Ocean Network Express to Add 12% Kenya Rail Surcharge
The Emergency Inland Fuel Premium takes effect 18 November 2026 for non-FMC trades and 4 December 2026 for FMC-regulated trades and Canada.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Transportation
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Ocean Network Express will apply a 12% Inland Fuel Surcharge to rail services in Kenya, calculated against the applicable inland base rate. The surcharge takes effect 18 November 2026 for non-FMC-regulated trades and 4 December 2026 for FMC-regulated trades and Canada.
Why it matters
The carrier attributes the adjustment to fuel price changes published by Kenya's Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority. Charges differing from the published tariff apply only when formally agreed through a service contract or filed with the relevant regulator.
The Emergency Inland Fuel Premium is a 12% charge applied to the applicable inland base rate on rail services for cargo loaded or discharged in Kenya. The notice does not state the total surcharge revenue expected or how many shipments are affected.
The players
Ocean Network Express
Ocean Network Express is a global container shipping carrier that publishes tariffs and surcharges for its ocean and inland services.
Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority
The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority is Kenya's national regulator responsible for publishing fuel price changes that influence carrier surcharges.
The details
The surcharge applies to rail services for cargo loaded or discharged in Kenya and covers the United States, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, Guam, Saipan and Hawaii under the FMC-regulated scope. Canada falls under the later December effective date alongside FMC-regulated trades.
Timeline
18 November 2026: surcharge takes effect for non-FMC-regulated trades
4 December 2026: surcharge takes effect for FMC-regulated trades and Canada
Market Landscape
Carriers commonly tie emergency inland premiums to fuel indices published by national regulators, so shippers moving cargo through Kenya rail routes face costs that shift with local fuel prices. The approach gives carriers a formula-based pass-through mechanism rather than a fixed rate revision.
Shippers sending cargo to or from Kenya rail services will see an added 12% inland fuel charge on top of their base rate starting in the coming weeks. Businesses with service contracts should check whether their agreed rates already override the published tariff before the effective dates.
The takeaway
Shippers moving cargo through Kenya should review their contracts now, since only formally agreed or regulator-filed terms override the published tariff once the surcharge begins.
What happens next
The surcharge takes effect 18 November 2026 for non-FMC-regulated trades and 4 December 2026 for FMC-regulated trades and Canada.
Further reading
For broader context on how shipping costs move with fuel markets, see Transportation.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Container News.
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