Three carriers, three ways to make the trip
From the Polish ports of Gdynia and Gdańsk, three carriers regularly serve Abidjan with reefer containers. The figures below come from the quotes we received for October 2026 sailings.
They change from one sailing to the next: a vessel can slip a week, a port call can be added. They still give a reliable order of magnitude. Between the fastest and the slowest route, the gap is more than three weeks.
- MSC from Gdynia: 23 to 26 days transit, 10 free days (demurrage and detention combined)
- CMA CGM from Gdańsk: 35 to 37 days, 2 days demurrage + 10 days detention
- Hapag-Lloyd from Gdynia: about 47 days, 10 days demurrage + 4 days detention
What three extra weeks at sea really cost
A long transit does not show on the freight invoice, but it is paid elsewhere. The goods are paid at departure and only sold on arrival, so three more weeks at sea means three more weeks of blocked cash.
Every week at sea is also one week less to sell before the date printed on the cartons, and over 47 days a competitor can land the same product first or local prices can fall.
A short transit is not always essential. For a buyer with stock who orders regularly, a slower but available route can be the right choice. What matters is making that choice knowingly.
Demurrage, detention, free time: don't mix them up
Free time is the number of days the container is free of charge at destination; after that, the carrier charges every day. Demurrage runs while the full container stays in the port. Detention runs from the moment it leaves the port until it is returned empty to the carrier's depot.
Some carriers combine both into one counter ("10 days DND"), others keep them separate. Two days of demurrage means customs clearance must be ready before the vessel arrives, otherwise charges start almost immediately, and port electricity for a reefer often comes on top. A short free time can cost more than the freight gap between two carriers.
Container availability matters as much as price
In October 2026, some carriers are short of empty reefer containers in Poland. A loading requested for mid-October may only be possible in November with one carrier, while another offers an earlier date with a longer transit. Until the carrier confirms the booking, it can still reject it for lack of equipment.
Booking several weeks ahead therefore becomes decisive, especially for loadings from plants far from the ports.
What an EXW to CFR Abidjan price includes
A forwarder's price for a container from a Polish plant usually covers the truck with a refrigeration unit (genset) to the port, origin port charges, the bill of lading, the export declaration and ocean freight with its surcharges.
Courier of the originals, telex release or the waiver can be included or charged on top, so check line by line. In Poland, the road fuel surcharge is now revised every week, so the exact price also depends on the loading week.
5 questions to ask before confirming freight
At ATC Group we compare carriers on price, transit time and free time for every CIF or CFR offer, then propose the combination that best fits the buyer's stock and port. Ask us for this week's offer on WhatsApp: +48 501 351 121.
- What is the announced transit, and when does the vessel actually sail?
- How many free days, and are demurrage and detention combined or separate?
- Is the booking confirmed by the carrier, or only requested?
- Which documentation costs are not included (courier, telex, waiver)?
- Will my import documents be ready before the vessel arrives?