CMA CGM has announced a Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) of up to US$10,000 on container shipments from Asia to the United States, as the carrier adjusts pricing amid tight capacity and changing market conditions.
The surcharge applies to selected Asia–US services and varies according to the origin, destination and container type. The unusually high level of the PSS highlights the pressure on freight rates as carriers respond to demand, vessel availability and disruptions affecting major global trade lanes.
The move comes as the transpacific market enters a period of heightened uncertainty. Carriers have been adjusting capacity and pricing as shippers manage inventory levels and respond to changing tariff and trade conditions.
The new PSS is expected to increase shipping costs for exporters moving cargo from Asian manufacturing hubs to US markets. For high-volume shippers, the additional charge could have a significant impact on landed logistics costs and may prompt some customers to review shipment timing and routing.
CMA CGM has increasingly relied on temporary surcharges to respond to market-specific cost and capacity pressures across its global network. The carrier has also introduced additional charges on other major trades in recent months.
The latest increase comes against a backdrop of volatile container freight markets, with carriers closely monitoring US import demand and the impact of trade-policy changes. Higher surcharges could also influence spot-market negotiations as shipping lines seek to capture stronger yields during periods of constrained capacity.
For freight forwarders and beneficial cargo owners, the new PSS will make Asia-US rate management more challenging, particularly for shipments with flexible loading schedules.
The size of the surcharge underscores the continuing volatility in transpacific container shipping and the ability of carriers to make sharp pricing adjustments when market conditions tighten.