EBSFuel & BunkerCarrier-Mandated
Emergency Bunker Surcharge (EBS)
An emergency or temporary fuel surcharge applied when bunker prices spike unexpectedly beyond what the standard BAF already covers. Unlike regular BAF which is formula-based and announced, EBS is typically imposed suddenly during market crises (e.g., oil supply disruptions, geopolitical events).
Per Container
Category:Basic Shipping FeeChina Export Local ChargesDestination Import Charges
Applies to:
FCLLCL✕ Air✕ Rail✕ Courier✕ Road✕ FBA✕ As Request
Typical Cost Range
EBS (Bunker Adjustment Factor) is applied on top of ocean freight. Rate varies by carrier, route, and bunker market.
20ft Container
$50–$300
per 20ft
40ft Container
$100–$600
per 40ft
Route Reference Rates(April 2026)
China → US West
$150–$600
China → US East
$200–$800
China → Europe
$120–$500
China → SE Asia
$50–$200
China → Oceania
$100–$400
China → S. America
$150–$600
Who Pays?
Shipper (When CIF, DAP)
Consignee (When EXW, FOB)
Negotiability
Set by carrier or port authority — not negotiable.
EBS is emergency-imposed and non-negotiable. It is typically short-lived, removed when bunker prices stabilize.
Adjustment Frequency
MonthlyWeeklyFixed
Current rate reviewed: Ad-hoc / case-by-case
Chargeable Unit
FCL: Per Container
LCL: Per CBM
Formula / Calculation
EBS = Carrier-Announced Emergency Flat Surcharge per Container (not formula-based)fuelemergencyoceancrisis
Frequently Asked Questions
Is EBS the same as BAF?
No. BAF is a regular, formula-based surcharge reviewed quarterly. EBS is an emergency, ad-hoc surcharge imposed during market crises.
When was EBS most recently applied?
Most notably during COVID-19 supply chain disruptions (2020-2021) and the Russia-Ukraine oil crisis (2022).
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Often Appears Together With
These charges frequently appear on the same freight invoice as EBS:
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