Shipping Lines Trigger Peak‑Season Surcharges Amid Rising Costs & Route Disruptions

Global shipping lines, such as Maersk, CMA CGM, and MSC, have announced a new series of Peak Season Surcharges (PSS) starting from late June and July. These adjustments respond to strong seasonal demand, increased bunker costs, and ongoing disruptions in shipping routes.

Maersk has introduced a $4,000 surcharge per container for shipments from the Indian Subcontinent and the Middle East to the U.S. and Canadian West Coast, effective 16 July 2025. An additional $3,500–$4,000 surcharge will be applied to containers destined for the U.S. East Coast and Gulf, with the amount contingent on origin points.

Further surcharges by Maersk include a $1,000 charge per container from Far East Asia to Kattupalli, Visakhapatnam, and Nepal, starting 1 July, and a $1,400 surcharge to ports in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and the Maldives from the same date. All surcharges are in addition to the basic freight rates and local charges delineated in Maersk's current tariff guide.

CMA CGM has made adjustments affecting rates on various corridors. A $150 surcharge per 40-foot dry container applies from North Europe to the US East Coast, Gulf, and Mexico starting 1 July, with reefer containers facing surcharges of up to $800 per unit. From 15 June, a $300 surcharge applies to 40-foot containers from North Europe to the U.S. West Coast. Additional charges include €150 per TEU from North Europe to South America's East Coast, and €300 or $300 per container from East and West Mediterranean ports to similar South American destinations.

MSC, leading in capacity among container shipping lines, is raising its Freight All Kinds (FAK) base rate from the Far East to North Europe to $4,300 per 40-foot container from 1 July, an increase from $3,900 in mid-June. This reflects demand trends and aligns with market pricing strategies.

Shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz has seen a 25% decrease, attributed to ongoing regional tensions and supply chain issues. An analyst noted on LinkedIn a reduction from 147 vessels on 9 June to 111 by 15 June in the area. Despite electronic disruptions, the Strait remains operational. Bunker fuel costs have risen by $35 per ton, aligning with early April rates, amidst heightened U.S. military presence in the region.

By: Fresh Plaza, Trans.iNFO, CIFFA