On 15 July 2026, India's Ministry of Shipping issued a new Port Performance and Service Level Code, introducing a time-linked levy structure on cargo dwell and a mandatory port-authority clearance clock. This marks the first structural change to port charges in three years and affects every exporter moving goods through major ports (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, Cochin, Chennai, Paradip, Kolkata and others).
The new regime penalises slow port releases with escalating demurrage; conversely, it incentivises faster customs pre-clearance. For SMEs and mid-market traders, this reshapes both freight cost and export predictability.
Advisory
Containers dwell beyond 5 days now incur a sliding levy: ₹100 per TEU per day (days 5–7), ₹200 (days 8–10), ₹500 (beyond 10 days). Port authorities, not customs, collect the levy. This incentivises faster document preparation and pre-clearance filing.
Ports must now guarantee 24-hour examination slot booking and 48-hour post-clearance release (vs. variable 72–96 hours). Exporters filing documents 48 hours before vessel departure gain priority lanes. Non-compliance by port authorities triggers service-credit reductions.
Forwarders are required to disclose the new levy to shippers upfront; many are adjusting contracts or building levy reserve costs. Small exporters relying on fixed-quote freight agreements may face surprise levy billing or contract renegotiation.
This Code is issued under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 and is binding on all major ports under the Tariff Authority for Major Ports. Port authorities have 60 days (by mid-September 2026) to operationalise levy collection and clearance-slot systems; non-compliance invites Ministry audit. For exporters, the implication is twofold: landed-cost models must now reserve for dwell levy (0–₹5,000+ per container depending on port dwell), and export schedules must front-load customs document preparation. Vinayakam Consultants helps exporters stress-test landed costs under the new levy regime, review freight contracts for pass-through clauses, and align export planning with the 48-hour pre-clearance window to avoid penalty exposure.
Your action checklist
- Recalculate landed-cost models: model container dwell scenarios (5, 7, 10+ days) and quantify new levy liability by destination port and product line.
- Audit freight-forwarder and 3PL contracts: confirm whether the new dwell levy is a shipper cost (you pay) or forwarder cost (absorbed), and identify any escalation triggers after 1 September 2026.
- Front-load customs pre-filing: instruct freight teams to lodge shipping bills, Bills of Lading, and commercial invoices 48–72 hours before vessel departure to qualify for priority clearance slots and avoid dwell days 8–10 levy bands.
- Negotiate port slot reservations: contact your port's cargo-operations team (or forwarder) to confirm pre-clearance slot booking mechanics and request written confirmation of 24-hour slot guarantee (new Code requirement) in contract addenda.
Frequently asked questions
India's new Code (July 2026) imposes sliding charges on cargo dwell: ₹100/TEU/day for days 5–7, ₹200 for days 8–10, and ₹500 beyond 10 days. The levy incentivises faster document preparation and port clearance.
Ports must guarantee 24-hour examination slot booking and 48-hour post-clearance release. Exporters filing documents 48 hours before vessel departure get priority lanes, improving predictability and reducing demurrage risk.
Yes. Forwarders must disclose the new levy upfront and many are renegotiating contracts or building levy reserve costs. SMEs on fixed-quote agreements may face surprise billing or contract renegotiation.