MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) will officially introduce an Emergency Fuel Surcharge (EFS) across multiple trade routes starting in early April 2026.
Effective April 2, 2026 (based on the Bill of Lading date), MSC will apply the new surcharge to shipments moving from Europe to the Indian Ocean Islands and Fiji. This specific surcharge excludes cargo destined for Reunion, Mayotte, New Caledonia, and Tahiti.
The new rates per TEU are as follows:
- Indian Ocean Islands (excluding Reunion and Mayotte): USD 275 (EUR 240) for dry cargo and USD 330 (EUR 285) for reefer cargo.
- Fiji: USD 200 (EUR 175) for dry cargo and USD 300 (EUR 260) for reefer cargo.
MSC is also applying an EFS on outbound cargo moving from the Indian Ocean Islands to global markets, again excluding shipments from Reunion and Mayotte. This outbound surcharge will also take effect on April 2, 2026.
Shippers should prepare for the following per TEU rate increases across these key global trade lanes:
- To Europe, East Med, Greece, Turkey, Black Sea, and North Africa: USD 140 (EUR 120) for dry cargo and USD 165 (EUR 145) for reefer cargo.
- To the USA, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean: USD 150 for dry cargo and USD 265 for reefer cargo.
- To the Middle East, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh: USD 118 for dry cargo and USD 177 for reefer cargo.
- To Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific islands: USD 123 for dry cargo and USD 185 for reefer cargo.
- Intra Indian Ocean trade: USD 47 for dry cargo and USD 71 for reefer cargo.
MSC confirmed that all other underlying pricing elements remain unchanged. The carrier stated it will keep the surcharge under continuous review and adjust as market conditions and fuel prices dictate.