Swire Shipping Raises Emergency Bunker Surcharge
Revised surcharges on Pacific-bound containers take effect for Bills of Lading dated on or after 15 November 2026.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Australia and New Zealand
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Swire Shipping has increased its Emergency Bunker Surcharge across several international and Pacific trades. The revised surcharge is US$535 per 20-foot container and US$1,070 per 40-foot unit for shipments from major global regions to Pacific destinations.
Why it matters
The increase raises shipping costs for freight moving to Pacific ports, including New Zealand and the Australian ports of Townsville and Darwin. The surcharge applies on top of the prevailing Bunker Adjustment Factor.
The Emergency Bunker Surcharge is US$535 for a 20-foot container and US$1,070 for a 40-foot unit on Pacific-bound shipments, layered on top of the prevailing March and first-quarter 2026 Bunker Adjustment Factor. The schedule does not indicate how long the revised rates will apply.
The players
Swire Shipping
Swire Shipping is a shipping company operating container services across Asia, the Pacific and other international trades.
The details
The revised rates apply to shipments from regions including North Asia, Greater China, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and the US West Coast to Pacific destinations. Pacific destinations named in the schedule include Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, New Zealand, Townsville and Darwin.
Timeline
15 November 2026: Revised surcharge applies to Bills of Lading dated on or after this date.
March and first-quarter 2026: Prevailing Bunker Adjustment Factor periods the new surcharge is applied in addition to.
Travel Outlook
The Emergency Bunker Surcharge sits on top of the existing Bunker Adjustment Factor, extending fuel-cost pass-through charges for shipments into the Pacific. Freight costs to Australian and New Zealand ports are affected as a result.
Travelers and shippers moving goods to Pacific ports should budget for the higher surcharge on Bills of Lading dated on or after 15 November 2026. The increase is added to the existing Bunker Adjustment Factor, so total freight costs will rise.
The takeaway
Shippers using Swire's Pacific services should account for the revised Emergency Bunker Surcharge when pricing freight for bookings dated on or after 15 November 2026. The charge stacks on the prevailing fuel adjustment, so the full cost is higher than the surcharge alone suggests.
Further reading
For more on the region's ports and routes, explore Australia and New Zealand travel coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Container News.
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