US Gulf to West Coast South America Trade: Maersk Officially Implements Peak Season Surcharge (PSS)

Danish carrier Maersk has issued an official advisory regarding the implementation of a Peak Season Surcharge for shipments originating from the US Gulf Coast destined for the West Coast of South America. This decision will take effect starting May 6, 2026, and will remain in place until further notice.

Scope of Application and Detailed Surcharge Rates

According to the routing announced by Maersk, this surcharge will directly impact shipments with the following origins and destinations:

● Port of Loading (POL): US Gulf Coast ports, including Houston, Mobile, and New Orleans.

● Port of Discharge (POD): Destinations on the West Coast of South America, including Buenaventura 
(Colombia), Ecuador, Chile, Peru, and Bolivia.

Regarding specific rates, the carrier is applying a uniform tariff for dry containers as follows:

● $150 per 20-foot container (TEU).

● $300 per 40-foot container (FEU).

Important Notes on Regulatory Application (FMC and Non-FMC)

For shippers and forwarders, it is particularly important to note that this Maersk PSS only applies to non-spot bookings. Shipments booked through the spot rate channel (spot bookings) will be entirely exempt from this surcharge.

Furthermore, the carrier clearly stipulates the "Price calculation date" depending on the legal nature of the trade lane:

● For non-FMC trades: The price calculation date will be based on the vessel's scheduled departure date.

● For FMC-regulated trades (Federal Maritime Commission): The price calculation date will be determined based on the last container gate-in date.

Maersk stated that this peak season surcharge will be collected in strict compliance with the mutually agreed freight payment terms.

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Source: Phaata.com (According to Container-News)

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