Korean Used Car Shipping Surcharges: THC, BAF, GRI & Hidden Fees Guide (2026)
Korean used car shipping surcharges are the line items that turn a clean FOB price into a confusing CIF or door-to-port invoice. The five surcharges that always apply to a Korean export shipment in 2026 are Terminal Handling Charge (THC: $90–$180 per vehicle), Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF: $40–$120), ISPS security charge ($8–$15), documentation fee ($35–$80), and wharfage ($12–$25). Everything else — General Rate Increase (GRI), war risk, port congestion, peak season — is conditional. This guide breaks down every surcharge a Korean carrier or freight forwarder can legitimately bill, which ones you should challenge, and what the 2026 amounts look like for Mombasa, Jebel Ali, Lagos, Vladivostok, and Durres.
If you have ever seen "BAF $96" on a quotation and wondered what it actually pays for, this is the article that answers that question. The same Korean used car shipping surcharges taxonomy applies whether you ship one Hyundai Tucson via RoRo or a 40 ft container of Kia Bongo trucks. For background on broader logistics, our complete shipping logistics guide walks through Ro-Ro and container modes end-to-end.
Terminal Handling
Bunker Surcharge
Security Charge
Dock Use Fee
Documentation
Filing 수출신고
of Ocean Freight
Per Vehicle
What Are Shipping Surcharges?
A shipping surcharge is a fee added on top of the base ocean freight rate. Surcharges exist because base freight rates are negotiated months in advance — sometimes a year — and the carrier needs a way to pass through real cost movements (fuel, port labor, security mandates, currency, war risk) without renegotiating the contract.
For Korean used car exports, surcharges typically add 18%–35% on top of the base RoRo or container freight. On a Busan-to-Mombasa RoRo with $1,200 base freight, you should expect $250–$420 in surcharges before duty and clearance. That is normal. What is not normal is paying $700 in surcharges on the same lane — that is where this guide helps.
Korean used car shipping surcharges fall into three buckets:
- Port-side mandatory — billed by the terminal, passed through by the carrier (THC, ISPS, wharfage, doc fee).
- Carrier operating — billed by the shipping line for cost recovery (BAF, LSS, CAF, GRI, peak season).
- Risk and conditional — only apply on specific lanes or under specific conditions (war risk, port congestion, congestion surcharge, low water surcharge).
A trustworthy Korean used car export agent will itemize all three buckets in writing on the proforma invoice. If a quotation shows only "freight: $1,650" with no breakdown, that is a red flag.
Mandatory Port Surcharges
These are charged by the port terminal (not the carrier) for handling a vehicle from gate-in to vessel loading. They are non-negotiable but they are itemized — meaning you can verify them against the published tariff.
| Surcharge | Acronym | Pyeongtaek (RoRo) | Busan (Container) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal Handling Charge | THC | $110–$160/car | $130–$180/car |
| ISPS Security | ISPS | $8–$12/car | $10–$15/car |
| Wharfage Fee | — | $12–$18/car | $18–$25/car |
| Documentation Fee | DOC | $35–$60 | $50–$80 |
| Customs Filing (수출신고) | — | $25–$40 | $25–$40 |
Source: Pyeongtaek Port Authority 2026 tariff; KOBC freight bulletin Q1 2026.
THC (Terminal Handling Charge)
THC is the single largest port surcharge on a Korean used car shipment. It pays for the stevedoring, lashing, and pier-side movement of the vehicle from the holding yard to the vessel. For RoRo, this includes the driver who drives your car up the ramp. For container, it includes the lift-on/lift-off (LoLo) crane move plus consolidation.
2026 typical amounts (per car):
- Pyeongtaek RoRo: $110–$160
- Masan RoRo: $95–$140
- Busan container (FCL portion per car): $130–$180
- Incheon mixed cargo: $120–$170
THC is published by each terminal in Korean Won and converted at the carrier's monthly FX rate. Always ask for the THC source — a legitimate forwarder can quote it from the Korean used car export ports tariff sheet within minutes.
ISPS
The International Ship and Port Facility Security charge funds anti-terrorism measures mandated by IMO since 2004. Korean ports apply it as a fixed per-car fee in the $8–$15 range. It is not optional, but it is also impossible to inflate beyond a couple of dollars — anyone billing you $40 for ISPS is padding the invoice.
Wharfage
Wharfage is the right-to-use fee for the dock itself, billed by the port authority (Pyeongtaek Port Authority, Busan Port Authority, Korea Ports Association). For Korean used cars in 2026, expect $12–$25 per vehicle. Same verification rule as ISPS — the tariff is public.
