{"id":1184,"date":"2026-04-23T07:51:28","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T07:51:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/odsorient.com\/?p=1184"},"modified":"2026-04-14T07:53:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T07:53:52","slug":"roro-shipping-costs-7-factors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/odsorient.com\/en\/roro-verschiffung-kosten-7-faktoren","title":{"rendered":"RoRo shipping costs: 7 factors that determine the price"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The costs of a ro-ro shipment cannot be quantified as a lump sum, as they depend on seven main factors: Vehicle volume (cbm), weight, route and port of destination, seasonal demand, fuel surcharges, port fees and additional services. Billing is primarily based on cubic metres (length \u00d7 width \u00d7 height). For a reliable calculation, we always recommend a customised offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Short answer in 5 bullet points<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>RoRo invoicing is based on volume (cubic metres), calculated from the length \u00d7 width \u00d7 height of the vehicle.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The route and port of destination have a considerable influence on the price - popular routes are often cheaper.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Seasonal fluctuations can change freight rates by 15-30 %.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fuel surcharges (BAF\/Bunker Adjustment Factor) fluctuate with oil prices.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Additional services such as pre-carriage, insurance and customs clearance are added to the basic price.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How are RoRo costs calculated?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike many other types of transport, RoRo shipments are not primarily invoiced by weight, but by volume. The key figure is the cubic metre (cbm), which is calculated from the external dimensions of the vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The formula is: length (m) \u00d7 width (m) \u00d7 height (m) = cbm<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A typical mid-range car has a volume of around 8-10 cubic metres, an SUV 12-15 cubic metres and an excavator can quickly reach 30-50 cubic metres. The larger the volume, the more space the vehicle takes up on the ship - and the higher the freight price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can find a deeper insight into the cost structure in our overview of RoRo transport costs (https:\/\/odsorient.com\/roro-transport-kosten-im-ueberblick).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Factor 1: Vehicle volume (cubic metres)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Volume is the most important cost driver for RoRo. Shipping companies sell space on their ships by cubic metres - similar to space in a warehouse. A vehicle with 15 cubic metres usually costs significantly more than one with 8 cubic metres on the same route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Important: The external dimensions including all attachments always count. An excavator with the bucket extended has a completely different volume than the same excavator with the boom folded in. Every centimetre saved can reduce the price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Factor 2: Weight<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although volume is the main basis for calculation, weight also plays a role - especially for heavy loads. Vehicles over 20 tonnes are often charged according to a combined tariff of volume and weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The reason: heavy cargo places special demands on the load-bearing capacity of the ship's decks and requires more complex load securing. A survey (expert opinion) is also required for loads of 40 tonnes or more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Factor 3: Route and port of destination<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The selected route has a direct influence on the price. Frequently served routes with high freight volumes (e.g. Bremerhaven \u2192 Jeddah or Bremerhaven \u2192 Lagos) generally offer more favourable rates than niche routes with fewer departures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Route (from Europe)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Typical transit time<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Price trend<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Middle East<\/td><td>14-20 days<\/td><td>means<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>West Africa<\/td><td>12-18 days<\/td><td>Medium to high<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>North America<\/td><td>10-16 days<\/td><td>means<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>South America<\/td><td>18-28 days<\/td><td>Medium to high<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>South East Asia<\/td><td>25-35 days<\/td><td>High<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Australia\/NZ<\/td><td>30-40 days<\/td><td>High<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Factor 4: Seasonal demand<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As in many industries, ro-ro freight rates also fluctuate seasonally. High demand typically arises before the end of the year, when many exporters want to finalise their deliveries, and at the beginning of the year, when orders for new vehicles are dispatched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During peak periods, freight rates can be 15-30 % above the annual average. Those who can plan flexibly often save considerably by scheduling shipments in months when demand is lower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Factor 5-7: Fuel, harbour dues and additional services<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to the main factors, there are other cost items that influence the final price:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Fuel surcharge (BAF): <\/strong>The bunker adjustment factor reflects the current fuel costs and can fluctuate considerably depending on the oil price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Harbour dues: <\/strong>Terminal Handling Charges (THC), harbour dues and security surcharges apply at the port of departure and destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Additional services: <\/strong>Pre-carriage, transport insurance, customs clearance and on-carriage to the recipient are optional services that increase the total price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A good comparison of the various transport methods, including a cost perspective, can be found in our article RoRo vs. container (https:\/\/odsorient.com\/roro-vs-container-wann-lohnt-sich-welche-loesung-wirklich).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can you reduce RoRo costs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are several levers for optimising the costs of a RoRo shipment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reduce dimensions: Dismantle attachments, fold in mirrors, remove aerials<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Book early: secure slots in good time, especially before peak periods<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Flexible dates: Choose departures in weeks with lower demand<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Groupage loads: Booking several vehicles together can reduce the unit price<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compare offers: Check different ports of departure and routes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cancel unnecessary additional services: Only book what you really need<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQ - Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why is RoRo billed by volume and not by weight?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The limiting factor on RoRo ships is the storage space, not the load capacity. A car takes up more space than a pallet of the same weight - which is why volume is the fairer basis for invoicing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are the costs from Bremerhaven different from those from Hamburg?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, the costs can vary depending on the port of departure. As the largest automobile port in Europe, Bremerhaven often offers the widest choice of routes and competitive rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are there any hidden costs for RoRo shipping?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Reputable freight forwarders present all costs transparently. Make sure that your quote already includes THC, BAF and any security surcharges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How quickly will I receive an offer?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At ODS Orient you will usually receive a detailed offer within 24 hours. Contact: https:\/\/odsorient.com\/kontakt<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I deduct the costs from my tax bill?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Commercial shippers can generally claim the transport costs as a business expense. Please consult your tax advisor on this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The costs of a RoRo shipment are made up of many factors - volume, route, season and additional services. If you know these factors, you can optimise them and avoid unpleasant surprises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For a reliable calculation, we always recommend a customised offer that is tailored precisely to your load and route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you have any questions or would you like a non-binding offer? Contact us directly: https:\/\/odsorient.com\/kontakt<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>All information in this article has been carefully researched but is subject to change at any time. ODS Orient accepts no liability for the topicality, accuracy and completeness of the information provided.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Die Kosten einer RoRo-Verschiffung lassen sich nicht pauschal beziffern, da sie von sieben Hauptfaktoren abh\u00e4ngen: Fahrzeugvolumen (cbm), Gewicht, Route und Zielhafen, saisonale Nachfrage, Treibstoffzuschl\u00e4ge, Hafengeb\u00fchren und Zusatzleistungen. Die Abrechnung erfolgt prim\u00e4r nach Kubikmeter (L\u00e4nge \u00d7 Breite \u00d7 H\u00f6he). F\u00fcr eine verl\u00e4ssliche Kalkulation empfehlen wir immer ein individuelles Angebot. Kurzantwort in 5 Bullet Points Wie werden [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1185,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/odsorient.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1184","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/odsorient.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/odsorient.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/odsorient.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/odsorient.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1184"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/odsorient.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1184\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1186,"href":"https:\/\/odsorient.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1184\/revisions\/1186"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/odsorient.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1185"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/odsorient.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/odsorient.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/odsorient.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}