: 20÷12.2≈1.64, rounded up to 2, so 1×basic freight is charged).
• Tips to Avoid Extra Costs: A 10% discount applies to transshipment cargo. Transshipping from China to Europe via Singapore saves 5%-8% compared to direct shipping.

(II) Europe: Low Thresholds, Multiple Surcharges

4. Germany (Represented by Hamburg Port, Coordination Fee is a Major Cost)

• Over-Length Threshold: 10m for general cargo, 13.192m (max length of 40-foot containers) for oversized containers.
• Fee Standard:
• 10-15m: €1,800-€2,000 per shipment + €500 coordination fee (mandatory regardless of cargo size);
• Oversized containers over 3m in excess: €200/meter + 10% of basic freight.
• Tips to Avoid Extra Costs: Split 10.2m cargo into two 9m shipments to save the €500 coordination fee; shipping from May to October is most cost-effective, as a 15% winter surcharge applies from November to February.

5. Netherlands (Strictest in Europe, Fees Apply to Cargo Over 8m)

• Over-Length Threshold: 8m for general cargo, 6m for containerized cargo.
• Fee Standard:
• 8-12m: €500 fixed fee + 15% of basic freight;
• 12-16m: €500 fixed fee + 30% of basic freight;
• Over 16m: Additional €800 dedicated platform fee.
• Tips to Avoid Extra Costs: Compress 16.1m cargo into 15.9m to save the €800 platform fee + 10% of basic freight—equivalent to saving over €1,000.

(III) Americas: East-West Coast Differentiation, Policies Are Key

6. United States (Differentiates Between East/West Coasts, Extra Fees for Chinese Cargo)

• Over-Length Threshold: 15m for the West Coast (LA/LB Ports), 12m for the East Coast (New York Port), and 6m for containerized cargo.
• Fee Standard:
• West Coast (12-15m): Only \(1,800-\)2,200 terminal fee (monopolistic, unavoidable);
• West Coast (15-20m): 25% of basic freight + \(2,200-\)2,500 terminal fee;
• East Coast (12-20m): Additional $1,000/TEU emergency operation fee (more expensive than the West Coast).
• Tips to Avoid Extra Costs: Starting from October, a $50/net ton special fee applies to cargo carried by Chinese carriers—use European carriers for large cargo volumes; for cargo to Chicago/Detroit, transship via Vancouver Port (Canada) to be exempt from the 10% U.S. import surcharge.

7. Brazil (3m Threshold Difference Between Peak/Off-Peak Seasons, Great Cost-Saving Potential)

• Over-Length Threshold: 12m in peak seasons (Jan-Apr, Sep-Dec), 15m in off-peak seasons (May-Aug).
• Fee Standard:
• Peak season (12-18m): 30% of basic freight + 0.5% tariff surcharge based on cargo value (e.g., \(500 extra for \)100,000 cargo);
• Off-peak season (15-18m): 25% of basic freight + 0.3% tariff surcharge based on cargo value.
• Tips to Avoid Extra Costs: 14m cargo would cost \(1,500 + \)500 = $2,000 in peak season but is fully exempt in off-peak season—delay until May if possible.

8. Canada (Transshipment Tool for the U.S., Friendly Thresholds)

• Over-Length Threshold: 15m for general cargo, 6m for containerized cargo.
• Fee Standard:
• 15-20m: 25% of basic freight + \(1,500 terminal fee + \)300 coordination fee;
• Over 20m: Additional $2,000 equipment fee.
• Tips to Avoid Extra Costs: Transshipping to inland U.S. via Vancouver Port saves 15%-20% compared to direct shipping to New York Port. For example, 18m cargo costs \(3,500 for direct shipping but only \)2,800 for transshipment.

(IV) Oceania: Dual Thresholds, Compliance First

9. Australia (Length + Weight, Both Must Be Considered)

• Over-Length Threshold: Fees apply if either “length over 8m or weight over 15 tons” is met.
• Fee Standard:
• Single excess (only length or weight): AUD 800 per shipment + AUD 200/meter (or AUD 50/ton) for the excess part;
• Dual excess (both length and weight): AUD 1,200 per shipment + AUD 200/meter + AUD 50/ton for the excess part.
• Tips to Avoid Extra Costs: Reduce the weight of 15.5-ton cargo to 14.9 tons—even if the length is 7.9m, it will be fully exempted; submit a safety assessment report 5 days in advance (AUD 200 per submission), otherwise, cargo will be denied entry to the port.

10. New Zealand (Differentiates Between North/South Islands, Dedicated Vessel Fees Are Extremely High)

• Over-Length Threshold: 10m for the North Island (Auckland), 12m for the South Island (Christchurch), and 6m for containerized cargo.
• Fee Standard:
• North Island (10-15m): NZD 1,000-NZD 1,500 per shipment + NZD 300 inter-island fee;
• Over 20m: NZD 10,000/day for dedicated vessel rental (equivalent to ~CNY 45,000/day—never exceed this threshold).
• Tips to Avoid Extra Costs: Split 20.1m cargo into 19.9m to save NZD 10,000; transship South Island cargo via Auckland to lower the threshold from 12m to 10m while saving inter-island fees—it’s cost-effective.

III. How to Use This Guide After Saving? 3 Practical Scenarios

1. Quotation Stage: Check Thresholds First, Then Calculate Costs

Example: Quoting 18m equipment to a German customer (basic freight: €8,000):

• Check the table: Germany’s fee for 15-20m cargo is €2,000-€2,500 + €600 coordination fee;
• Add environmental fee (25 tons × €10 = €250) + low-sulfur fuel fee (€50);
• Total over-length fee: €2,500 + €600 + €250 + €50 = €3,400—must be included in the quotation to avoid losses.

2. Pre-Shipment Stage: Check if You Can “Meet the Threshold”

Example: Shipping 14m construction materials to Brazil (peak season):

• Check the table: Peak season threshold is 12m, so fees of \(1,500 + \)500 = $2,000 apply;
• If shipment can be delayed until May (off-peak season), the threshold rises to 15m—14m cargo is fully exempt, saving $2,000.

3. Problem-Solving Stage: Prioritize “Cost-Saving Tips”

Example: Forgetting to submit a declaration 10 days in advance for 12m cargo to the U.S. East Coast:

• Check the table: A \(500/day delay fine applies—3 days of delay would cost an extra \)1,500, more than the over-length fee. Therefore, always submit declarations in advance.

IV. Update Reminder: Focus on These 3 Channels

1. EU Official Website: Check for CBAM environmental fee changes (may rise to €15/ton in 2026);
2. U.S. FMC (Federal Maritime Commission): Monitor U.S. shipping policies toward China and potential increases in special fees;
3. Local Freight Forwarders: Request the latest destination country rate sheets quarterly, compare with the data in this guide, and update your saved version promptly if there are changes.

Save this guide—spend 5 minutes reviewing it before your next shipment, and you can avoid at least 80% of unnecessary over-length fees. It’s much more efficient than asking a freight forwarder at the last minute!