Maersk raises Emergency Contingency Surcharge by US$500 on Middle East-Africa routes
These adjustments apply to maritime routes linking major ports in Oman and the United Arab Emirates to destinations across East and West Africa.
MEA – Maersk has announced an upcoming revision to its Emergency Contingency Surcharge (ECS) for selected maritime services linking key ports across the Middle East to destinations in East and West Africa, effective August 15, 2026.
According to a trade advisory published by Maersk, the pricing adjustments are being introduced to address mounting operational challenges and escalating cost pressures across critical maritime trade corridors.
Across the specified origin ports and equipment categories, the tariff reflects a uniform surcharge increase of US$500 per container.
Temperature-Sensitive Freight and Reefer Rates
Temperature-sensitive freight will also incur updated rates: 20-foot reefer containers will increase from US$3,550 to US$4,050, whilst 40-foot high-cube reefers will increase from US$5,450 to US$5,950. Surcharges for 45-foot high-cube containers will match the 40-foot dry level at US$5,150.
On the West Africa corridor departing from the Omani port of Salalah under trade code W2MW, rates for 20-foot dry and 20-foot reefer units will increase from US$2,450 to US$2,950. Surcharges for 40-foot dry, 40-foot high-cube, 40-foot high reefer, and 45-foot high-cube containers will increase from US$3,650 to US$4,150.
East Africa Route Adjustments
For shipments to East Africa under trade code Z3ME from Sohar, Fujairah, and Khor Fakkan, the 20-foot dry container surcharge will increase to US$3,300, while 40-foot dry and high-cube containers will increase to US$4,500.
On the other hand, reefer equipment rates on this lane will be adjusted to US$3,950 for 20-foot units and US$6,400 for 40-foot high reefers. These adjustments apply to maritime routes linking major ports in Oman and the United Arab Emirates to destinations across East and West Africa.
Additionally, across all listed equipment types, including standard dry units and temperature-controlled reefer containers, customers will face a uniform US$500 increase per container.
The company attributes these rising tariffs to escalating operational challenges and cost pressures in these trade corridors. By updating these rates, Maersk aims to manage the financial demands of maintaining service reliability amid a challenging global logistics landscape.
As a result, affected exporters and logistics partners are encouraged to coordinate with regional teams to navigate these revised shipping costs.
Ultimately, the carrier remains prepared to review its pricing structure as market conditions evolve to sustain long-term service delivery in the region.
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