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Peak Season Surcharges (Asia-Europe) 2026
What they are, who charges what, and what to expect
In short: All major carriers have announced Peak Season Surcharges (PSS) for June 2026, adding $500–$1,200 per container on top of your regular rate. Space is tight and more increases are expected. This article explains what a PSS is, what each carrier is charging, and what it means for your bookings.
What is a peak season surcharge?
A Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) is a temporary fee that carriers add to your freight rate during periods of high demand. It is separate from your base rate and from fuel-related surcharges.
Carriers announce a PSS when they expect booking volumes to be significantly higher than normal — typically in the run-up to summer or before major retail seasons. They give relatively short notice (days to a few weeks) and the surcharge applies to all new bookings from a specific date.
Current surcharges — June 2026
|
Carrier |
Per 20ft |
Per 40ft |
From |
To |
Source |
|
CMA CGM |
$500 |
$1000 |
June 1 |
June 14 |
|
|
CMA CGM (expected) |
$600 |
$1200 |
June 15 |
Until further notice |
|
|
HMM |
$400 |
$800 |
June 5 |
June 14 |
|
|
HMM (expected) |
$600 |
$1200 |
June 15 |
Until further notice |
|
|
Hapag-Lloyd |
$500 |
$1,000 |
June 8 |
Until further notice |
|
|
Maersk |
$300 |
$600 |
June 10 |
Until further notice |
|
|
ONE |
$500 |
$1000 |
June 15 |
Until further notice |
|
|
MSC |
— |
Up to $6,000 all-in* |
June 15 |
GRI |
* MSC is targeting $6,000/40ft as a new all-in rate from Asia to North Europe — roughly double the current spot rate.
Surcharges are already applied in rates on the Shypple platform. More increases are expected — keep a close eye on updates.
Why is this happening now?
The June 2026 peak season is earlier and more intense than usual. Several factors are converging at the same time:
- Carriers are cutting sailings deliberately. Blank sailings (cancelled departures) reduce available space and keep rates high.
- Shippers are rushing cargo before July 1. Surcharges are set to increase significantly on July 1. Many importers are moving cargo in June to avoid the higher cost.
- Seasonal export demand is building. Soybean exports from South America and other seasonal flows are adding extra pressure on available space.
- Ships still go around Africa. The Red Sea remains unsafe, so most vessels continue to take the longer Cape of Good Hope route, tying up more capacity.
- Available space on preferred sailings is filling quickly. When a booking option is available, acting on it promptly matters more than negotiating the rate. If you delay, the space may not be there.
What to expect next
The current surcharge environment is not expected to ease quickly:
- July 1 fuel surcharge update: Carriers recalculate their standard BAF quarterly. The July update will reflect the sharply higher fuel prices of the past months and is expected to be significantly higher than the current rate.
- Further PSS increases: Additional peak season surcharges may be announced for July. Monitor carrier communications and this article for updates.
- Possible relief: Ceasefire talks between the US and Iran are ongoing. If a deal is reached, fuel prices could ease — which would flow through to lower surcharges in Q3. This remains uncertain.