Maersk has announced the introduction of a R24 000 (US$1 500) emergency contingency surcharge on dry container shipments from India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to South Africa and the Indian Ocean islands.
The surcharge will take effect on September 10 and will apply equally to 20-foot and 40-foot dry containers.
Maersk attributes the additional charge to ongoing operational challenges affecting global shipping networks, including prolonged voyage deviations, longer transit times, equipment repositioning costs, capacity constraints and higher operating expenses.
The carrier says these conditions require additional expenditure to maintain service reliability and network stability.
The surcharge will add directly to the landed cost of goods imported into South Africa on affected Maersk services.
Maersk said implementation of the surcharge is subject to applicable regulatory requirements, local notice periods and contractual arrangements. The company will continue to review market conditions and communicate any future adjustments through its usual advisory channels.
