Cost structure / standard tiers
HMF is a flat percentage of cargo value with no tiering, but it stacks with other ad valorem fees.
| Fee | Rate | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF) | 0.125% | Declared cargo value |
| Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF), formal entry | 0.3464% (with min/max caps) | Declared cargo value |
| Combined ad valorem fee exposure | ~0.4-0.5% | Declared cargo value |
On a container with $50,000 in declared cargo value, HMF alone amounts to approximately $62.50, a modest per-container figure that becomes material at scale across thousands of annual entries.
Risk mitigation / operational guidance
Include HMF in landed cost models as a standard percentage add-on for any ocean import through a covered port — it's small per shipment but consistent and easily reconciled against broker statements. Confirm with the customs broker how HMF is being calculated relative to declared value, particularly for shipments with related-party pricing or where declared value has been adjusted for other reasons (assists, royalties), since HMF basis should match the dutiable value used for duty calculation. For companies also handling export cargo, do not assume HMF applies — exports are generally not subject to HMF, and including it in export cost models overstates costs. Periodically reconcile quarterly broker HMF statements against the entry-level shipment list to confirm fees were assessed only on applicable imports and not erroneously on domestic moves.