01
Specification deviation
Moisture, protein, purity, viscosity, colour, particle size or additive deviations outside contractual tolerance.
Rejected & off-spec cargo
Rejected & Off-Spec
Cargo Solutions
When a receiver, authority or quality department refuses a consignment, the cargo rarely becomes worthless — it becomes a different commercial problem.
Pommer & Partners evaluates rejected and off-specification cargo for alternative use: a different market, a different quality grade, a processor able to blend, refine, recondition or repack, or an industrial application in which the deviation is irrelevant.
Where a lawful and commercially viable route exists, we may either purchase the cargo for our own account or, under a separate mandate from an authorised party, coordinate a sale, recovery, recycling or compliant disposal. The aim is to limit further financial exposure. A sale or transfer of title does not automatically stop storage, demurrage or detention charges and does not release any party from obligations to third parties. Release, physical removal, equipment return and any release from liabilities each require a separate arrangement.
Every case is checked against title, customs, sanctions and cargo-specific regulatory requirements before a commercial route is confirmed.
For agricultural parcels, see rejected corn and maize cargo and distressed agricultural cargo. Bulk parcels refused at the discharge port are covered under rejected grain cargo buyers.
Typical reasons for rejection
We start from the reason, not the label.
02
Laboratory findings
Mycotoxins, residues, microbiological findings or analytical results that block the intended use.
03
Contamination
Foreign matter, hold residues, water ingress, oil or cross-contamination during carriage or storage.
04
Temperature deviation
Reefer failures, broken cold chains and heat-affected cargo in containers or holds.
05
Packaging & labelling
Torn bags, damaged drums, crushed palletised goods or labelling that does not satisfy the destination market.
06
Authority refusal
Import rejection, customs problems or documentation issues preventing release at destination.
Types of cases
Cargo situations we are asked to solve.
- 01Distressed Cargo
- 02Damaged Cargo
- 03Rejected Cargo
- 04Off-Spec Cargo
- 05Contaminated Cargo
- 06Wet Cargo
- 07Temperature-Damaged Cargo
- 08Abandoned Cargo
- 09Unclaimed Cargo
- 10Customs Problems
- 11Insolvency Stocks
- 12Marine Casualties
- 13General Average / Salvage Situations
- 14Cargo requiring urgent removal
- 15Cargo requiring destruction or disposal
How we work
A short route from case to solution.
Recover value. Reduce exposure. Release the asset.
A disciplined framework adapted to the commercial and regulatory circumstances of each file.
- 01
Notification & Documentation
Cargo details, location, condition, photographs, survey reports and available analyses are received.
- 02
Technical & Regulatory Review
Condition, title, customs status, applicable regulation and realistic alternative uses are assessed.
- 03
Commercial Route Selection
Direct purchase, salvage sale, remarketing, recovery, recycling or disposal is selected according to the case.
- 04
Execution
The agreed transaction or recovery route is coordinated with the relevant parties.
- 05
Completion & Reporting
Final documents, disposal or recovery evidence and the commercial outcome are reported.
Trust & compliance
Commercial, but always within the rules.
Transactions and services are subject to verification and applicable regulation, including:
- Ownership and title verification
- Applicable customs requirements
- Sanctions and compliance checks
- Environmental and waste regulations
- Local laws
- Cargo-specific regulatory requirements
Purchases and sales require evidence of ownership and authority to sell, or the written authority of the insurer or party entitled to dispose of the cargo. Recovery, recycling and disposal routes depend on waste classification and on applicable environmental, transport and customs rules in the countries involved. Potential alternative use of food or agricultural cargo, including animal-feed applications, depends on cargo condition, laboratory results and applicable food and feed legislation, and is only pursued where the competent authorities and the relevant rules allow it.
Rejected consignments are frequently resolved through a structured salvage sale.
Rejected cargo questions
What Happens When Cargo Is Rejected at Destination?
The receiver or authority issues a rejection, and the cargo usually remains on board, in a terminal or in containers while costs accrue. The cargo interest then needs to establish the reason for rejection, the customs and regulatory position, title and authority to sell, before deciding between re-export, an alternative buyer, a direct purchase, recovery or compliant disposal.
Can Off-Specification Cargo Be Sold to an Alternative Buyer?
Frequently yes. A cargo that fails one contract's specification may meet another buyer's grade, a different market's requirements or an industrial application. The sale depends on documented analysis, the reason for the failure, applicable import and product rules at the new destination, and whether the seller has authority to sell.
Who Pays Storage and Demurrage Charges After Cargo Rejection?
That depends on the sale contract, charter party, bill of lading and terminal terms, and it often becomes disputed. Charges generally continue to accrue while the cargo stays in place, whoever ultimately bears them. A cargo sale may help reduce further demurrage, detention and storage exposure, but transferring ownership does not automatically stop charges or release existing contractual obligations. Cargo release, physical removal, container return and the relevant agreements must be considered separately.
Related
Distressed Cargo Buyer
We buy damaged, rejected and abandoned cargo as principal, AS IS, WHERE IS.
Cargo Recovery Companies
How cargo recovery companies, consultants and salvage buyers differ.
Distressed Cargo
Buyers & recovery specialists worldwide.
Abandoned Cargo Buyers
Worldwide buyers of abandoned, unclaimed and stranded cargo.
Abandoned Container Cargo
Solutions for cargo inside abandoned and unclaimed containers.
Unclaimed Cargo
Shipments never collected or claimed by the consignee.
Refused Cargo Buyers
Consignments refused on arrival by receivers or authorities.
Marine Cargo Salvage
Salvage sales and cargo recovery at sea and in port.
Damaged Cargo Buyers
Wet, contaminated and heat-affected consignments.
Agricultural Commodities
Distressed grain, feed and vegetable oils.
Distressed Agricultural Cargo
Damaged, rejected and off-spec agricultural commodity salvage.
Damaged Grain & Corn Salvage
Grain, corn and maize cargo damaged or rejected at destination.
Red Sea & Middle East Recovery
Cargo recovery across the Red Sea, Gulf and East Africa.
Cargo Remarketing
International salvage sales and buyer placement.
Cargo Recovery & Recycling
Material and energy recovery routes.
Cargo Disposal & Destruction
When no commercial market remains.
Case Studies
How cargo cases are structured and resolved.
Submit cargo details
Rejected consignment on your hands? Send us the details and analysis.
Send us the cargo details, location, quantity, condition and available survey information for an initial assessment.
contact@pommerpartners.com