Freight Surcharges Mount: Maersk Announces New PSS for Indian Subcontinent to US Lanes

The financial burden on South Asian trade corridors is tightening as maritime networks adjust to shifting global routes. Global shipping giant Maersk has officially announced a revised Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) for shipments originating from the Indian Subcontinent and Middle East—explicitly including Sri Lanka, India, and Bangladesh—bound for the United States East Coast, Gulf, and Canada.

Set to take effect in June 2026, the updated tariff places an additional surcharge of up to $1,500 to $1,800 per container (for 20-foot and 40-foot dry units depending on exact port destination entries like Houston). For local manufacturers and freight forwarders, this marks a steep rise in “landed cost” calculations. With ocean freight premiums climbing on these critical American export lanes, our domestic warehousing networks must be optimized to absorb margin pressures elsewhere. Transitioning to leaner, highly accurate inventory tracking systems is no longer a luxury; it’s a requirement to protect export profitability.

Strategic Takeaway: Regional export hedging requires cost agility. With carrier-enforced Peak Season Surcharges escalating for direct US and Gulf Coast lanes, logistics providers must focus on maximizing domestic warehouse and supply chain efficiencies to keep total landed costs sustainable for buyers.

Source: Maersk Operational Announcements – Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) – Indian Subcontinent & Middle East to US East Coast & Gulf – May 11, 2026