Documentation Fee
The DOC fee covers Bill of Lading issuance, shipping order processing, and customs filing handoff. It is per-shipment, not per-car — so a 4-car consolidation pays one DOC fee, not four. If you see "DOC fee $60 x 4 = $240" on a 4-car invoice, that is double-billing. SH GLOBAL invoices show one DOC line per Bill of Lading.
Carrier Operating Surcharges
These are billed by the shipping line — Eukor, Hyundai Glovis, Wallenius Wilhelmsen, HMM, K Line, MOL ACE — to recover cost movements between contract renegotiations.
BAF (Bunker Adjustment Factor)
BAF is the fuel surcharge. It is the single biggest variable cost on any 2026 Korean export shipment. Since IMO 2020 (the global switch to 0.5% sulphur fuel oil), bunker prices have ranged from $480 to $720 per metric ton. Carriers publish a BAF formula:
BAF = (current bunker price - reference bunker price) × consumption per voyage ÷ TEU or per car slot
2026 typical BAF on Korean used car lanes:
- Korea → Jebel Ali UAE: $60–$110 per car
- Korea → Mombasa Kenya: $80–$130
- Korea → Lagos Nigeria: $95–$140
- Korea → Durres Albania: $110–$160 (via Suez)
- Korea → Vladivostok Russia: $40–$70
BAF is legitimate but must be published quarterly by the carrier. A carrier that won't tell you their BAF reference price is hiding markup. Eukor publishes BAF on its booking portal; Hyundai Glovis circulates it monthly to KIFFA forwarders. For the booking process behind these numbers, see our freight forwarder guide.
LSS (Low Sulphur Surcharge)
LSS is the residual surcharge from the IMO 2020 transition. Some carriers have absorbed it into BAF; others still charge it separately. In 2026, LSS on Korean lanes ranges $15–$45 per car. If you see both BAF and LSS on the same invoice and the BAF reference price is 2026-current, that is double-charging fuel.
EBS (Emergency Bunker Surcharge)
EBS is a temporary fuel surcharge triggered by sudden bunker spikes — for example, the Strait of Hormuz tension period in early 2026 saw a $30–$50 EBS on Middle East lanes for six weeks. EBS should have a published start and end date. An open-ended EBS is a red flag.
CAF (Currency Adjustment Factor)
CAF compensates the carrier for FX volatility between the USD billing currency and the KRW operating currency. On Korean lanes, CAF is small — typically $5–$20 per car or expressed as 2%–4% of base freight. Many carriers have dropped CAF in favor of monthly tariff updates; if you see CAF on a 2026 invoice, ask which base rate it references.
GRI (General Rate Increase)
GRI is the announced base-freight increase that takes effect on a specific date — typically the 1st of the month. Carriers announce GRIs 30 days in advance. A 2026 example: WWL announced a $150 GRI on Korea-WAF (West Africa) effective March 1, 2026.
GRI is legitimate but its application date matters. If your booking was confirmed February 20 with sailing February 28, you should pay the pre-GRI rate, not the post-GRI rate. This is a common point of dispute on Korean used car export quotations. Save the booking confirmation.
Peak Season Surcharge (PSS)
PSS is applied in high-demand windows — typically late May through August on Africa lanes (pre-monsoon stocking) and October–December on Central Asia lanes (pre-winter). 2026 PSS ranges $40–$120 per car. PSS must have published start and end dates.
2026 Surcharge Breakdown: Busan to Mombasa
Source: SH GLOBAL March 2026 actual quotation, Hyundai Tucson NX4, RoRo Pyeongtaek-Mombasa via Eukor. Surcharges total $326 = 27% of base freight — within the expected 18-35% band.
Risk and Conditional Surcharges
These only apply when specific conditions are triggered. Always ask whether each one is currently in effect on your lane.
War Risk Surcharge (WRS)
WRS is applied when a lane crosses a Joint War Committee (JWC) listed area. For Korean used car shipments in 2026:
- Red Sea / Bab-el-Mandeb: WRS active. Korea-East Africa via Suez = $20–$45/car. Lanes routed around the Cape of Good Hope skip this surcharge but add 8–14 days transit.
- Black Sea / Sea of Azov: WRS active. Korea-Georgia (Poti/Batumi) = $30–$60/car since 2022.
- Strait of Hormuz: Periodic. Korea-UAE/Saudi/Oman gets $15–$35/car when active.
- Gulf of Aden: Active. Korea-Kenya/Tanzania = $20–$40/car.
WRS is set by the carrier's marine insurer (Lloyd's market quote) and is non-negotiable. But it should be a separate, dated line item — never bundled into "miscellaneous" or "handling".
