Maersk raises peak season surcharges on Europe-Middle East and Asia-India/Pakistan routes

Maersk is introducing and revising Peak Season Surcharges (PSS) on two major container trade corridors involving India, Pakistan and the Middle East, with the new rates taking effect from 15 August 2026.

The latest adjustments cover shipments from North Europe and the Mediterranean to the Middle East and Pakistan, as well as cargo moving from Far East Asia to India and Pakistan. The changes are expected to increase the freight cost for shippers using these routes during the peak-season period.

As posted earlier LW ICFI – Logisticswall Indian Container Freight Index for Ocean exports , as per the forecast of our team the ocean freight is expect rise September and slow down from October once the Chinese front loading stops.

Europe to Middle East and Pakistan

For shipments from North Europe and the Mediterranean to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Pakistan, Maersk is introducing a PSS of US$300 per 20-foot dry container and US$500 per 40-foot, 40-high-cube and 45-foot dry container.

The surcharge will apply from 15 August 2026 until further notice.

Far East Asia to India and Pakistan

On the Far East Asia–India/Pakistan trade, Maersk is revising its PSS for shipments from China, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and other listed Asian origins to Pipavav, Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Mundra and Pakistan.

The revised surcharge is set at US$600 per container for 20-foot, 40-foot and 45-foot high-cube dry equipment, effective 15 August 2026.

The affected Far East Asian origins include China, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, Brunei, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Timor-Leste.

Freight impact

The latest PSS changes add another layer of cost for exporters and importers moving containers on these corridors. For cargo destined for India and Pakistan from Asian manufacturing hubs, the US$600 per-container surcharge will directly increase the freight component of shipments.

For Europe-origin cargo, the additional US$300–500 per container will raise landed logistics costs for shipments into Pakistan and the Middle East.

Maersk's latest announcements also highlight how carriers are continuing to adjust pricing across major trade lanes as the market enters the second half of the year. The surcharge changes are therefore relevant for shippers negotiating August and subsequent freight bookings, particularly those operating on tight-margin cargo.

The Far East Asia surcharge is not applicable to spot bookings, while the applicable Price Calculation Date rules depend on the booking type and regulatory scope. Maersk also notes that the published rates remain subject to other applicable surcharges and local charges.

Effective date: 15 August 2026
Far East Asia → India/Pakistan: US$600 per 20ft/40ft/45HDRY container
North Europe/Mediterranean → Middle East/Pakistan: US$300 per 20ft and US$500 per 40ft/45HDRY container
Validity: Until further notice