Maersk has announced revisions to its emergency container shipping surcharges, introducing an additional $2,000 charge on shipments destined for five Middle Eastern countries while reducing surcharges on selected trade routes from the Middle East to West Africa.
Effective November 9, 2026, the revised Emergency Operational Cost Recovery Surcharge will apply to shipments originating from ports worldwide, excluding the Far East, and destined for Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The additional $2,000 surcharge will apply to both dry and refrigerated containers, covering 20-foot and 40-foot equipment, over and above the existing ocean freight rates. The revised charges will remain in effect until further notice.
In a separate development, Maersk will reduce its emergency surcharges on the Middle East–West Africa (W2MW) trade route with effect from November 1, 2026.
The reduction covers shipments originating from Jebel Ali, Fujairah and Khor Fakkan in the UAE, and Sohar in Oman, destined for West African ports.
Under the revised tariff structure, the surcharge for 20-foot containers will decrease from $3,950 to $3,450, while the charge for 40-foot containers will fall from $5,150 to $4,650. This represents a reduction of $500 per container for both equipment sizes compared with the rates applicable until October 31, 2026.
The latest adjustments reflect contrasting surcharge movements across Maersk’s regional trade lanes, with increased costs for cargo moving into key Gulf markets and reduced emergency charges for shipments from selected Middle Eastern ports to West Africa.