Maersk stated that the surcharge applies to all trade lanes to and from South Africa and covers both import and export container movements.
The minister praised Egypt’s unique geographical location, which qualifies it to be a regional hub for trade, distribution, and logistics services.
The ACI exemption shortens documentation lead times for refrigerated cargo transiting Egyptian ports en route to destinations in Africa.
Bananas were planted in January 2025 and are part of efforts to reduce reliance on costly fruit imports.
However, the resumption of trade will not be immediate.