CIC is the abbreviation of container inbalance charge, which refers to the container imbalance surcharge. CIC costs are generated by the following factors:

 1)The seasonal variation of  the world liner cargo transport leading to goods flow imbalance: Western countries usually at the beginning of the year is the transport of goods in the off-season, April and May volume gradually increased, the volume of trade to increase the number of up to Christmas and will usher in a small climax trade volume increased.

2) the volume of trade routes across countries or regions is not balanced: Chinese and other East Asian countries exports to Europe than imported from Europe to Chinese and East Asian goods, the Far East North American routes also exist similar significant problems.

3, the import and export of goods and the nature of the different types and freight, loading and unloading standards are different, also caused the import and export container imbalance.

Recently, shipping companies have begun to impose a CIC fee on the Southeast Asian line, but the shipping companies to implement and take charge of the date of the CIC fees are not the same. At present, the standard of general CIC charges is RMB300/TEU.