MSC raises India-Pakistan to Europe freight rates by $1,500 per container for August

MSC has announced a sharp increase in freight rates from India and Pakistan to Europe from 16 August 2026, with FAK rates rising by US$1,500 per container on key Antwerp and Valencia routes. The carrier has also announced new August rates from the Far East to Northern Europe, Mediterranean and Black Sea destinations.

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.

India and Pakistan to Europe

MSC’s latest price announcement, dated 29 July, sets new FAK rates from India and Pakistan to Europe from 16 August through 31 August 2026.

For Nhava Sheva–Antwerp, the rate rises from US$4,650 to US$6,150 per container, an increase of US$1,500 or about 32%. Rates from Ennore and Kolkata to Antwerp increase to US$6,350 and US$6,450 respectively.

The Valencia trade also sees a US$1,500 increase. Nhava Sheva–Valencia rises from US$4,750 to US$6,250, while Ennore and Kolkata increase to US$6,450 and US$6,550 respectively. Port Qasim–Antwerp and Valencia also move to US$6,150 and US$6,250.

The increase is particularly notable because MSC had set the Nhava Sheva–Antwerp rate at US$3,650 as recently as 22 June, before raising it to US$4,650 for August. This means the latest announcement represents a US$2,500 increase, or nearly 69%, compared with the June level.

Far East to Europe

MSC is also changing its FAK rates from the Far East to Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and Black Sea from 15 August 2026.

For Northern Europe, the 20DV rate increases from US$5,005 to US$5,100, while the 40DV/HC rate rises from US$7,700 to US$7,800.

However, the movement is not uniform across Europe. Far East rates to West Mediterranean and Adriatic ports fall from US$5,100 to US$4,900 per 20DV, while East Mediterranean and Black Sea rates decline by US$400 per 20DV to US$4,700 and US$4,800 respectively.

This makes the latest MSC announcement more of a route-specific rate adjustment than a blanket increase across the Asia-Europe trade.

Additional charges and freight impact

MSC’s India/Pakistan-Europe rates include the base ocean freight, Contingency Adjustment Charge, Piracy Risk Surcharge and ECA charges, but remain subject to additional charges including a US$250/TEU Bunker Recovery Charge, US$78/TEU ETS, US$16/TEU Fuel EU charge and US$125/TEU Emergency Fuel Surcharge. Origin and destination terminal charges also apply.

For Far East-Europe shipments, MSC lists an August Global Fuel Surcharge of US$271/TEU, alongside ECA, Carbon Limitation and Carbon Review surcharges.

The timing is also significant. Freightos data showed Asia–Northern Europe rates falling 3% in late July, while Asia–Mediterranean rates declined 2%, indicating that MSC's latest pricing is not simply reflecting a broad spot-market increase across every Asia-Europe corridor.

For Indian and Pakistani exporters, however, the latest FAK revision represents a substantial increase in the quoted ocean-freight component for August shipments. Shippers with cargo planned for the second half of August will need to factor the higher rates and associated surcharges into landed-cost calculations and freight negotiations.

Effective dates: 15 August 2026 for Far East-Europe; 16 August 2026 for India/Pakistan-Europe
Validity: Through 31 August 2026
Key increase: India/Pakistan → Europe rates rise by US$1,500/container on listed Antwerp and Valencia services.