Port Congestion Surcharge
Triggered when a port has a published berth wait time above a threshold. In 2026, Lagos Tin Can Island and Jebel Ali have shown periodic congestion surcharges of $40–$80/car. Mombasa rarely triggers congestion in 2026 thanks to the SGR-fed yard expansion.
Low Water Surcharge / Suez Toll Adjustment
The Suez Canal Authority adjusts transit tolls annually. The 2026 toll increase added $8–$18/car to Korea-Europe and Korea-East Africa lanes via Suez.
Heavy Lift / Out-of-Gauge
Applies to commercial vehicles that exceed standard RoRo deck height (e.g., Hyundai Mighty cab-chassis with high cab, Kia Bongo with elevated body). Surcharge: $80–$200/unit. Verify against published carrier gauge limits.
RoRo vs Container Surcharge Comparison
The surcharge mix shifts depending on shipping mode. RoRo surcharges are more port-driven; container surcharges include more carrier-line items.
| Surcharge | RoRo | Container (FCL 40ft) |
|---|---|---|
| THC | $110–$160 per car | $400–$650 per 40 ft (split 4 cars) |
| BAF | $60–$140 per car | $180–$300 per 40 ft |
| ISPS | $8–$12 per car | $25–$40 per container |
| LSS | $15–$45 per car | $40–$90 per 40 ft |
| Lashing/securing | Included in THC | Separate $60–$120 per 40 ft |
| Container imbalance (ICS) | N/A | $50–$150 per 40 ft |
| Inland CY drop fee | N/A | $80–$180 per 40 ft |
The cost difference comes from container imbalance — when more boxes leave Korea full than return, the carrier pays to reposition empties and bills it back. Korean used car RoRo via Hyundai Glovis / Eukor avoids this entirely, which is why container costs roughly $200–$400 more per car for the same destination. For most single-car buyers we recommend RoRo shipping; for 3+ Hyundai or Kia units to one consignee, container shipping wins on economics. To compare specific Hyundai units before deciding shipping mode, explore Hyundai inventory.
2026 Surcharge Cheat Sheet by Destination
These are the typical total surcharge per car on top of base freight, for a mid-size sedan / compact SUV via RoRo from Korea in 2026:
| Destination | Base Freight | Total Surcharges | % of Freight | Lane Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jebel Ali, UAE | $850 | $260–$340 | ~30% | Hormuz EBS periodic |
| Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | $980 | $290–$380 | ~31% | Red Sea WRS active |
| Mombasa, Kenya | $1,200 | $300–$420 | ~28% | Gulf of Aden WRS |
| Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | $1,250 | $310–$430 | ~28% | Same WRS as Mombasa |
| Lagos, Nigeria | $1,650 | $400–$580 | ~30% | Congestion variable |
| Tema, Ghana | $1,580 | $380–$540 | ~28% | Lower congestion than Lagos |
| Vladivostok, Russia | $620 | $130–$210 | ~25% | Short transit, no WRS |
| Poti, Georgia | $1,950 | $480–$640 | ~30% | Black Sea WRS |
| Durres, Albania | $2,150 | $540–$720 | ~31% | Suez + Med routing |
| Aktau, Kazakhstan | $1,850 | $450–$610 | ~28% | Multi-leg via Caspian |
These figures are 2026 Q1–Q2 averages from SH GLOBAL's actual shipped consignments. Surcharges should not exceed 35% of base freight on any Korean RoRo lane. If they do, you are looking at either inflated pricing or a carrier passing through a temporary war/congestion event.
How to Spot Inflated Surcharges
Five red flags that mean a forwarder or exporter is padding the surcharge line:
When in doubt, request the carrier's booking confirmation — every legitimate forwarder will share the carrier's tariff line items. SH GLOBAL provides the Eukor or Hyundai Glovis shipping booking document directly to the buyer. This is also part of standard Korean used car export safety due diligence.
How SH GLOBAL Handles Surcharges
Every SH GLOBAL CFR or CIF quotation includes a 9-line surcharge breakdown:
- Base ocean freight (carrier published)
- Port THC (Pyeongtaek or Busan, current month)
- ISPS security
- Wharfage
- DOC + customs filing
- BAF (with carrier reference month)
- LSS (if not absorbed in BAF — usually not double-charged)
- War risk (only if lane is JWC-listed)
- Peak season / GRI (if currently in effect, with dated tariff reference)
We work directly with Eukor, Hyundai Glovis, and Wallenius Wilhelmsen through KIFFA-registered forwarders. The booking confirmation goes to the buyer's email along with the proforma invoice. No surcharge appears on the final commercial invoice that isn't on the proforma — period.
