When shipping goods from China to the U.S. by sea, you may encounter a Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF) alongside other import charges.
Unlike freight costs, HMF is based on the customs value of your goods rather than shipment size. It may also be billed separately from your initial freight quote, making it worth checking before you ship.
Here’s how to work out the cost and avoid surprises when your cargo arrives.
When Does the Harbor Maintenance Fee Apply?
HMF is a U.S. federal fee assessed on qualifying commercial cargo entering designated U.S. ports.
For imports, it generally applies to both full container load (FCL) and less-than-container load (LCL) ocean shipments. Air imports are not subject to HMF.
The importer of record is typically responsible for paying the fee. Although a customs broker may handle the declaration and payment during customs entry, this does not transfer the responsibility from the importer.
How Much Is the HMF Fee?
For qualifying ocean imports, the standard HMF rate is 0.125% of the customs value of the goods.
HMF = Customs value × 0.00125
Suppose you’re importing goods from China with a customs value of $50,000:
$50,000 × 0.00125 = $62.50
Your estimated HMF would be $62.50.
The calculation uses the customs value determined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which may differ from the invoice total. Freight costs and container size do not determine the fee, and the standard import HMF has no general minimum or maximum.
An LCL shipment can therefore incur a higher HMF than an FCL shipment if the LCL cargo has a greater customs value.
HMF vs. MPF: Two Different Import Charges
HMF is often confused with the Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF). Both are U.S. customs-related charges, but they are assessed differently.
| HMF | MPF | |
|---|---|---|
| Applies to | Qualifying ocean imports | Applicable customs entries |
| Calculation | 0.125% of customs value | Depends on entry type and applicable fee rules |
| Air imports | No | May apply |
| Minimum/maximum | No general limits | Limits generally apply to formal entries |
A shipment arriving by sea may incur additional fees, along with applicable customs duties and other import charges. For a broader breakdown of U.S. import costs, see our guide to import taxes from China to the USA.
Is HMF Included in Your Freight Quote?
Not always. An ocean freight quote may include transportation and handling, while HMF, duties, and other customs charges will be billed separately.
This is especially worth checking when comparing quotes from different freight forwarders. A lower quoted freight price does not necessarily mean a lower total import cost.
Before booking, check three things:
- What’s included?Look for HMF under customs charges or government fees.
- What’s excluded?Check whether duties, MPF, destination handling, and customs brokerage are quoted separately.
- Who collects the fee?If your customs broker is separate from your freight forwarder, confirm which party will bill you for HMF.
HMF may appear on the customs entry or a later invoice rather than the original freight quotation. Confirming the billing arrangement in advance helps prevent confusion over what you’ve already paid.
If customs entry is handled separately from the freight booking, confirm which costs are covered by your customs clearance arrangement. This helps avoid confusion when the customs entry or final invoice arrives.
