Major global shipping lines are adding fuel surcharge fees to offset operational costs, with the adjustments affecting both cargo rates and passenger fares.
By Blue Africa News
Shipping companies are implementing temporary fuel surcharges due to rising fuel costs driven by the Middle East conflict, pitying Israel and the United States of America (USA) against Iran, with Iran staging retaliatory drone attacks against USA’s allies in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq, amongst others.
Fuel surcharge, according to Fedex.com is an additional fee imposed by transport companies to safeguard against fuel price fluctuations.
Major world carriers including Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Roble Shipping, Medallion Transport and Trans-Asia Shipping Lines are adding the fees to offset operational costs, with the adjustments affecting both cargo rates and passenger fares.
“Mediterranean Shipping Company will apply an Emergency Fuel Surcharge (EFS) to all cargo from Mediterranean (including West Mediterranean, Adriatic, East Mediterranean, Greece and Turkey) and Black Sea to Indian Sub-Continent, Red Sea and East Africa as from March 16, 2026 (BL date) until further notice,” said MSC in a media statement.
As per the communication, it will now cost more by US$30 to transport dry Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) cargo within Mediterranean and Black Sea to Red Sea, while it will cost US$50 more to transport TEU refrigerated cargo on the same route once the new rates become operational on March 16.
US$60 and US$90 will apply for dry cargo and reefer cargo respectively along the Mediterranean and Black Sea to East Africa route, while US$40 and US$60 rates will apply for dry and reefer cargo respectively, along the Mediterranean and Black Sea to Indian Sub-Continent route.
While announcing a fuel surcharge of its own, Robble Shipping noted that the move will assure the company of continued operations.
“We would like to inform our valued passengers and shippers that a temporary fuel surcharge will be implemented on all Passage Fare and Freight Rates effective March 9, 2026. This measure is necessary due to the recent increase in global fuel prices brought about by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East,” said the company.
“The surcharge will help us manage the rising fuel costs and ensure the continued operation of our vessels while maintaining safe and reliable service to the riding public. Please be assured that this fuel surcharge is temporary and will be lifted once fuel prices stabilise.”
Medallion Transport described implementation of a fuel surcharge as a difficult decision, but under the same breadth, emphasised that the adjustment was necessary to maintain the reliability of the company’s shipping services.
USA and Israel’s attacks against Iran led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil export route accounting for 20% of global oil. The strait which lies between Oman and Iran links the Gulf of Oman to the south and the Arabian Sea beyond.
Reuters reports that over 20 million barrels of crude, condensate and fuels pass through the strait daily on average in 2025, with Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) members; Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq exporting most of their crude oil via the strait, mainly to Asia.
Additionally, Qatar, which is among the world’s biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporters, sends almost all of its LNG through the strait. Experts have warned of a huge hike in the prices of fuel and gas globally if the war in the Middle East drags on.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez reminded the world that seafarers must not be targets in the war, following reports of seafarer fatalities in the Middle East.
“I am alarmed and deeply saddened to hear of a deadly attack on a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on 6 March 2026, in which at least four seafarers have reportedly lost their lives and three severely injured,” said Dominguez.
IMO estimates that around 20,000 seafarers remain stranded in the Persian Gulf, on board ships under heightened risk and considerable mental strain.
“This is unacceptable and unsustainable. All parties and stakeholders have an obligation to take necessary measures to ensure the protection of seafarers, including their rights and well-being, and the freedom of navigation, in accordance with international law.”
Oliver Ochieng, Blue Africa News