CMA CGM has announced the introduction of a Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) on container shipments from Ain Sokhna Port, Egypt, to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, effective July 22, citing changing market conditions and rising demand on the Red Sea trade lane.
The surcharge will apply to both dry and refrigerated cargo. Dry containers will attract a US$150 per TEU surcharge, while refrigerated (reefer) containers will be subject to a US$300 per container surcharge.
The move comes amid continued growth in container and logistics activity at Jeddah Islamic Port, supported by major infrastructure upgrades aimed at improving cargo handling efficiency and strengthening Saudi Arabia’s logistics capabilities.
Recently, Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al-Jasser inaugurated a 1 million-square-metre truck staging area serving Jeddah Islamic Port. The facility, which functions as the first processing point for trucks heading to Gates 4 and 9, is expected to reduce congestion, improve traffic flow, and enhance the efficiency of cargo movements.
According to the minister, the development will help accommodate increasing trade volumes and shifting global shipping patterns, with more cargo being routed through Saudi Arabia’s western coast.
Saudi Arabia has also expanded its port logistics network to 34 logistics zones, backed by SAR 15 billion in private-sector investments. Recent projects include new facilities for commercial operations, marine services, import-export activities, and integrated logistics solutions, along with the expansion of Maersk’s logistics zone at Jeddah Port.
In addition, Chinese firm GD Logistics has committed investments in two logistics projects at Jeddah Port and Al Khumrah, marking its largest investment outside China, while five Saudi companies have signed agreements to develop additional logistics zones across the kingdom’s ports.
The introduction of the Peak Season Surcharge reflects evolving commercial conditions on the Ain Sokhna–Jeddah corridor as carriers respond to higher cargo demand and changing trade flows across the Red Sea.
