Maersk Raises India-Europe Surcharge

Maersk has announced a higher emergency contingency surcharge on shipments from the Indian Subcontinent to North Europe and the Mediterranean, with the revised rates set to take effect from 1 August 2026. The move affects cargo moving on the carrier’s E3W and E4W services across a wide origin base in South Asia.

Route-wise impact

The surcharge increase applies to exports from Northwest India, Pakistan, Nepal, South and East India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Bangladesh. For North West India and Pakistan shipments to North Europe, the ECS will rise to US$3,500 per container, while Bangladesh-linked shipments will face higher levels depending on equipment type.

On the Mediterranean trade, the surcharge for North West India and Pakistan will increase further, with separate revised levels for 20ft, 40ft dry and reefer cargo. The new ECS also applies to out-of-gauge, shipper-owned and non-operating reefer containers, widening the cost impact for a range of cargo types.

Trade and cost pressure

The surcharge revision is likely to add cost pressure on India-Europe cargo movements, especially for exporters using dry, reefer and special equipment. Such changes can affect freight budgeting, booking decisions and landed costs for shippers in sectors that depend on regular Europe-bound sailings