Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has announced a temporary revision to its Emergency Fuel Surcharges (EFS) effective May 1–15, 2026, applicable to containerized shipments across key trade corridors—including Northern Europe (encompassing the United Kingdom and the Scanbaltic region), the Red Sea, East Africa, the West Mediterranean, and the Adriatic Sea. This adjustment follows sustained volatility in global marine fuel markets, primarily driven by recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East.

MSC attributes the revision to elevated marine fuel prices and constrained bunker availability at critical supply hubs—factors that have collectively increased operational costs across its global network. The revised EFS rates are structured by origin-destination pair and container type (dry vs. refrigerated), as detailed below:

• Exports from Northern Europe (UK + Scanbaltic) to the Red Sea: USD 120 per TEU (dry), USD 180 per TEU (reefer);  

• Exports from Northern Europe (UK + Scanbaltic) to East Africa: USD 225 per TEU (dry), USD 340 per TEU (reefer);  

• Exports specifically from the Scanbaltic region to the Red Sea: USD 175 per TEU (dry), USD 265 per TEU (reefer);  

• Exports specifically from the Scanbaltic region to East Africa: USD 280 per TEU (dry), USD 420 per TEU (reefer);  

• Imports from the Red Sea to Northern Europe (UK + Scanbaltic): USD 120 per TEU (dry), USD 180 per TEU (reefer);  

• Imports from the Red Sea to the Scanbaltic region: USD 175 per TEU (dry), USD 265 per TEU (reefer);  

• Imports from the Red Sea to the West Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea: USD 90 per TEU (dry), USD 135 per TEU (reefer);  

• Intra-regional movements between the Red Sea and East Africa: USD 125 per TEU (dry and reefer);  

• Exports from East Africa to Northern Europe (UK + Scanbaltic): USD 225 per TEU (dry), USD 340 per TEU (reefer);  

• Exports from East Africa to the Scanbaltic region: USD 280 per TEU (dry), USD 420 per TEU (reefer);  

• Exports from East Africa to the West Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea: USD 205 per TEU (dry), USD 310 per TEU (reefer);  

• Exports from East Africa to the Red Sea: USD 125 per TEU (dry), USD 185 per TEU (reefer).

All rates are quoted in U.S. dollars per twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU), apply to shipments with bill of lading dates falling within the effective period, and cover both export and import cargo flows. The surcharges are intended solely to offset incremental fuel-related costs and ensure service continuity amid heightened market uncertainty.

MSC emphasizes that this is a time-bound, operationally justified measure—not a structural tariff change—and reaffirms its commitment to transparent pricing, schedule reliability, and resilient network performance across affected trade lanes.

Resource.: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/eHTAZA2WNY5M-58sk6KwdQ