MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company has announced the implementation of several Emergency Fuel Surcharges (EFS) across multiple trade lanes as rising fuel costs and operational pressures continue to impact global shipping operations.
The new surcharges will take effect from 16 March 2026 and will remain in place until further notice, depending on the trade lane either based on the sailing date, gate-in date or pro-forma date.
For shipments moving from the Southern Africa region, including South Africa, Namibia and Mozambique, as well as East Africa, to destinations in IPAK, the Middle East and the Red Sea, the surcharge will be set at USD 118 per TEU for dry containers and USD 177 per TEU for refrigerated containers.
Cargo moving from the same origins to destinations in the Indian Ocean, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Suva will be subject to a surcharge of USD 123 per TEU for dry containers and USD 185 per TEU for reefer cargo.
MSC has also introduced an Emergency Fuel Surcharge on shipments from Tanzania to the Middle East, IPAK, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Far East. The surcharge will be USD 99 per TEU for dry containers and USD 148 per TEU for refrigerated containers.
For regional trades between South Africa and Namibia and ports in Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya in both directions, the EFS will be set at USD 118 per TEU for dry cargo and USD 177 per TEU for refrigerated containers.
In addition, MSC will apply a new Emergency Fuel Surcharge on shipments from Northern Europe, including the United Kingdom and Scanbaltic region, as well as the Mediterranean, to Australia and New Zealand. The surcharge will be USD 200 per TEU for dry containers and USD 300 per TEU for reefer containers. Equivalent charges will also apply in euros and pounds sterling.
A separate EFS will also apply to cargo moving from Northern Europe, including the UK and Scanbaltic region, to Italy. The surcharge will be USD 70 per TEU for dry cargo and USD 105 per TEU for refrigerated containers.
MSC has also announced revised surcharges for short-sea trades within Europe. For cargo moving between Northern Europe, the UK and Scanbaltic and destinations in Greece, Turkey, the Adriatic and the Black Sea, the EFS will be USD 81 per TEU for dry cargo and USD 121 per TEU for reefer cargo.
For shipments between the UK and destinations in the Bay of Biscay, northern Spain and Portugal, the surcharge will be USD 37 per TEU for dry containers and USD 55 per TEU for refrigerated containers.
Cargo moving between Scanbaltic ports and the Bay of Biscay region will face a surcharge of USD 74 per TEU for dry cargo and USD 111 per TEU for refrigerated containers.
For intra-Northern Europe trades within the NWC, UK and Scanbaltic region, the EFS will be USD 56 per TEU for dry containers and USD 84 per TEU for refrigerated cargo.
Finally, shipments moving within the Greece, Turkey and Black Sea region will be subject to a surcharge of USD 88 per TEU for dry containers and USD 132 per TEU for refrigerated containers.
MSC noted that these announcements replace previous customer communications issued earlier in March 2026. All other applicable price components for the relevant trades remain unchanged.
