New charges from MSC on cargo from the Arabian Peninsula and Indian subcontinent add pressure to trade flows serving African markets and Indian Ocean islands.
MSC Introduces War Risk Surcharge on Africa-Bound Cargo
According to an MSC customer advisory published on 4 March 2026, Mediterranean Shipping Company has introduced a War Risk Surcharge on cargo moving from the Arabian Peninsula to West Africa, East Africa, South Africa, Mozambique and the Indian Ocean Islands due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The company said the measure follows disruption to maritime traffic linked to the security situation in the Middle East, with the surcharge taking effect as of yesterday, based on gate-in date, until further notice.
Routes and Rates Affected
The advisory states that the surcharge applies to cargoes moving from Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The charges are set at USD 2,000 for 20 ft containers, USD 3,000 for 40 ft containers and USD 4,000 for reefer cargo. MSC said, “The evolving security situation in the Middle East is affecting maritime traffic in the Straits of Hormuz and Bab El – Mandeb and causing disruption throughout our network.”
Additional Detail on Indian Subcontinent Shipments
According to reports, the carrier is also applying war-related surcharges to shipments from the Indian subcontinent to African destinations and Indian Ocean islands. For those cargoes, dry containers will be charged USD 500 per 20-foot equivalent unit, while refrigerated containers will be charged USD 1,000 per TEU. It also noted that higher rates apply to cargoes originating from Gulf countries.
The additional costs come as rising security risks and disruption in Middle Eastern maritime traffic place added strain on shipping flows serving African markets. Rising oil prices could intensify economic pressure across much of the continent and only a limited number of Sub-Saharan oil exporters, including Nigeria, Angola and Ghana, are positioned to benefit meaningfully from the price surge.
Wider Shipping Implications
The surcharge covers cargo moving from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to East Africa, Somalia, Mozambique and Indian Ocean island ports. The measure applies to cargo from Gulf countries bound for destinations across West, East and Southern Africa, as well as Mozambique and Indian Ocean island markets.
Shipping companies have increasingly adopted such measures as security risks and operational disruptions affect traffic through critical maritime chokepoints. These surcharges are typically introduced to offset higher operational costs associated with navigating areas exposed to geopolitical tensions or maritime security threats.
What the Move Signals
The additional charge clearly represents a fresh cost increase on trade lanes linking the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent with African markets. For businesses relying on these routes, the immediate impact is a more expensive shipping environment across several key corridors while the conflict continues.
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