Maersk is revising its Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) for containerized cargo moving from China and Hong Kong to Kenya. The new rates, which take effect on March 2, 2026, are part of the carrier’s ongoing effort to manage seasonal demand and maintain service reliability on the Far East to East Africa trade lane.
The updated surcharge applies to both dry and reefer equipment and will be charged on a per-container basis. The new structure is as follows:
- 20-foot containers (dry and reefer): USD 500
- 40-foot containers (dry and reefer): USD 800
- 45-foot high dry containers: USD 800
The exact application of this surcharge depends on how the cargo is booked:
- Non-Spot Bookings: The rate is locked based on the Price Calculation Date (PCD). In non-FMC regions, the PCD is the scheduled departure of the first water leg. For FMC-regulated trades, it is determined by the last container gate-in date.
- Spot Bookings: The rate is determined by the estimated time of departure (ETD) of the first vessel at the time of booking confirmation.
Shippers and forwarders moving goods from the Far East into East Africa should factor these increased costs into their logistics budgets for March shipments.