Maersk revises terminal charges at 15 Brazilian ports, from BRL 740 to BRL 2,188
The new OHC and DHC tariff applies from November 1. In Santos, the dry container charge rises from BRL 1,455 to BRL 1,498.
In 30 seconds
- On October 1, Maersk published a new OHC and DHC tariff, the handling charges at the origin and destination terminal, for 15 Brazilian ports. It applies from November 1.
- A dry container costs from BRL 740 in Itaguaí to BRL 2,188 in Suape. At each port, the same amount applies to loading and discharge.
- In Santos, the dry rate rises about 3% compared with Maersk's previous advisory, from October 2025.
The news
Maersk will charge new Origin Handling Charge (OHC) and Destination Handling Charge (DHC) rates at 15 Brazilian ports from November 1, 2026. These are the charges the carrier passes on for moving the container inside the terminal at loading and discharge. The advisory was posted on the company's website on October 1 and applies until further notice.
Rates are in Brazilian reais, per container, and the same for origin and destination at each port. The tariff splits five cargo types (dry, reefer, special, dangerous and dangerous reefer) but does not distinguish between 20-foot and 40-foot containers.
Maersk attributes the revision to higher port-related and operational costs. The advisory does not state the rates being replaced. In the equivalent notice of October 2025, the company used Santos as an example: BRL 1,455 for a dry container and BRL 1,505 for a 40-foot reefer. In the new tariff, Santos stands at BRL 1,498 and BRL 1,549, an increase of about 3% in both cases.
Why it matters
The gap between ports matters more than the increase. Suape charges almost three times as much as Itaguaí for the same dry container. Even neighbouring ports are far apart: Navegantes and Itajaí, on opposite banks of the Itajaí-Açu river mouth, differ by BRL 265 per dry container (BRL 1,076 against BRL 811).
For high-volume shippers, this feeds into port choice. At 100 dry containers a month, shipping through Itajaí instead of Navegantes saves BRL 26,500 on this charge alone. Trucking, storage and transit time can reverse that sum, so it is a starting point, not the decision.
Whether a shipment pays the old or new rate depends on the Price Calculation Date (PCD). For non-spot bookings, it is the scheduled departure of the first sea leg recorded at booking confirmation. On US trades, regulated by the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), it is the gate-in date of the last container. For spot bookings, it is the booking confirmation date or the first vessel's estimated departure stated in it.
What to do
- 1Check how much DHC was billed at your port on your latest local charges invoice and compare it with the new tariff.
- 2For cargo already shipped that arrives after November 1, ask Maersk in writing which rate will apply.
- 3Update the landed-cost estimate for upcoming orders shipped with Maersk.
What we know — and what we don't
- Maersk advisory published on 01/10/2026, effective from 01/11/2026
- New OHC and DHC tariff for 15 Brazilian ports, in reais per container
- Same rate for origin and destination at each port
- Dry container from BRL 740 (Itaguaí) to BRL 2,188 (Suape)
- Stated reason: higher port-related and operational costs
- Santos: dry from BRL 1,455 in the October 2025 advisory to BRL 1,498
- Previous rates at the other 14 ports, which the advisory does not state
- Whether Maersk adjusted any rate between October 2025 and this advisory
- Which rate applies if the discharge port changes after booking
- Whether other carriers will revise charges at the same ports
Full tariff, from cheapest to most expensive port
Rates in BRL per container, the same for loading (OHC) and discharge (DHC).
| Port | Dry | Reefer | Special | Dangerous | Dangerous reefer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Itaguaí (Sepetiba) | 740 | 950 | 950 | 950 | 950 |
| Rio de Janeiro | 755 | 935 | 895 | 895 | 950 |
| Itajaí | 811 | 931 | 1,125 | 1,125 | 1,250 |
| Itapoá | 840 | 1,025 | 1,100 | 1,100 | 1,350 |
| Manaus | 997 | 1,254 | 1,256 | 1,256 | 1,256 |
| Vila do Conde | 1,008 | 1,243 | 1,670 | 1,670 | 1,880 |
| Navegantes | 1,076 | 1,210 | 1,300 | 1,300 | 1,475 |
| Pecém | 1,140 | 1,388 | 1,520 | 1,520 | 1,520 |
| Rio Grande | 1,248 | 1,323 | 1,600 | 1,600 | 1,650 |
| Paranaguá | 1,310 | 1,440 | 1,905 | 1,905 | 1,905 |
| Salvador | 1,427 | 1,695 | 2,300 | 2,300 | 2,430 |
| Santos | 1,498 | 1,549 | 1,498 | 1,610 | 1,610 |
| Imbituba | 1,550 | 1,840 | 1,550 | 2,247 | 2,247 |
| Vitória | 1,652 | 1,950 | 1,880 | 1,880 | 1,950 |
| Suape | 2,188 | 2,235 | 2,337 | 2,337 | 2,337 |
Source: Maersk, advisory of 01/10/2026. Sorted by dry container rate by Comex Today.
Sources
- Maersk — OHC/DHC Terminal Handling Charges Brazil (aviso de 01/10/2026) — published 10/01/2026 · accessed 10/18/2026
- Maersk — Terminal Handling Service Origin/Destination, Latin America (aviso de 02/10/2025) — published 10/02/2025 · accessed 10/18/2026
- Container News — Maersk revises terminal handling charges in Brazil — published 10/05/2026 · accessed 10/18/2026
- Tradlinx — Maersk November 2026 charges: Brazil OHC/DHC · accessed 10/18/2026