French shipping company CMA CGM has announced the implementation of peak season surcharges (PSS) on shipments from China to West Africa. The surcharges will take effect on October 15, 2026, for cargo loaded from central and southern Chinese ports to West African ports, including Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, and Togo. The surcharges will apply to dry and refrigerated containers.
The peak season surcharge for shipments to certain West African ports, including Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, and Togo, will be $200 per twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU). For shipments to other West African ports, including Liberia, Senegal, Mauritania, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, and São Tomé and Principe, the surcharge will be $400 per TEU.
CMA CGM has also decided to impose a peak season surcharge on shipments from the Far East to Durban, South Africa. The surcharge will take effect on October 8, 2026, and will be $550 per TEU. This move is part of CMA CGM's efforts to provide reliable and efficient services to its customers.
In addition to the above surcharges, CMA CGM will also impose a surcharge on refrigerated containers from Chile, Peru, and Ecuador to North Europe. The surcharge will take effect on October 15, 2026, and will be $800 per TEU. This surcharge is also aimed at ensuring that CMA CGM's services remain reliable and efficient.
The implementation of these surcharges is a strategic move by CMA CGM to adjust to changing market conditions and to ensure that the company remains competitive. The surcharges will help CMA CGM to maintain its service quality and to continue providing its customers with reliable and efficient shipping solutions.
CMA CGM's decision to impose peak season surcharges on multiple shipping routes is expected to have an impact on the shipping industry. The company's customers will need to factor in these additional costs when planning their shipments. The surcharges will also have implications for the overall cost of shipping and may affect the competitiveness of certain routes.
The peak season surcharges imposed by CMA CGM are a common practice in the shipping industry. Many shipping companies impose surcharges during peak seasons to manage capacity and to ensure that they can provide reliable services to their customers. The surcharges will help CMA CGM to manage its capacity and to ensure that it can meet the demand for its services during peak periods.
Key points
- CMA CGM to impose peak season surcharges on shipments from China to West Africa
- Surcharge of $200-$400 per TEU to be imposed on certain West African ports
- Additional surcharges to be imposed on refrigerated containers from Chile, Peru, and Ecuador to North Europe
