Hapag-Lloyd announces new freight rate increases and surcharges across major trade routes
Hapag-Lloyd has announced two upcoming freight rate adjustments affecting shipments from the Indian Subcontinent, Pakistan and the Middle East to North America, as well as cargo moving from the east coast of South America to several destinations across the Americas.
The measures will take effect in early November 2026, introducing a General Rate Increase (GRI) / General Rate Adjustment (GRA) on one group of trade routes and a separate Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) on another.
The new Hapag-Lloyd freight rate increases will vary according to the trade route, container size and shipment type. While the North American adjustment will remain effective until further notice, the South American surcharge will apply for a limited 30-day period.
Hapag-Lloyd freight rate increases for North America
From 1 November 2026, Hapag-Lloyd will implement a GRI/GRA on shipments originating in the Indian Subcontinent, Pakistan and the Middle East and destined for North America.
The adjustment covers 20-foot and 40-foot dry, refrigerated and special containers, including High Cube equipment.
The announced increases differ according to the destination coast.
Shipments moving to the North American East Coast and Gulf Coast will face an increase of USD 1,000 per container. Meanwhile, cargo destined for the North American West Coast will be subject to a higher adjustment of USD 1,500 per container.
The difference between the two rates amounts to USD 500 per container, with the higher increase applying to West Coast destinations.
According to the carrier, the revised rates will apply to all containers gated in full from 1 November 2026.
Unlike an adjustment with a predetermined expiry date, this measure will remain in effect until further notice.
The announcement does not distinguish between dry, refrigerated and special equipment in terms of the surcharge amount. Instead, the applicable increase depends on the destination coast.
Further details on applicable Ocean Tariff rates are available through Hapag-Lloyd’s official tariff section.
New peak season surcharge from South America
A separate pricing measure will follow on 5 November 2026, when Hapag-Lloyd introduces a Peak Season Surcharge on shipments originating from the east coast of South America.
The surcharge covers cargo destined for the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, the west coast of South America, Colombia, Venezuela and Suriname.
However, the carrier has specified that this measure applies exclusively to long-term shipments.
The surcharge amounts to USD 500 per 20-foot dry container and USD 1,000 per 40-foot dry container.
Consequently, the announced charge for a 40-foot dry container is twice the amount applicable to a 20-foot unit.
Unlike the GRI/GRA affecting shipments to North America, the South American PSS has a defined validity period.
Hapag-Lloyd stated that the surcharge will remain in effect for 30 days from 5 November 2026.
The announcement identifies only 20-foot and 40-foot dry containers as equipment covered by this measure. It does not specify equivalent charges for refrigerated or special containers.
Different pricing measures and implementation periods
Although both announcements concern freight pricing, the two measures differ in their application and duration.
The GRI/GRA for shipments from the Indian Subcontinent, Pakistan and the Middle East targets a broader range of container equipment and applies to cargo moving to North America.
Its implementation is linked to the date on which containers are gated in full, with the new amounts taking effect from 1 November.
In contrast, the Peak Season Surcharge from the east coast of South America applies only to long-term shipments using specified dry container sizes.
The South American measure also covers a wider geographical range of destinations across the Americas, rather than focusing exclusively on North American coastal regions.
Another difference concerns the validity period. The North American GRI/GRA has no announced expiry date, whereas the South American PSS is scheduled to remain in place for 30 days.
The carrier has published the adjustments separately, with each measure subject to its own applicable conditions.
For shipments affected by either announcement, the relevant increase will depend on the origin, destination, container equipment and applicable shipment terms.
