MSC and Maersk raise Middle East costs with surcharges and freight increases.

Instability in the Middle East is already having a direct impact on containerized shipping, with two of the world's largest companies rolling out extraordinary measures that drive up transport costs and increase uncertainty across logistics chains.

MSC has decided to apply an $800 per container surcharge on cargo destined for the Middle East, framing the measure as an operational response to growing risk. In practice, the company reserves the right to discharge cargo at the nearest safe port when conditions require, leaving costs and subsequent delivery management to the cargo owner.

In parallel, Maersk has introduced an Emergency Freight Increase tied to disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, covering traffic to and from several Gulf markets. The increase is presented as an emergency adjustment to compensate for route changes, operational constraints, and added costs in this critical shipping corridor.

The result is immediate: higher freight rates, greater pressure on insurance and planning, and a fresh test of schedule reliability in a region where any escalation can quickly ripple across global routes.

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