Samsung Electronics America has filed a complaint with the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) seeking at least $186 million in reparations from CMA CGM, alleging unlawful demurrage and detention charges and failures to meet inland transportation obligations during the pandemic period.
The complaint covers shipments handled between 2020 and 2023, when Samsung says it faced major disruptions in the US logistics network. According to the filing, Samsung was billed for more than 121,000 separate demurrage, detention and rail-storage charges, many of which it argues resulted from circumstances beyond its control.
Samsung said the claim includes approximately $148 million in demurrage, detention and rail-storage costs, $8.1 million in operational mitigation expenses and around $30 million in prejudgment interest. The company alleges that these costs resulted from CMA CGM’s failure to properly perform inland transportation services covered under its “store door” delivery arrangements.
Under the store-door arrangements, CMA CGM was responsible for moving Samsung’s containers from US ports to inland destinations by rail or truck. Samsung alleges that beginning around 2020, the carrier repeatedly failed to provide the contracted inland transportation, citing severe port congestion and shortages of rail chassis, while shifting resulting costs to the electronics company.
One example cited in the complaint involved containers arriving at an inland rail ramp in 2021, where Samsung says CMA CGM’s alleged transportation failures resulted in more than $3.7 million in rail-storage charges. Samsung also alleges problems involving cargo holds, billing practices and dispute resolution.
The $186 million-plus claim is among the largest post-pandemic complaints against a container carrier before the FMC and exceeds a $161 million claim filed against OOCL in 2025. The Samsung case has been assigned to an FMC administrative law judge.
The FMC’s formal notice says CMA CGM must file its answer within 25 days after service. The initial decision is scheduled for September 1, 2027, with a final Commission decision due by March 15, 2028.
The case highlights the financial risks faced by shippers when inland transport disruptions, terminal congestion and equipment shortages generate demurrage and detention costs. It could also draw further attention to how ocean carriers apply such charges when delays arise from circumstances outside a cargo owner’s control.