CMA CGM Raises FAK Rates, Introduces Peak Season Surcharge on Middle East and Red Sea Trades

French shipping major CMA CGM is set to revise its Freight All Kinds rates and introduce a new Peak Season Surcharge on cargo moving from the Mediterranean and North Africa to the Middle East Gulf and Red Sea, effective August 1, 2026.

What is changing in CMA CGM’s freight rates?

The updated FAK rates will apply to dry cargo and paying empty containers loaded from Mediterranean main ports until further notice. The move comes as carriers continue adjusting pricing structures on key east-west trade lanes amid shifting demand and ongoing regional disruptions affecting Red Sea and Gulf shipping routes.

What are the new FAK rates for Middle East Gulf shipments?

For cargo bound for the Middle East Gulf, CMA CGM has set rates at USD 7,600 per twenty-foot container and USD 7,800 per forty-foot container from the West Mediterranean and Adriatic regions. Shipments originating from the Black Sea will carry rates of USD 8,200 per twenty-foot and USD 8,400 per forty-foot container, while cargo from the East Mediterranean will be charged USD 8,100 per twenty-foot and USD 6,300 per forty-foot container.

What are the new FAK rates for Red Sea shipments?

For cargo destined for the Red Sea, rates will stand at USD 3,400 per twenty-foot and USD 3,600 per forty-foot container from the West Mediterranean. Shipments from the Adriatic will be charged USD 4,200 per twenty-foot and USD 4,400 per forty-foot container, while Black Sea cargo will carry rates of USD 4,700 per twenty-foot and USD 4,900 per forty-foot container. Cargo originating from the East Mediterranean will be priced at USD 3,600 per twenty-foot and USD 3,800 per forty-foot container.

The company clarified that the announced FAK rates cover basic ocean freight and bunker-related surcharges, while additional charges such as terminal handling fees, peak season charges, safety and security surcharges, contingency charges and local fees may apply separately.

What is the new Peak Season Surcharge structure?

Alongside the rate revision, CMA CGM will introduce a Peak Season Surcharge from August 1, 2026. A charge of USD 1,500 per container will apply to dry cargo, out-of-gauge cargo and paying empty containers shipped from the Adriatic, East Mediterranean and Black Sea regions to the Middle East Gulf and Red Sea.

The same USD 1,500 per container surcharge will apply to shipments moving from the West Mediterranean and North Africa to the Middle East Gulf. However, cargo moving from the West Mediterranean and North Africa to the Red Sea will attract a lower surcharge of USD 500 per container.

What does this mean for shippers and trade on these routes?

The rate revision and new surcharge structure reflect continuing volatility in Mediterranean to Middle East and Red Sea trade lanes, with carriers recalibrating pricing to manage capacity and cost pressures on routes affected by regional security concerns. Shippers and freight forwarders operating on these corridors will need to factor in the revised FAK rates and peak season charges when planning shipments from early August onward.