Maersk Reduces Mexico Destination Terminal Handling Charge to $120 Per Container

## Maersk Reduces Mexico Destination Terminal Handling Charge to $120 Per Container A.P. Moller-Maersk has announced a reduction in its Destination Terminal Handling Charge (DTHC) applicable to cargo destined for Mexico, lowering the rate from $140 to $120 per container across all sizes and equipment types, according to Port Technology International. The revised charge will take effect from **15 August 2026** and applies to cargo originating from all locations, with the exception of Korea. ### What This Means for Shippers Terminal handling charges represent a significant component of the total landed cost for importers, covering the operational expenses associated with moving, storing, and processing containers within a port terminal. A $20 reduction per container — representing a roughly 14% decrease — could offer meaningful savings for high-volume shippers routing cargo through Mexican ports. Mexico has emerged as an increasingly important trade corridor in recent years, driven in part by the nearshoring trend as manufacturers and retailers seek to diversify supply chains closer to the United States market. The country's port infrastructure, including key gateways such as Manzanillo, Veracruz, and Lázaro Cárdenas, has seen growing throughput volumes as a result. ### Competitive Context The move by Maersk, the world's second-largest container shipping line by capacity, may reflect competitive pressure on trade lanes serving Mexico, as carriers vie for market share on routes that have attracted increased shipper interest. Rate adjustments to ancillary charges such as DTHCs are a common lever used by carriers to improve the attractiveness of their service offerings without altering base freight rates. Shippers and freight forwarders with cargo moving to Mexico should review their existing contracts and rate agreements with Maersk to assess the impact of the revised charge ahead of the August implementation date. The Korea origin exclusion should be noted by those managing trans-Pacific flows through Korean export hubs. *Source: Port Technology International*