Maersk Announces Peak Season Surcharges on Shipments to Egypt, Portugal, U.S. and Tanzania
Shipping Arabia, October 21, 2026 – Maersk has announced new Peak Season Surcharges (PSS) across several international container shipping routes, affecting shipments from South America to Egypt and Portugal, South Asia to the United States, and China and Hong Kong to Tanzania. The revised charges will take effect on different dates between October 30 and November 15, 2026, depending on the trade route.
The Maersk peak season surcharges range from $500 to $6,500 per container across the affected corridors. The company has specified different rates based on shipment origins, destinations, and container sizes.
Maersk Introduces $500 Surcharge on South America–Egypt and Portugal Routes
Maersk will introduce a Peak Season Surcharge of $500 per container on shipments originating in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay and destined for Egypt and Portugal, effective November 1, 2026.
The surcharge applies to both dry and refrigerated containers, covering 20-foot and 40-foot equipment. The same charge will apply regardless of the two specified container sizes.
For shipments originating in Brazil and destined for Egypt and Portugal, the $500 surcharge will take effect on November 15, 2026, and remain applicable until further notice.
These measures establish separate implementation dates for shipments from Brazil and the other three South American countries, while maintaining the same surcharge amount across the specified container categories.
Peak Season Surcharges Reach $6,500 on South Asia–U.S. Shipments
Maersk has also announced additional Peak Season Surcharges on container shipments originating in several South Asian countries and destined for the United States, particularly the U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast.
Under the announced tariff, shipments from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Nepal, and Bhutan to these U.S. destinations will be subject to a surcharge of $6,500 per container.
The charge applies to both 20-foot and 40-foot containers. The announced coverage also includes shipments originating in southern and eastern India.
Meanwhile, shipments from Pakistan to the specified U.S. destinations will face a Peak Season Surcharge of $5,000 per container, applicable to both 20-foot and 40-foot equipment.
The revised charges establish different surcharge levels for Pakistan and the other South Asian origins identified in Maersk’s announcement.
Maersk Raises Surcharges on China and Hong Kong Shipments to Tanzania
In a separate adjustment, Maersk will increase Peak Season Surcharges on shipments originating in China and Hong Kong and destined for the Port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
The revised charges will take effect on October 30, 2026, and remain applicable until further notice.
Under the updated tariff, the surcharge will reach $1,100 per 20-foot container and $1,700 per 40-foot container.
Unlike the announced surcharges on the South American and South Asian routes, the revised charges for Dar es Salaam vary according to container size.
Together, the announcements introduce new and adjusted Maersk peak season surcharges across trade corridors connecting South America, Europe, North Africa, South Asia, North America, and East Africa.
The implementation schedule begins with the China and Hong Kong–Tanzania adjustment on October 30, followed by the South America–Egypt and Portugal measures on November 1 and November 15, 2026.
Source: Al Mal