The surcharges come as shipping activity near the Strait of Hormuz slows and major European ports face ongoing congestion, with freight rates rising sharply on several high-volume trade lanes.
Maersk introduces steep surcharges on US-bound routes
Maersk will impose a $4,000 surcharge per container from the Indian Subcontinent and Middle East to the US and Canadian West Coast from 16 July 2025. A further surcharge of $3,500–$4,000 per container will apply to shipments from the same origin regions to the US East Coast and Gulf, depending on origin points.
Additional Maersk surcharges include:
- $1,000 per container from Far East Asia to Kattupalli, Visakhapatnam and Nepal (from 1 July)
- $1,400 per container from Far East Asia to ports in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the Maldives (from 1 July)
These surcharges are in addition to basic freight rates and local charges, as outlined in Maersk’s latest tariff publications.
CMA CGM targets transatlantic and South America trades
CMA CGM is also adjusting rates across multiple corridors:
- $150 per 40-foot dry container from North Europe to the US East Coast, Gulf and Mexico (from 1 July). Reefer containers will face surcharges of up to $800 per 40-foot unit.
- $300 per 40-foot container from North Europe to the US West Coast (from 15 June)
- €150 per TEU from North Europe to the South America East Coast
- €300 (or $300) per container from East and West Mediterranean ports to the same South American destinations
CMA CGM has additionally stated that while tensions in the Middle East Gulf are being closely monitored, container shipping operations in the region remain unaffected at this stage.
MSC increases Asia–Europe rates
MSC, the largest container shipping line by capacity, will raise its Freight All Kinds (FAK) base rate from the Far East to North Europe to $4,300 per 40-foot container from 1 July, up from $3,900 in mid-June. The increase reflects growing demand as well as strategic pricing adjustments aligned with those of rival lines.
Container traffic through the Strait of Hormuz down by 25% as rerouting continues
The latest round of PSS announcements takes place against a backdrop of regional instability and supply chain constraints. According to container shipping analyst Lars Jensen, writing on LinkedIn, the Strait of Hormuz remains operational, but the number of vessels transiting the area has dropped from 147 on 9 June to 111 by 15 June, likely due to rerouting and navigational risk.
“There is no direct impact presently on the Strait of Hormuz except for continuing high levels of electronic interference,” Jensen noted, referencing frequent GPS and AIS signal disruptions.
In addition, Jensen reported that bunker fuel prices have increased by around $35 per tonne since the Israel–Iran conflict escalated — a shift he described as a return to early April levels, rather than a cause for alarm.
He also pointed to increased US military activity in the region as a potential wild card:
“The unknown factor is whether or not the US decides to become directly involved,” he warned, citing recent repositioning of tanker aircraft and naval assets.
