Harbor Maintenance Fee
The harbor maintenance fee (HMF) is a US fee charged as a percentage of the value of commercial cargo loaded or unloaded at certain US ports, which applies to ocean shipments but not to air or most land imports.
Why it matters for ecommerce brands
HMF adds 0.125% of cargo value to ocean imports through covered US ports, so it belongs in landed cost for anything that arrives by sea. Unlike MPF, it has no minimum or cap, so it grows with every dollar of value. It is one reason landed costs differ between ocean and air for the same goods. For example, a $50,000 ocean shipment pays $62.50 in HMF, and a $500,000 one pays $625. The rate is set by statute and is not adjusted each October like the MPF limits.
Formula and calculator
HMF = cargo value × HMF rate
The rate is 0.125% of the commercial value of the cargo, with no minimum or maximum.
Common questions
- Do air shipments pay the harbor maintenance fee?
- No. HMF applies to cargo moving through covered US seaports, so ocean imports pay it while air freight does not. MPF applies to both.
- Does HMF have a minimum or maximum?
- No. HMF is a flat 0.125% of the commercial value of the cargo, with no minimum or cap, so it scales with shipment value.
- Is HMF charged on goods that enter the US by truck from Canada or Mexico?
- Generally no, because HMF applies to cargo loaded or unloaded at covered US ports. Ocean cargo that lands at a Canadian port and then enters the US by truck or rail usually does not pay HMF.