Maersk has revised its Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) for container shipments originating from several Asian countries and destined for Southern Africa. The updated surcharge will take effect on July 1, 2026, and will remain in place until further notice. This PSS adjustment impacts cargo loaded in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. The destinations covered include Mozambique, Madagascar, Seychelles, Botswana, South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Angola, Namibia, Zambia, and Mauritius.
For freight forwarders and shippers, this means an increase in shipping costs for affected trade lanes. It is crucial to factor this revised surcharge into budgeting and pricing for shipments scheduled from July 2026 onwards. Given the broad range of origin and destination countries, many supply chains connecting Asia and Southern Africa will be impacted. Forwarders should communicate these changes to their clients promptly and consider how this might affect overall logistics costs and potentially lead to discussions on Incoterms and cost allocation.
