EU ETS surcharges
Here you can find the latest updates on the EU-ETS surcharges.
This quarter's EU-ETS surcharge per TEU
| Trade lane | Currency | Q2 - 2026 | Q1 - 2026 |
| Middle East- Europe | EUR | 90 | 75 |
| Pacific- Europe | EUR | 75 | 65 |
| Indian subcontinent- Europe | EUR | 95 | 85 |
| Asia- Europe | EUR | 85 | 70 |
| North America - Europe | EUR | 75 | 65 |
| South America -Europe | EUR | 75 | 65 |
| Europe - Europe | EUR | 70 | 60 |
| Africa- Europe | EUR | 85 | 75 |
Why did carriers introduce this surcharge?
The EU ETS (Emissions Trading System) is a European Union climate initiative aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Since the maritime sector was included in this system, ocean carriers are legally required to purchase emission allowances (carbon credits) for the CO2 their vessels emit. Because this represents a massive new operational cost for carriers, they pass it directly on to the market as a variable surcharge per container (TEU).
What does this mean for you as an importer?
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Higher landed costs: For every container arriving at a European port from a non-EU (or intra-EU) country, the ETS surcharge applies. This increases your total freight costs and directly impacts the landed cost of your imported goods.
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Variable margins: Because the surcharge fluctuates every quarter based on the current market price of carbon credits, you need to factor this variable into your margin calculations.
What does this mean for you as an exporter?
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Increased export costs: This levy equally applies to containers departing from a European port to a destination outside (or inside) the EU. This results in an increase in the total ocean freight costs for your outbound shipments.
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Global competitiveness: As the cost of exporting from Europe increases, this is a crucial factor to monitor for your international pricing strategy and competitive position.
Other key details to highlight:
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Scope (50% vs 100%): The scheme covers 100% of emissions for voyages between two EU ports, and 50% of emissions for voyages between an EU port and a non-EU port.
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We are in the 100% phase: The EU ETS was phased in gradually. While carriers only had to pay for 40% of their emissions in 2024, as of 2026, this requirement has reached 100%. This explains the progressive increase in these surcharges over recent years.
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Quarterly adjustments: Carriers review and adjust the surcharge at the beginning of each quarter based on the trading value of emission allowances. Consequently, we update the rates on this page every quarter.
Summary