DHL - Multi Line Surcharge (MLE)

The Multi Line Surcharge (MLE) into your customs clearance billing invoices to customers. DHL implemented now at year 2020, at EUR5 per line item (above 5 lines) on an invoice. They communicated this to be:” new Charge implemented by SARS (South African Revenue Services). However competitor courier companies do not seem to be aware of this implementation by SARS.

This MLE by DHL, has devastating consequences on our electronics manufacturing industry. Example: 40 lines of different components and each line value is say R4 to R40. This means 34lines x 5 EUR = 170 EUR (R2 720) Surcharge on a Total incoming vale of say R2100. Value of goods landing: R2 100 + R2 720. Double. Which makes products manufactured here non-competitive. We might as well move the remainder of our manufacturing to China to the detriment of the local manufacturing industry.

Can anybody in the SARS or Customs Clearance segment in South Africa comment on this MLE please. Is this a DHL or SARS rule to charge per line entry above 5 lines?