Recently, the Asian export to Europe maritime market has once again received rate hike signals. Major shipping lines including CMA CGM, Maersk, and MSC have released their latest July price announcements, covering several key routes from the Far East to Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Black Sea. Based on the published price levels, 40-foot container freight rates on some North African routes have approached or exceeded the $10,000 mark!
CMA CGM announced that effective July 1, 2026, it will increase the FAK (Freight All Kinds) rates on the Asia-Northern Europe routes.
Coverage: From all Asian origins (including Japan, Southeast Asia, and Bangladesh) to all Northern European ports (including the UK and ports within the range from Portugal to Finland/Estonia).
Simultaneously, CMA CGM announced that effective July 1, 2026, it will impose a Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) on the Asia-Northern Europe routes. **The surcharge will be $1,000 per TEU.
From July onwards, with the combination of FAK and PSS on the Northern Europe routes, a 20-foot container will reach $4,700 per unit, and a 40-foot standard container, high cube, or reefer will reach $8,300 per unit.
CMA CGM announced that effective July 1, 2026, it will increase the FAK rates on the Asia-Mediterranean and North Africa routes.
Coverage: From all Asian origins to major ports in the West Mediterranean, Adriatic, East Mediterranean, Black Sea, and Algeria.
Simultaneously, CMA CGM announced that effective July 1, 2026, it will impose a Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) on the Asia-Mediterranean routes. **The surcharge will be $1,400 per 20-foot container and $2,800 per 40-foot container.**
With both FAK and PSS applicable in July, the combined rate for a 40-foot container from Asia to the West Mediterranean will reach $10,500, to the East Mediterranean and Black Sea will rise to $11,300, and to Algeria will break through the $13,000 mark.
Maersk announced that effective July 1, 2026 (with effect from July 10 for Korea), it will impose a Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) on routes from the Far East to Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.
Coverage:From China (including Hong Kong, Taiwan), Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Cambodia, Mongolia, South Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam to ports in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.
For cargo from the Far East to Northern Europe and the Mediterranean:
* $500 per 20-foot container
* $1,000 per 40-foot and 45-foot container
For cargo from the Far East to Syria:
* €430 per 20-foot container
* €860 per 40-foot and 45-foot container
MSC announced that effective from July 1 to July 14, 2026, it will increase the FAK rates on routes from the Far East to Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea.
**Coverage:** From all Far East ports (including Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia) to ports in Northern Europe, the Mediterranean (West Mediterranean, East Mediterranean, Adriatic, and North Africa), and the Black Sea.
In addition to the above freight rates, **MSC will also charge a CLS (Carbon Limitation Surcharge) of $20 per TEU, and a CRS (Carbon Review Surcharge)** . The **CRS for Northern Europe is $78 per TEU, and for the Mediterranean it is $117 per TEU.**
Recent weekly data from Drewry shows that spot freight rates on Asia-Europe routes, such as Shanghai to Rotterdam and Shanghai to Genoa, are still on an upward trajectory. The European line market shows no significant cooling in the short term.
For freight forwarders and exporters, July and August are likely to become one of the most volatile periods for freight rates this year. Especially for the European, Mediterranean, and North African markets, as the new rounds of FAK and PSS take effect, actual booking costs may continue to rise. Related companies need to plan their space and costs in advance to cope with changes in the peak season market.
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