What is PSS? Why Do You Have to Pay This Extra Fee in Shipping Peak Seasons?

Publish Time: 2025-12-25 Origin: Site

There’s an "unspoken rule" in the shipping industry—every peak season, an unexpected item "PSS (Peak Season Surcharge)" always appears on the freight bill. Shippers often complain: "Shipping companies raise fees arbitrarily, should I really pay this money?" This guide will break down PSS in detail, answering your core questions and sharing strategies to reduce or control this extra cost.

I. What Exactly is PSS?

Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) is simply a "overtime fee" temporarily charged by shipping companies during peak shipping seasons. It’s an additional cost imposed to cover the increased operational expenses caused by surging cargo volume.

Why Do Shipping Companies Charge PSS?

During peak seasons, cargo volume surges while shipping capacity is limited. Shipping companies need to deploy more vessels, work overtime, and bear higher costs (e.g., fuel, labor, port detention). PSS is a way to pass part of these cost pressures on to shippers.

Who Ends Up Paying PSS?

In theory, the booking party (usually the seller or freight forwarder) is responsible for PSS. However, in practice, this cost is often passed on to the buyer through price adjustments in trade contracts.

II. When Do Shipping Companies Charge PSS?

PSS is mainly triggered by seasonal peak demand and unexpected events. Key periods include:

European & American Markets

Christmas season (October-December): Pre-holiday cargo rush
Black Friday (November): E-commerce shopping spree
Back-to-school season (July-August): Demand for school supplies

Asian Markets

Before Chinese New Year (January-February): Pre-holiday production and shipment
Double 11 (Singles’ Day) stock-up (September-October): E-commerce bulk orders

Unexpected Events

Emergency situations that cause cargo surges, such as the rush for anti-epidemic materials in the early stage of the pandemic (2020) and energy route changes due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict (2022).

III. How is PSS Calculated? Can You Refuse to Pay?

PSS Charging Standards

By container type: For example, $800 for 20GP, $1200 for 40HQ.
By cargo value ratio: For example, 3% of the cargo value on Asia-South America routes.

The "Unfair Clause" of PSS

Shipping companies have the final say on PSS—you either pay it or stop shipping. Most shipping contracts state that "surcharges are subject to shipping company notifications," leaving shippers with almost no bargaining power.

IV. How to Reduce PSS Costs?

Book in Advance & Lock Prices: Sign long-term contracts 2-3 months before the peak season, specifying a PSS cap to avoid sudden increases.
Avoid Popular Routes: If PSS is high at US West Coast ports, switch to US East Coast or Canadian ports (e.g., New York, Vancouver).
Flexible Transportation Methods: Use air freight or China-Europe Railway Express for urgent small-batch cargo to avoid shipping congestion.
Cooperate with Freight Forwarders: Large shippers can join hands with freight forwarders to apply for PSS discounts (e.g., 30% reduction for meeting cargo volume targets).

V. Important Warnings for Shippers

Low-Price Traps: Some freight forwarders deliberately hide PSS in quotes and only inform you after booking. Always clarify "whether PSS is included" in the contract.
Shipper Competition Impact: Shipping companies may impose targeted PSS on major export countries like China and Vietnam. Compare prices across different ports.
"Fake Peak Season" PSS: Some shipping companies charge PSS even in off-seasons. Keep historical freight records and complain promptly if you find abnormalities.

The shipping market is like an endless "game of offensive and defensive." PSS is the "trump card" that shipping companies play in this game. Complaining won’t solve the high freight problem—only by understanding the rules and formulating systematic strategies can you control costs within a reasonable range.