Maersk revises peak season surcharge for India–South Africa shipments
Maersk has announced revised Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) rates for refrigerated container shipments from India to South Africa, with the changes scheduled to take effect on 23 October 2026.
The revised charges apply to selected Indian ports and South African destinations, with different surcharge levels depending on the port of origin and refrigerated container type. According to the carrier’s advisory, the updated rates will remain in effect until further notice.
The highest announced surcharge is $1,600 for 40-foot high-cube refrigerated containers shipped from Cochin to specified South African ports. A separate surcharge of $750 will apply to all refrigerated container types moving from Mundra and Jawaharlal Nehru to South Africa.
Revised surcharge rates
| Origin | Destination | Container type | PSS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cochin | Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Coega and Cape Town | 40HREF | US$1,600 |
| Mundra and Jawaharlal Nehru | South Africa | All reefer types | US$750 |
The revised charges apply from 23 October 2026 and cover the specific origin, destination and equipment combinations identified in Maersk’s announcement.
For non-spot bookings, the applicable surcharge is determined according to the Price Calculation Date (PCD). For shipments outside the jurisdiction of the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), the PCD corresponds to the scheduled departure date of the first sea leg at the time of booking confirmation.
For FMC-regulated shipments, the PCD is determined by the final container gate-in date for non-spot bookings.
Maersk confirmed that the revised Peak Season Surcharge does not apply to SPOT bookings.
