Thursday July 16, 2026
Mogadishu (AX) — Importers shipping goods from Turkey to Somalia will face new container charges from Maersk beginning later this month, after the global shipping giant announced a peak season surcharge effective July 28, 2026.
The fee will be charged on a per-container basis and applies to new bookings made from that date until further notice, the company said.
According to Maersk’s notice, shipments in 20-foot dry containers will incur a $200 surcharge, while 40-foot and 45-foot dry containers will be charged an additional $300.
Existing cargo commitments will remain exempt from the newly announced charge, Maersk said.
The company said it is introducing the surcharge to support continued global service coverage on the Turkey-Somalia shipping route.
Carriers commonly introduce peak season surcharges when demand for freight rises, vessel space becomes tighter or operating expenses increase.
Higher fuel costs, extended sailing routes, congestion at ports and other disruptions to maritime transport can also prompt shipping lines to add such fees.
Maersk did not identify a specific trigger for the Turkey-Somalia charge, though the move comes amid continuing market and operational pressures on global trade and freight costs.
The surcharge will cover non-SPOT bookings according to the price calculation date, or PCD, Maersk said.
For bookings not regulated by the Federal Maritime Commission, the PCD is the scheduled departure date for the first water leg when the booking is confirmed, the company said.
For FMC-related bookings, Maersk said the PCD for non-SPOT cargo is the final container gate-in date.
SPOT bookings will not be subject to the surcharge, according to the company.
Maersk added that the new rates could still be subject to other applicable fees, including local and contingency surcharges.
