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At KLN Oceania, we’re committed to informing you about developments impacting your logistics planning. One such update is the upcoming increase in Vehicle Booking System (VBS) charges at the Port of Auckland (PoAL), which will take effect in two phases:
1 January 2026
1 July 2026
These changes, aimed at reducing congestion during peak hours, have significant cost implications for cargo owners, carriers, and forwarders alike.
PoAL has confirmed the following changes to its VBS fees:
From 1 January 2026:
Peak-hour VBS fees will rise by 35%
Off-peak VBS fees will increase by 15%
From 1 July 2026 (six months earlier than previously planned):
Peak-hour fees will rise an additional 28%
Off-peak charges will go up another 33%
Notably, the port has removed previously proposed mid-peak pricing and a planned infrastructure levy. The widened gap between peak and off-peak rates is designed to encourage operators to shift their deliveries to less congested times.
According to PoAL, this pricing strategy is intended to:
Ease terminal congestion by encouraging more off-peak usage
Provide earlier notice to allow better planning
Support long-term growth through improved operational delivery
PoAL acknowledges that uptake of off-peak times has been slow and hopes this pricing differential will drive meaningful behavioural change.
Many in the freight and trucking sectors are challenging the increases:
National Road Carriers labelled the move a “cash grab”, highlighting a 77% increase from January to July 2026, and a staggering 2461% increase since 2022.
New Zealand Cargo Owners Council echoed these concerns, calling for:
Transparency in port fee setting
Benchmarking against service delivery
Accountability, given that costs are passed on to end customers, affecting business competitiveness
We understand the need for investment in infrastructure, but believe that:
Pricing changes must come with service improvements
Stakeholders should be part of the conversation
Supply chain solutions should balance cost and reliability
We’ll continue to advocate for fair, transparent practices and support our clients through any changes.
To help mitigate cost increases, we encourage our partners to consider the following options:
Tauranga has not announced similar increases, so re-routing cargo could offer relief. However, added rail pressure may affect transit times.
Scheduling deliveries during off-peak or overnight hours can lower VBS costs and help avoid congestion-related delays.
For clients unable to operate off-peak, we’re exploring Dynamic Full Container Load (FCL) Hubbing as a flexible alternative.
Dynamic hubbing is a flexible logistics strategy for managing FCL containers in real-time, based on current demand and port activity.
Efficiency: Faster turnaround and reduced wait times
Cost Control: Lower operational expenses
Flexibility: Responds to real-world conditions
Reliability: Less disruption and improved delivery control
KLN’s partners collect containers from PoAL during off-peak hours and move them to hubs located close to delivery destinations. This means:
Containers are pre-positioned for flexible delivery
Your business gains better lead time control
Our team is already preparing for these changes and will be reaching out to discuss tailored mitigation strategies.
Have questions or want to explore your options sooner?
Contact us today — we’re here to support your 2026 planning.