CMA CGM has announced a fresh series of surcharges and rate adjustments across several global trade lanes, covering reefer cargo, inland transport, India–South America shipments and Mediterranean–Canada services. The measures are being introduced in response to congestion, low water levels and changing market conditions.
From September 1, CMA CGM will impose a €100-per-TEU Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) on refrigerated cargo moving from North Europe, the Baltic, Scandinavia, West Mediterranean and Adriatic to West Africa.
The carrier will also introduce a Port Congestion Surcharge for reefer cargo bound for Tema, Ghana, effective August 25. The charge will be €100 or US$115 per TEU for shipments from several European and Mediterranean origins, while cargo from other origins will face a US$400-per-TEU surcharge. CMA CGM cited congestion at Tema’s reefer yard as the reason for the additional charge.
European inland transport is also being affected. CMA CGM has introduced an Inland Emergency Fee because exceptionally low water levels on the Rhine and other European rivers are disrupting barge operations. Reduced capacity, congestion and longer terminal dwell times have increased transportation costs.
The inland fee will apply to shipments routed through Antwerp, Zeebrugge and Rotterdam. Charges are set at €50 per container for locations in Belgium and the Netherlands and €75 per TEU for locations in Germany, Switzerland and France. The measure applies to imports from August 24 and exports from September 1 and will remain in place until further notice.
CMA CGM has also maintained a US$2,000-per-dry-container PSS on shipments from the India West Coast, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to the East Coast of South America. From September 1, the surcharge will apply to long-term contracts, following its existing application across all contracts until August 31.
On the West Mediterranean–Canada trade, CMA CGM will introduce a Rate Restoration Initiative from September 15. The increase will be US$250 per 20-foot container and US$500 per 40-foot, 40-foot high-cube and 45-foot container.
The latest measures add to a broader series of CMA CGM rate and surcharge adjustments introduced in recent months across Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas. The carrier has also recently announced additional charges linked to the Panama Canal and other operational conditions.
For shippers, the multiple adjustments are likely to increase the landed cost of containerised cargo on several routes. Exporters and importers will need to factor the new charges into freight budgets and contract negotiations, particularly on trades affected by port congestion, inland-waterway disruptions and seasonal demand.
The latest surcharge programme highlights how environmental conditions and operational constraints are increasingly influencing container shipping costs, with carriers passing some of the additional expenses on to customers to maintain service reliability.