Maersk has announced changes to the Emergency Contingency Surcharge (ECS) affecting shipments from North America and Central and West Coast South America to key ports in the Middle East.
The revised surcharge applies to cargo moving on the North America–Middle East trade (M3E) and the Central and West Coast South America–Middle East trade (B1N).
According to the company, the updated ECS will apply to shipments destined for Red Sea ports including Jeddah, King Abdullah and Aqaba, as well as Salalah in Oman.
The surcharge increase will take effect based on the price calculation date (PCD). For non-FMC regulated commodities, the new charges will apply from 15 March 2026. For FMC regulated commodities, the revised surcharge will take effect from 6 April 2026.
Under the new structure, the ECS will be set at USD 1,800 for 20-foot dry containers and USD 3,000 for 40-foot, 40-foot high-cube and 45-foot high-cube containers.
The updated rates will apply to cargo shipped from Central America and the West Coast of South America to the Red Sea ports of Jeddah, King Abdullah and Aqaba, as well as Salalah. The same surcharge levels will also apply to shipments from North America to the same destinations.
Maersk noted that the surcharge adjustments remain subject to any required regulatory approvals and applicable notice periods. Customers will see the relevant charges reflected on their invoices once the updated ECS takes effect.
The company said it will continue to monitor developments and will provide further updates should additional changes become necessary.
