Can customs clearance delays push a shipment into demurrage territory?

Yes — and the timeline is unforgiving. A customs inspection request or a missing document holds the container at the terminal while free time continues counting down. Clearance confirmed on day 6 of a 7-day free time window leaves one working day to book a drayage truck, confirm the warehouse appointment, and complete the terminal gate collection — before demurrage starts on day 8. There is no mechanism to pause or extend free time during a customs hold unless the terminal operator grants a specific exception, which is at their discretion and not guaranteed.