MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company has announced new surcharges on several trade lanes as the evolving security situation in the Middle East continues to disrupt maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb.
The carrier will implement an Emergency War Surcharge for cargo moving from the Indian Subcontinent — including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh — to East Africa, Somalia, Mozambique and the Indian Ocean islands. The surcharge will take effect on March 5, 2026 (gate-in date) and will be set at USD 500 per TEU for dry cargo and USD 1,000 per TEU for reefer cargo.
At the same time, MSC will introduce a War Risk Surcharge for shipments moving from the Arabian Peninsula — Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — to West Africa, East Africa, South Africa, Mozambique and the Indian Ocean islands.
This surcharge, also effective from March 5, 2026 (gate-in date), will be charged at USD 2,000 per 20-foot container, USD 3,000 per 40-foot container and USD 4,000 per reefer container.
MSC said the measures are necessary to address operational disruptions across its network caused by the ongoing regional security developments.
