Maersk adds $1,500 surcharge on South Asia to Middle East cargo

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Maersk will impose a peak season surcharge of $1,500 on dry container shipments from five South Asian markets to Saudi Arabia and Jordan, raising transport costs on the trade from August 15, 2026.

The surcharge applies to cargo originating in Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Nepal. Maersk said the revised charge would remain in effect until further notice.

The peak season surcharge applies to all dry container equipment covered by the announcement. Maersk published a single rate of $1,500 for the affected origins and destinations, without distinguishing between container sizes.

The carrier did not provide specific information about the market conditions behind the revision. Peak season surcharges are generally introduced when carriers expect stronger booking demand, tighter vessel capacity or operational pressure on a particular trade.

For shippers, the additional charge represents a direct increase in the cost of moving containerised goods into two important Middle Eastern markets. A $1,500 surcharge can materially affect the landed cost of lower value cargo, particularly when the amount is applied alongside ocean freight, terminal fees and local charges.

The announcement covers cargo moving from Nepal even though the country is landlocked. Nepalese shipments typically travel overland to regional gateways before joining an international ocean service.

The surcharge will not apply to Maersk SPOT bookings. It applies to non SPOT bookings according to the carrier’s price calculation date rules.

For trades outside the scope of the US Federal Maritime Commission, the price calculation date is the scheduled departure date of the first water leg recorded when a non SPOT booking is confirmed.

For FMC regulated cargo, the relevant date is the final container gate in date. These distinctions determine whether a shipment falls before or after the August 15 effective date.

The charge will follow the freight payment terms attached to each booking. This means the party responsible for paying the ocean freight will also be responsible for the surcharge.

Maersk said the published amount remains subject to other applicable fees, including local and contingency charges. The surcharge does not replace those costs and does not alter tariffs filed or published under local regulatory requirements.

The carrier also noted that rates or surcharges affecting trades governed by the US Shipping Act or China Maritime Regulations are not binding when they differ from its tariff unless they are included in an applicable service contract or amendment filed with the relevant authority.

Customers can check current rate levels and structures through Maersk’s online tariff lookup service, which presently covers trades regulated by the Federal Maritime Commission and the European Economic Area.