Cost structure / standard tiers
GRI and PSS amounts vary by year and trade conditions but follow a recognizable seasonal and announcement pattern.
| Surcharge Type | Typical Timing | Typical Amount Range |
|---|---|---|
| GRI (transpacific eastbound) | Announced 1st/15th of month, multiple times/year | $200-1,000+ per FEU announced; 30-70% typically realized |
| PSS | Late summer-early fall | $200-600 per FEU additional |
| Contract rate protection | Annual service contracts | GRI/PSS often capped or excluded for contracted volume |
| Spot/overage cargo | Volume outside contracted allocation | Full GRI + PSS stacking possible |
Cargo shipped outside a contracted allocation as spot or overage volume is typically subject to the full stacked surcharge amount, while contracted volume may carry caps or exclusions depending on the service agreement.
Risk mitigation / operational guidance
For spot-rate shippers, track GRI announcements for the relevant trade lane at least monthly during peak-season planning and book ahead of stated effective dates where cargo timing allows, since confirmed bookings generally retain pre-increase rates. Build 10-20% budget contingency above base ocean freight rates during the peak-season window, since PSS and GRI stacking is common in that period. For recurring volume, negotiate annual service contracts that explicitly address GRI and PSS treatment — including caps or exclusions — rather than assuming a quoted spot price already accounts for seasonal surcharges. Compare quotes across multiple carriers and NVOCCs whenever a GRI is announced, since realized implementation rates vary by carrier and not every announced increase takes full effect.