# Africa Port Demurrage and Storage Cost Calculator

> Source: https://netray.co/tools/africa-port-demurrage-and-storage-cost-calculator
> Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems.
> Section: Free Tools

## Short answer

Estimate demurrage, detention and storage for containers held at port after free days expire, with two daily rate tiers.

## Category

supply-chain

## Region

Africa

## Audience

- Logistics manager
- Import coordinator
- Plant manager

## Tool

**Kind:** calculator

**Currency:** $

**Inputs:**

#### Containers

**Key:** containers

**Type:** number

**Default:** 4

**Min:** 1

**Step:** 1

**Unit:** x 20ft or 40ft

#### Days from discharge to gate-out

**Key:** days

**Type:** slider

**Default:** 18

**Min:** 0

**Max:** 60

**Step:** 1

**Unit:** days

#### Free days (shipping line demurrage)

**Key:** free_demurrage

**Type:** number

**Default:** 7

**Min:** 0

**Step:** 1

**Unit:** days

#### Length of first rate tier

**Key:** tier1_days

**Type:** number

**Default:** 7

**Min:** 0

**Step:** 1

**Unit:** days

#### Demurrage rate, first tier

**Key:** rate1

**Type:** number

**Default:** 60

**Min:** 0

**Step:** 5

**Unit:** $ per container per day

#### Demurrage rate, second tier

**Key:** rate2

**Type:** number

**Default:** 120

**Min:** 0

**Step:** 5

**Unit:** $ per container per day

#### Free days (port storage)

**Key:** free_storage

**Type:** number

**Default:** 5

**Min:** 0

**Step:** 1

**Unit:** days

#### Port storage rate

**Key:** storage_rate

**Type:** number

**Default:** 25

**Min:** 0

**Step:** 1

**Unit:** $ per container per day

**Outputs:**

#### Days beyond free demurrage period

**Key:** excess

**Expr:** max(days - free_demurrage, 0)

**Format:** integer

#### Days charged at first tier

**Key:** t1

**Expr:** min(excess, tier1_days)

**Format:** integer

#### Days charged at second tier

**Key:** t2

**Expr:** max(excess - tier1_days, 0)

**Format:** integer

#### Demurrage total

**Key:** demurrage

**Expr:** containers * (t1 * rate1 + t2 * rate2)

**Format:** currency

**Primary:** true

#### Port storage total

**Key:** storage

**Expr:** containers * max(days - free_storage, 0) * storage_rate

**Format:** currency

#### Total delay cost

**Key:** total

**Expr:** demurrage + storage

**Format:** currency

**Primary:** true

#### Cost of one more day now

**Key:** per_day

**Expr:** containers * (if(gte(days - free_demurrage, tier1_days), rate2, rate1) + storage_rate)

**Format:** currency

**Chart:**

#### Total delay cost vs days at port

**Type:** line

**X:** days

**From:** 0

**To:** 60

**Steps:** 30

**Series:**

- total

**Disclaimer:** Tariffs differ by shipping line, terminal and country. Enter the rates from your own tariff or the demurrage notice.

## Content

**Intro:** Containers that sit at port beyond free time cost money every day, and the rate usually steps up. This calculator turns the tariff into a running cost so a logistics manager can show the plant what a delayed clearance really costs.

**Sections:**

#### How to use it

**Body:** Enter the number of containers, the days from discharge to gate-out and the free days on your bill of lading and terminal tariff. Add the first and second tier rates and the port storage rate. The result shows the demurrage, the storage and the cost of one more day at the current point.

#### The method

**Body:** Excess days equal total days minus free days. The first tier covers a fixed number of days at the lower rate, and any remaining days run at the higher rate. Storage is calculated separately, with its own free period. Detention for empties returned late can be modelled by running the tool again with the detention tariff.

#### Reading the result

**Body:** The chart is flat during free time, then climbs, then steepens when the second tier starts. That kink shows the day by which you should have escalated a missing document or inspection hold. In the default case, 18 days with 4 containers costs well into five figures, which is often more than the cost of an express clearing fee.

#### Common mistakes

**Body:** Teams count calendar days when the tariff counts working days, or miss that free days for demurrage and storage are different. Check whether the clock starts at discharge or at vessel arrival. In the ERP, log the container events so you can review delays by supplier, forwarder and port.

**Cta:** If you track inbound containers in an ERP, we can build a report that flags shipments approaching the end of free time.

**Faq:**

#### What is the difference between demurrage and detention?

**Answer:** Demurrage is the charge for a container staying inside the terminal beyond free time. Detention is the charge for keeping the carrier's container outside the terminal beyond the agreed period, typically after gate-out.

#### Why do rates step up?

**Answer:** Shipping lines use escalating tariffs to discourage long dwell. The first period is cheaper and later days cost more, so delays become rapidly more expensive. Read the rate table in your line's local tariff.

#### Can free days be negotiated?

**Answer:** Often yes, especially for regular shippers or large volumes. Ask your forwarder to request extended free time at booking, and get the terms in writing, because it is much harder to negotiate once charges are running.

#### Does this include terminal handling?

**Answer:** No. Terminal handling, documentation, scanning and examination fees are separate and vary by port. Add them to your clearing budget alongside this delay cost.

## Search terms

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