For African market buyers, our detailed Africa export guide breaks down surcharge expectations from Pyeongtaek to Mombasa, Lagos, Dar es Salaam, Tema, and Beira. SH GLOBAL has shipped over 150 Korean used cars to African ports in 2026 alone, giving us actual surcharge data — not estimates. For broader buying context, our how to buy guide walks through the entire process from selection to delivery.
The bottom line on Korean used car shipping surcharges: THC, BAF, ISPS, wharfage, and DOC are mandatory and standardized. GRI, war risk, peak season, and congestion are conditional and dated. Anything outside those nine buckets either has a specific cause or is forwarder markup pretending to be a pass-through. Demand a 9-line breakdown on every quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most port-side surcharges (THC, ISPS, wharfage) are not negotiable because they are pass-through fees published by the Korean port authority. Carrier surcharges (BAF, LSS, GRI) are also generally fixed by the shipping line. What is negotiable is the forwarder's markup on these surcharges. A reputable Korean used car export forwarder marks up about 5%–10% on pass-through charges; predatory ones mark up 30%–50%. The most effective tactic is to compare three quotations side-by-side and look for outliers. SH GLOBAL provides line-item proof of every surcharge against the carrier tariff sheet on request.
Some Incoterms (CIF, CFR) include origin THC in the seller's cost but not destination THC, and vice versa. Korean exports usually quote origin THC only inside the CFR price, leaving destination THC for the consignee at port arrival. This is normal industry practice. Always verify with the forwarder which side is included before signing the proforma invoice. SH GLOBAL CFR quotations explicitly specify "origin THC included, destination THC by consignee", so there is no surprise on arrival at Mombasa, Jebel Ali, Lagos, Vladivostok, or Durres.
BAF (Bunker Adjustment Factor) tracks the price of marine fuel oil and is updated monthly or quarterly by the carrier. LSS (Low Sulphur Surcharge) is the specific residual surcharge from the IMO 2020 0.5% sulphur cap transition. In 2026, most carriers including Eukor, Hyundai Glovis, and Wallenius Wilhelmsen have absorbed LSS into BAF, so seeing only BAF on your Korean used car invoice is the correct treatment. If both BAF and LSS appear at full rate on the same invoice, the BAF reference base year is out of date and you are being double-charged fuel. Ask the carrier for the BAF formula and reference month — the LSS line should be removed.
Sometimes. Korea to East Africa via the Cape of Good Hope (around southern Africa) avoids the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden war risk zones, saving the $20–$45 per car WRS line. The trade-off is transit time increasing from 28 days to 42 days, and the longer voyage adds BAF cost that frequently equals or exceeds the WRS saving. For Vladivostok, Mongolia via Tianjin, and Kazakhstan via Vladivostok rail, there is no marine WRS at all because those lanes are surcharge-light short-sea or rail routes. For Georgia (Poti, Batumi) the Black Sea WRS is unavoidable since 2022.
In 2026, expect total Korean used car shipping surcharges to be 18%–35% of the base ocean freight. As an absolute number, expect $130–$720 per vehicle depending on destination — for example Jebel Ali UAE $260–$340, Mombasa Kenya $300–$420, Lagos Nigeria $400–$580, Vladivostok Russia $130–$210, Durres Albania $540–$720. If your forwarder is quoting more than 40% of base freight in surcharges, something is wrong — request line-item proof or walk away. SH GLOBAL's transparent CFR/CIF import cost breakdown shows surcharges itemized on every quote.
Yes. Container shipping adds container imbalance surcharge (ICS), lashing/securing fee, and CY (container yard) charges that RoRo doesn't have. RoRo adds gate-in/gate-out driver fees that are bundled into THC. Net difference for a single Korean used car: container is $200–$400 more expensive total than RoRo on the same lane. For multi-car shipments to one consignee (3+ vehicles), container becomes cheaper per car because the per-container charges are split. SH GLOBAL recommends RoRo for single-car buyers and 40 ft containers for 3-plus consignments.
GRI (General Rate Increase) is a carrier-announced base freight hike, usually with 30 days advance notice, taking effect on the 1st of a month. If your booking was confirmed before the GRI effective date and the vessel sails on or before that date, you should pay the pre-GRI rate, not the post-GRI rate. Disputes happen when forwarders apply the new rate to confirmed pre-GRI bookings — keep the booking confirmation email and the carrier's published GRI notice as proof. SH GLOBAL honors pre-GRI rates on bookings confirmed before the announcement date.
Get a Fully Itemized CFR / CIF Quote
SH GLOBAL provides a 9-line surcharge breakdown on every quotation — THC, BAF, ISPS, wharfage, DOC, war risk, GRI, all referenced to the carrier tariff. No surprises on the final invoice.
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