CMA CGM announces congestion surcharges for three West African ports
CMA CGM has announced port congestion surcharges for shipments to three West African ports, citing operational conditions at Tema in Ghana, Freetown in Sierra Leone and Monrovia in Liberia.
The French container shipping company issued three separate customer advisories on 16 October 2026, outlining the applicable charges for dry cargo, refrigerated containers and special equipment. The surcharges are scheduled to take effect on 1 November 2026, based on the loading date, with implementation deferred to 15 November for shipments originating in the United States and Brazil.
The amounts vary according to the destination, geographical origin and equipment category, with some charges calculated per TEU and others per TC, as specified in the carrier’s announcements.
Tema congestion surcharges
For shipments to Tema, CMA CGM has announced a surcharge of EUR 200 or USD 200 per TC for dry cargo, depending on the origin. An exception applies to shipments from the Far East, where the charge is USD 200 per TEU.
Refrigerated cargo will be subject to a higher surcharge of EUR 850 or USD 1,000 per TEU, according to the applicable origin.
The measures cover shipments from the Far East, Northern Europe, the Eastern and Western Mediterranean, the Adriatic, the Black Sea, North Africa, North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean, as well as the Guyanas and northern Brazil.
The carrier said the charges reflect the current operational situation at the Ghanaian port.
Revised charges for Freetown and Monrovia
For Freetown, CMA CGM has announced an updated port congestion surcharge structure covering dry, refrigerated and special equipment.
Shipments originating in Northern Europe, the Western Mediterranean, the Adriatic and North Africa will incur a surcharge of EUR 350 per TEU.
Cargo shipped from North America, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea will be subject to USD 400 per TEU. A higher surcharge of USD 700 per TEU will apply to shipments from the Far East, the Indian Subcontinent, the Middle East Gulf, South America, Central America and the Caribbean, and the Guyanas and northern Brazil.
For Monrovia, the carrier has introduced separate rates for dry and refrigerated cargo. Shipments from Northern Europe, the Western Mediterranean, the Adriatic and North Africa will be charged EUR 250 per TC for dry cargo and EUR 600 per TEU for refrigerated containers.
For shipments from the Far East, the Indian Subcontinent, the Middle East Gulf, North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean, the Guyanas and northern Brazil, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea, the corresponding charges will be USD 300 per TC for dry cargo and USD 700 per TEU for refrigerated equipment.
The Monrovia measures also cover special equipment, although the advisory specifies separate amounts only for dry and refrigerated cargo.
All three surcharge announcements state that the charges will be settled together with freight payments. The measures are scheduled to apply from the beginning of November, subject to the later implementation date specified for the United States and Brazil.
