Maersk Imposes $1,000 Per Container Surcharge on Strait of Hormuz Transits

## Maersk Adds Hormuz Surcharge Amid Escalating Middle East Shipping Costs A.P. Moller-Maersk has announced a $1,000 per container surcharge for transits through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Seatrade Maritime, marking the latest escalation in shipping costs tied to instability across key Middle East waterways. The move adds a significant new cost layer for shippers relying on Persian Gulf routing, coming at a time when the broader region's logistics network remains under sustained pressure. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints, with an estimated 20% of global oil trade and substantial container volumes passing through the passage annually. The surcharge reflects the heightened risk environment carriers are navigating across the Middle East. Houthi militant attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea have already forced major carriers to reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, adding thousands of miles and significant costs to Asia-Europe voyages. The relationship between continued Houthi pressure and Maersk's decision to impose the Hormuz charge remains unclear, though the cumulative effect on regional logistics is considerable. ### Broader Impact on Middle East Trade For shippers with cargo moving to or from Gulf ports — including those serving Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, and Iran — the new surcharge represents a direct increase in landed costs. Importers and exporters in the region are now contending with a compounding set of surcharges and rerouting costs that have materially altered the economics of Middle East trade since the onset of Red Sea disruptions in late 2023. Carriers across the industry have introduced a range of war risk premiums, emergency surcharges, and rerouting fees in response to the security environment. Maersk's Hormuz surcharge signals that risk pricing is now extending more explicitly into the Gulf itself, rather than being confined to Red Sea and Gulf of Aden corridors. ### Market Implications The surcharge is likely to prompt scrutiny from beneficial cargo owners and freight forwarders seeking to manage rising logistics costs. Industry analysts will be watching whether rival carriers follow Maersk's lead with comparable charges, a pattern that has been observed repeatedly during the Red Sea crisis period. Shippers are advised to review current service contracts and consult with freight partners to assess exposure to the new surcharge and any additional risk-related fees that may follow as the security situation in the region evolves.