Shipping Arabia, September 28, 2026 – Maersk will introduce an $800 Heavy Weight Surcharge (HWS) on 40-foot containers shipped from Far East Asia to selected Middle East markets when the container’s verified gross mass (VGM) exceeds 20 metric tons.
The surcharge will take effect from the price calculation date of October 5, 2026. It will apply to contractual bookings for shipments destined for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.
Maersk will apply the $800 charge to qualifying 40-foot containers originating from Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Cambodia, Mongolia, South Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
Price Calculation Rules for the New Surcharge
The applicable price calculation date will depend on the type of booking and whether the shipment falls under U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) regulations.
For non-instant bookings outside trades regulated by the FMC, the applicable price calculation date will be the scheduled departure date of the first ocean leg as recorded when the booking is confirmed.
For shipments subject to FMC regulations, the price calculation date will instead be based on the date when the final container enters the port.
The new measure therefore introduces a specific weight threshold for 40-foot containers moving from the listed Far East origins to the seven Middle East destinations. Containers exceeding a VGM of 20 metric tons will be subject to the $800 HWS under the applicable contractual booking terms.
Maersk Revises 20-Foot Container Threshold to Northern Europe
Separately, Maersk has also revised the weight threshold that triggers its Heavy Weight Surcharge for shipments from the Far East to Northern Europe.
From the price calculation date of September 30, 2026, the surcharge will apply to all types of 20-foot containers with a VGM exceeding 28 metric tons. Containers above that threshold will incur an additional charge of $400.
The measure covers shipments originating from Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Cambodia, Mongolia, South Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
The two measures establish different weight thresholds and surcharge levels according to container size and trade route. For Far East-Middle East contractual shipments, the $800 surcharge applies to 40-foot containers above 20 metric tons from October 5. For Far East-Northern Europe shipments, the $400 charge applies to 20-foot containers above 28 metric tons from September 30.
Source: Al Mal