The Kenya Revenue Authority has announced that it will auction all consignments that overstayed at the Nairobi Container Depot on 18th November. Businesses and individuals whose goods have exceeded the free storage period have limited time to collect their shipments.
At the moment importers have 14 days of free storage at the ICD and exporters have 20 days of free storage. After the free storage period has elapsed, the consignments attract storage charges of between 30$ and 90$ per day depending on the size of the cargo.
KRA says that the cargo owners owe the revenue authority millions of shillings in demurrage charges, for failing to clear the goods on time.
The volume of cargo at the Nairobi Inland Container Depot is steadily rising after months of low volume due to supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic. Imports from China and other major importers are streaming in following the opening of international borders.
Operations at the Nairobi Inland Container Depot have remarkably improved with 80% of the consignments being cleared within zero to four days. Nairobi ICD manager Peter Masinde attributes the improvement to the automation of systems at the facility.
See also: Cargo Through Mombasa Port Fell Below Target
KRA to Auction Overstayed Goods at JKIA