THC (Terminal Handling Charge)
The terminal’s fee for handling a container in port — charged at both the port of loading and the port of discharge.
Definition
THC (Terminal Handling Charge) is the terminal fee for handling a container in port: loading onto and discharging from the vessel and moving it around the terminal. It is charged at both the port of loading and the port of destination.
It is often not included in a “bare” freight rate — always check what is included.
How it works in practice
THC is the terminal’s fee for handling the container: transferring it from ship to yard and back, crane operations and moves around the terminal. It is charged twice — at the port of loading (OTHC) and at the port of discharge (DTHC) — and is not included in the ocean freight rate unless the offer says “all-in”.
In Tranzit3 quotations THC is always shown as a separate line: the customer sees the full port-to-port price of the container, not a bare freight rate to which charges are added later.
THC: frequently asked questions
How much is THC?
A fixed rate set by the port or line per container, depending on the container size and terminal. For LCL groupage, terminal costs are shared among shippers in proportion to volume and are included in the rate.
Why is THC not included in the freight rate?
Lines quote freight separately from local charges because those charges are set by ports and change independently of the freight market. When comparing carriers’ offers, look at the sum of “freight + THC + documents”, not just the first line.
Who pays THC at the port of loading?
Under Incoterms: under FOB — the seller; under FCA and EXW — the buyer through their forwarder. It is best to state explicitly in the contract whose cost this is, so as to avoid disputes after shipment.
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