How to calculate CMR compensation for cargo loss
CMR compensation for lost or damaged cargo is capped at 8.33 SDR per kilogram of gross weight, converted to euros at the IMF's daily rate.
Logifie Team
Logistics Technology Experts
Under the 1978 Protocol to the CMR Convention, compensation for lost or damaged road-freight cargo is capped at 8.33 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per kilogram of gross weight, converted to euros at the IMF's daily rate, not the goods' invoice value, unless a higher value was declared or the carrier was grossly negligent.
How do you calculate CMR compensation step by step?
CMR (the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road) governs the consignment note and liability terms for most cross-border road-freight shipments in Europe. To calculate compensation, first find the gross weight of the affected goods, in kilograms, as recorded on the consignment note, meaning the full shipped weight including packaging. Multiply that weight by 8.33 SDR, the ceiling set by the 1978 Protocol to the CMR Convention (Article 23, as amended), which replaced the original 1956 Convention's franc-based limit. Convert the SDR figure to euros using the IMF's daily rate, since the SDR is an accounting unit, not a tradeable currency. For example, a 1,000 kg shipment declared a total loss is capped at 1,000 x 8.33 SDR = 8,330 SDR, or approximately EUR 9,800 at the rate below, regardless of the goods' invoice value. Forwarders should calculate this ceiling before they file a CMR claim for cargo damage , since it sets the realistic upper bound for negotiation.
How much is the CMR liability limit worth in euros right now?
The SDR-to-euro rate moves daily with currency markets, so the euro value of the 8.33 SDR/kg cap is never fixed. As of 2026-08-28, using the IMF's SDR Valuation page, 8.33 SDR/kg converts to approximately EUR 9.80 per kilogram of gross weight. That figure drifts slightly week to week, so anyone calculating an actual claim should check the IMF SDR Valuation page for the rate on the date of loss, not an old cached number. Because the cap is set in SDR rather than euros, it stays broadly stable in real terms even as exchange rates shift, as confirmed by the IRU's overview of CMR carrier liability .
When does the 8.33 SDR/kg cap not apply?
The cap is a default position, not an absolute limit. It does not apply if the shipper declared a higher cargo value on the consignment note and paid any applicable surcharge, in which case that declared value governs instead. It also falls away if the loss or damage resulted from the carrier's wilful misconduct or gross negligence, in which case liability becomes uncapped. Because the statutory cap is often far below a shipment's real value, many shippers pair it with cargo insurance that goes beyond the CMR liability cap rather than relying on Article 23 alone. Carriers should treat the cap as a floor for negotiation, not a ceiling on risk.
Frequently asked questions
What is the CMR liability limit per kilogram?
The CMR liability limit is 8.33 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per kilogram of gross weight, set by the 1978 Protocol to the CMR Convention. Converted to euros using the IMF's daily rate, it was approximately EUR 9.80/kg as of 2026-08-28.
Can you claim more than the CMR compensation cap?
Yes, but only in two situations: the shipper declared a higher cargo value on the consignment note before carriage, or the loss resulted from the carrier's wilful misconduct or gross negligence. Outside those cases, compensation is capped at 8.33 SDR/kg regardless of the goods' actual value.
Does CMR compensation cover the invoice value of the goods?
Not by default. CMR compensation is based on gross weight multiplied by the 8.33 SDR/kg cap, which is often lower than the invoice value of high-value or lightweight goods, unless a higher value was formally declared beforehand.
What happens if the carrier caused the loss through gross negligence?
If a loss or damage is shown to result from the carrier's wilful misconduct or gross negligence, the 8.33 SDR/kg cap no longer applies. The carrier can then be held liable for the full proven loss, not just the weight-based ceiling.
Hauliers who want to manage CMR liability exposure with the right coverage and tools can get a quote from Logifie .
