Maersk has introduced another emergency surcharge for containers heading to several Gulf markets, adding a further $500 per container to the mounting costs faced by shippers operating across the Middle East.
The new Emergency Operational Cost Recovery Surcharge applies to containers destined for the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq, with the exception of bookings originating from Far East Asia. According to Maersk announcements published last week, the charge applies to contract bookings and covers dry, reefer and special containers.
The surcharge is imposed on top of existing surcharges, local charges and contingency charges.
For shipments bound for the UAE, the $500 charge takes effect on September 15, while regulated countries have until October 9. For containers destined for Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq, the surcharge starts on September 17, with an October 11 deadline applying to regulated countries.
Maersk defines regulated countries as the United States, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Colombia, Puerto Rico and Brazil.
The carrier is also adjusting its handling of some cargo as supply chains continue to respond to rapidly changing conditions across the Middle East. Certain shipments booked with Khor Fakkan as their final destination, on the UAE’s eastern coast, will instead be discharged at Fujairah. From there, the cargo will be moved by bonded landside transport to Jebel Ali in Dubai.
The latest $500 surcharge comes on top of a series of emergency charges introduced by Maersk as regional disruption continues to push up operating costs.
In early March, the carrier announced emergency freight rates for cargo loading from or destined for ports in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE and Oman, with Salalah excluded. Those rates currently stand at $1,800 per 20-foot container, $3,000 per 40-foot container, and $3,800 per reefer, special or Dangerous Goods container.
Maersk subsequently introduced another surcharge in July, charging $1,000 per container for cargo requiring transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
In August, the carrier said the Hormuz transit fee was intended to cover additional expenses, including higher insurance premiums and crew risk compensation. The charge also replaced costs that had previously been billed separately for the landbridge solution.
The financial impact of the Middle East disruption is extending beyond specific Gulf routes. Maersk’s customers are also facing an Emergency Bunker Surcharge, ranging from $100 per 20-foot dry container on intra-regional trades to $600 per 40-foot reefer on the headhaul of long-haul services.
The pressure is not confined to ocean freight either. Maersk’s air freight operations are subject to a fuel surcharge of at least 15% of the transportation rate, linked to market indices.
The carrier also pointed to rising inland costs last week, announcing an Emergency Inland Fuel/Energy Surcharge of up to 20% for Store Door shipments in the Nordics.
In Macedonia, meanwhile, Maersk’s truck fuel surcharge has increased to 25% from September 14, up from 14%.
Taken together, the measures highlight how the continuing instability in the Middle East is translating into additional costs across ocean, air and inland transportation, with shippers facing a growing range of emergency charges as carriers respond to higher operational, fuel, insurance and security expenses.
