Dear Valued Client,

We wish to bring to your attention and clarify important requirements regarding carrier overstay deadlines and customs clearance, which continue to affect the handling of Sea freight Import shipments in South Africa.

Background
Prior to Covid, Customs clearance documents could be submitted by 12h00 on the second day after vessel discharge, with uncleared containers moved to depots by day three.
During the early days of Covid in 2020, carriers introduced stricter overstay timeframes to comply with Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) requirements that import containers be removed from the terminal strictly within the free period (three days after discharge).

Since then, carriers have shifted their Customs Clearance deadlines significantly earlier; and have maintained this practice ever since. While the current Transnet Port Terminal tariff confirms a 72‑hour free storage period after discharge, carriers continue to enforce these earlier Customs Clearance deadlines, creating ongoing challenges for importers.

Following are the current cut off times for import Customs Clearances per shipping line:

If the deadline falls on a weekend or public holiday, documents must be submitted by 15h00 on the preceding working day.

What This Means for You

• Shipments may need to be customs cleared prior to month‑end, even if delivery and Pioneer Freight invoicing only takes place in the new month.
• Pre‑clearance helps avoid unnecessary overstay charges and ensures compliance with carrier‑imposed deadlines.
• Delays caused by weather or operational factors may still impact vessel berthing and delivery timing, but pre‑clearance remains the safest way to protect against additional costs.

It is important to note that while Customs Clearances must be processed no later than the above mentioned deadlines, unforeseen circumstances can arise. At times, vessels may be unable to enter the port as scheduled, divert to another port, and only return later. In such cases, shipments may have been customs cleared weeks before the actual delivery takes place.

Pioneer Freight, in compliance with these regulations, would already have outlaid the necessary customs disbursements. We therefore ask for your consideration in situations where customs clearing and invoicing is completed in the previous month, but the shipment is only delivered in the new month.

We understand that these requirements can be inconvenient, and we continue to monitor industry discussions around this issue. In the meantime, our priority is to safeguard your shipments and manage costs effectively.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support. Should you have any questions or require clarification, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Kind regards,
Pioneer Freight Team