Pakistan Customs brings shipping lines under SBP exchange rate regime

January 15, 2026 (MLN):  Pakistan Customs has successfully compelled international shipping lines to apply official bank exchange rates on shipping-related charges, ending years of complaints over inflated and discretionary billing practices.

The All-Pakistan Shipping Association (APSA) confirmed through a letter issued on January 12, 2026, that all its member companies are now calculating freight and ancillary charges using exchange rates provided by their authorized commercial banks, in line with the State Bank of Pakistan’s prescribed framework, according to a press release issued.

The move is the result of prolonged engagement by a senior-level committee formed by Pakistan Customs, which held multiple rounds of discussions with shipping agents, port terminal operators, trade organizations, and global shipping companies.

Momentum for sector-wide compliance gathered after Maersk, which handles about 26% of Pakistan’s cargo volume, began implementing SBP-aligned exchange rates, encouraging broader adoption across the industry.

Following this development, several major international carriers and their local representatives submitted written assurances of compliance.

These include Hapag-Lloyd, Ocean Network Express (ONE), COSCO Shipping, CMA CGM, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), OOCL, and United Marine Agencies, confirming that the new billing mechanism is being uniformly applied.

Business groups have long criticized shipping lines for charging dollar exchange rates well above official levels, a practice that increased logistics costs, weakened exporters’ competitiveness, and added uncertainty to trade operations.

It is expected that  enforcement of standardized exchange rates will lower transaction costs for importers and exporters, bring greater clarity to shipping invoices, and strengthen trust between the trading community and service providers.

The reform reflects their broader strategy to protect lawful trade, enhance regulatory transparency, and facilitate export-driven economic growth through coordinated oversight and dialogue with stakeholders.

Copyright Mettis Link News