Due to the temporary closure of the Twentekanaal, a new surcharge of €178 per container, per one-way journey, has been introduced for inland waterway transport serving the container terminals in Hengelo and Almelo, Netherlands. This additional cost became effective on July 25, 2026. The canal's closure has forced logistics operators to seek alternative routes and modes for cargo movement to and from these key inland terminals.
For freight forwarders and shippers, this development means an immediate increase in the cost of moving containers via inland waterways to and from the affected regions. Operations managers will need to factor this surcharge into their budgeting and pricing for shipments utilizing these terminals. It also highlights the vulnerability of inland supply chains to infrastructure disruptions, potentially leading to longer transit times or a shift to more expensive road transport alternatives if capacity allows. Forwarders should communicate these changes proactively to their clients and explore any available multimodal options to mitigate impact.
