BAF/CAF Estimator
Calculate bunker and currency adjustment surcharges
BAF & CAFEstimator
Calculate Bunker Adjustment Factor and Currency Adjustment Factor surcharges with precision. Compare carriers, analyze trends, and project annual costs for your ocean freight shipments.
$600
IFO 380 $/tonne
$3,000.00
All-In Rate
30.0%
BAF Share
$108,000.00
Annual BAF Cost
All-In Rate
$3,000.00
per 40HC container
BAF
30.0%$900.00
CAF
3.3%$100.00
Reference price used by carrier for BAF calculation
Moderate Fuel Prices
Current fuel prices are $+100/tonne above base. BAF adjustment: $50.00/container
CAF compensates carriers for currency fluctuations between booking and payment. Positive values indicate USD strengthening against major currencies.
Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF) is a surcharge added to ocean freight rates to compensate carriers for fluctuations in fuel prices. Also known as BSC (Bunker Surcharge) or FAF (Fuel Adjustment Factor), it helps carriers manage the volatility of marine fuel costs.
BAF rates vary by trade lane, carrier, and container type. They are typically adjusted monthly or quarterly based on fuel price indices like IFO 380 (Intermediate Fuel Oil) or MGO (Marine Gas Oil) for vessels operating in emission control areas.
Currency Adjustment Factor (CAF) is a surcharge that compensates carriers for fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Since most freight rates are quoted in USD but carriers have costs in various currencies, CAF helps manage this currency risk.
CAF is particularly relevant for trade lanes involving currencies with high volatility. A positive CAF indicates the local currency has weakened against USD, while a negative CAF suggests the opposite. The surcharge is typically expressed as a percentage of the base freight rate.
- Budget Planning: Forecast total shipping costs accurately
- Contract Negotiation: Compare all-in rates across carriers
- Cost Analysis: Understand what drives your freight costs
- Route Selection: Compare surcharges across trade lanes
BAF
Bunker Adjustment Factor
Fuel price compensation
CAF
Currency Adjustment Factor
Exchange rate fluctuation
THC
Terminal Handling Charge
Port terminal operations
DOC
Documentation Fee
Paperwork processing
ISPS
ISPS Security Surcharge
Security compliance
seal
Seal Fee
Container sealing
VGM
VGM Fee
Weight verification
EIS
Equipment Imbalance Surcharge
Container repositioning
- •Monitor fuel price trends to anticipate BAF changes
- •Request all-in rates for easier carrier comparison
- •Negotiate BAF caps for long-term contracts
- •Consider fuel hedging for high-volume shippers
- •Review surcharges quarterly to catch billing errors
- ✗Comparing base rates without considering surcharges
- ✗Ignoring seasonal surcharge variations (peak season)
- ✗Not budgeting for surcharge fluctuations
- ✗Assuming surcharges are fixed - they change frequently
- ✗Overlooking low-sulfur fuel surcharges for ECAs