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What are accessorial charges in Foreign Military Sales?

Updated 26 September 2026Checked against the SAMM: 12 September 2026

Accessorial charges are the costs of issuing, selling and transferring materiel that its standard price or contract cost does not include, chiefly packing, crating and handling and transportation. They sit below the line on a . A dedicated airlift mission is instead charged above the line as a , and detention and demurrage may be charged to the line of the materiel being delivered.

What are accessorial charges in Foreign Military Sales?

The and 7000.14-R, Financial Management Regulation () Volume 15, Chapter 7, define accessorial charges as certain expenses incident to issues, sales, and transfers of materiel that are not included in the standard price or contract cost of materiel, such as packing, crating, and handling, transportation, pre-positioning, staging of materiel in , and port loading and unloading.

Transportation costs for other than CCBL shipments are considered accessorial costs. Transportation rates are assessed when the provides transportation for materiel, when items are shipped on a GBL or , and when packages are shipped prepaid through the USPS, FedEx, UPS, or through any commercial carrier. Table C9.T4A sets out the transportation rates, and Table C9.T4 how they are applied.

A may be required to deliver sensitive or classified materiel to an overseas destination when the recipient country does not have the capability to pick up its materiel at a DoW , 8. A involves the chartering of an or commercial aircraft for a dedicated flight. The costs to the customer include the cost of round-trip flying hours, round-trip aircrew support and port loading and handling fees. The costs for flights vary widely depending upon the distance and type of aircraft used. It is not unusual that the cost of the exceeds the value of the cargo being delivered. Special Assignment Airlift Missions must be charged as “above-the-line” direct costs.

Detention is a charge made on a carrier held by or for a consignor or consignee beyond the allowable free time for loading or unloading, for forwarding directions, or for any other purpose authorized and documented by the consignor or consignee. Demurrage is a charge against a consignor or consignee for holding carrier equipment beyond the allowable free time for loading and unloading, for forwarding directions, or for any other purpose authorized and documented by the consignor or consignee. Transportation costs assessed for detention or demurrage in the delivery of materiel are not considered accessorial costs and may be charged against the line of the materiel being delivered.

References

Drawn exclusively from publicly available authorities.

SAMM

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