en.Wedoany.com Reported - Maersk has adjusted the Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) for routes connecting 16 countries in the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent with ports on the U.S. East Coast, Gulf of Mexico, and Canada. The new rates take effect from August 4, 2026, and apply to both standard dry containers and reefer containers.

For dry containers, including 20-foot standard containers, 40-foot standard containers, and 40-foot high-cube containers, the surcharge is applied at a flat rate regardless of container size, but is determined based on the specific origin and destination port. For cargo originating from Northwest India, Nepal, and Bhutan, if the destination port is not Houston, an additional $4,650 is required; if the destination is Houston, the surcharge for cargo from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, and Bhutan rises to $4,800. Cargo shipped from South and East India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Maldives to other terminals requires $4,500; cargo originating from Pakistan carries a surcharge of $4,000; and the Middle East block (including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, Bahrain, and Yemen) has the lowest surcharge at $2,000 per container.

For reefer containers, Maersk has set fixed charges regardless of whether the container is 20 feet or 40 feet. Reefer cargo originating from Pakistan carries the highest surcharge at $4,000. Cargo from Northwest India and specific terminals in South and East India (such as Chennai, Kolkata, Tuticorin, and Cochin) requires an additional $3,700. Reefer export cargo from regions such as the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka carries a surcharge of $3,000.

Maersk noted that this surcharge will be collected in the same manner as the main freight and calculated based on the "Price Calculation Date," which is determined by either the vessel departure date or the container gate-in date, depending on international regulations for each route. The surcharge applies only to long-term contract shipments and does not include spot bookings made through its digital instant platform.