Maersk increases ECS from Indian Subcontinent to Europe

Maersk has announced an increase in its Emergency Contingency Surcharge (ECS) for shipments from the Indian Subcontinent to North Europe and the Mediterranean, covering the E3W and E4W trade lanes.

The revised surcharge will take effect from 6 April 2026 (Price Calculation Date), with further increases applied from 20 April 2026.

For shipments from North West India and Pakistan to North Europe (E3W), the ECS will rise from USD 700 per container (20’/40’) to USD 1,000, while reefer rates will increase from USD 1,700 to USD 2,000.

For cargo to the Mediterranean (E4W), the ECS will increase from USD 800–1,000 per container to USD 1,100–1,300 for dry containers, and from USD 2,000 to USD 2,300 for reefers.

The surcharge applies to all container types, including out-of-gauge (OOG), shipper-owned containers (SOC) and non-operating reefers (NOR), with 40’ special equipment charged at the same level as standard dry containers.

Maersk noted that the changes are subject to regulatory approvals and applicable notice periods, and that updated charges will be reflected in customer invoices.

The carrier added that the adjustments reflect ongoing operational challenges and cost pressures affecting the trade, and that further updates may follow depending on market conditions.