The inclusion of destination terminal handling charges was incorrectly agreed by shipping lines to large northern hemisphere exporters last decade in lieu of discounting their base freight rates which was quickly agreed by all lines to remain competitive.
What is now realised by shipping lines is that a container terminal is a cheap and convenient storage facility for consignees and there need to transfer empty containers to their exporters has not gained a better repositioning turn around but in fact the opposite. Repositioning empty containers is faster and then ultimately cheaper than back loading empties which sit at the port or container yard.
As an exporter and although we pay for ocean freight we are too often asked not to use certain shipping lines by our buyers,even though they are the most competitive because the consignee has a demurrage or other fee dispute with a shipping line at destination. One of these disputes is container damage which is never clear who caused the damage and rarely correct with paper handling which is a soft material to transfer.
Shipping lines have a choice to either go back to actual ocean freight rates and add on charges at despatch for shippers and destination for buyers,or retain a confusing and detrimental costing formula for themselves which only favours the consignee who ultimately has no choice anyway as the importer for their own domestic use.
Shipping from a third country which ends up being exposure to three currencies is not sustainable and the sooner shipping lines realise what they are doing to themselves the better so all parties can work together electronically to minimise costs and not increase them.