Introduction of Operational Cost Imports (OCI) – Shipment World to Kenya

Effective May 2025, the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) introduced a mandatory phytosanitary inspection fee for all containers entering or leaving Kenya. This is a regulatory requirement applied across the industry and billed directly to shipping lines. Since then, Maersk has been receiving inspection-related invoices for both import and export containers.

To ensure transparency around these new, inspection-related costs and to provide consistency in how they are reflected for customers, Maersk introduced the Operational Cost Imports (OCI) fee.

This approach gives customer clear visibility of inspection-related charges within the import process.

Key principles:

• OCI is a direct reflection of the inspection-related costs billed to Maersk and passed on without markup.
• OCI currently applies only to imports, while Maersk continues to absorb inspection costs on export containers.
• This creates a practical, interim framework for managing these costs while longer-term regulatory processes are underway.

• OCI is payable by the freight payer, in line with standard industry practice.
• It is collected with ocean freight, providing a consolidated and predictable payment structure.
• The fee amount is based on the actual costs received from our equipment and operations teams, calculated on a direct pass-through basis.

• Maersk has applied to the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) for approval of a local surcharge (INI/INE) to formally cover the inspection-related costs.
• While this approval is pending, the OCI remains in place as an interim cost-reflection mechanism.
• Once approval for the local surcharge has granted, the OCI will be phased out and replaced accordingly.

• The OCI fee provides a transparent way to account for inspection-related costs linked to the updated regulatory requirements.
• Customers will see the OCI fee included as part of freight settlement, ensuring clarity in cost allocation.
• Maersk continues to focus on maintaining reliable service and supporting customers during this period of regulatory change.

Our Commitment:

Maersk remains committed to:

• Clarity and transparency in communication
• Consistent customer support throughout regulatory transitions
• Reliable end-to-end operations across the Kenya and East Africa corridor
• Proactively engaging with relevant stakeholders to support efficient trade flows

For any clarifications, please contact your Maersk representative.