MSC Extends Surcharges to Mediterranean Ports
Mediterranean and Black Sea ports will carry combined piracy and Suez Canal surcharges of US$91 per TEU from 15 November.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Transportation
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Mediterranean shipping line MSC will extend its Piracy Risk Surcharge and Suez Canal Surcharge to all remaining ports in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions starting 15 November 2026. The combined charge of US$91 per TEU applies to cargo moving from Asia.
Why it matters
The extension broadens charges that were first introduced in September for selected East Mediterranean and Black Sea ports, raising costs for shippers moving Asian cargo into the region. MSC attributes the move to security conditions and piracy risks around the Arabian Peninsula.
MSC's surcharge schedule sets a Piracy Risk Surcharge of US$55 per TEU and a Suez Canal Surcharge of US$36 per TEU, for a combined US$91 per TEU on Asia-origin cargo. The charges stay in place until further notice, with no end date specified.
The players
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)
MSC is one of the world's largest container shipping lines, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
The details
The surcharges will apply across the West Mediterranean, East Mediterranean, Adriatic, North Africa and Black Sea regions. The charges are calculated based on the proforma date.
Timeline
September 2026: MSC first introduced the surcharges for selected East Mediterranean and Black Sea ports.
15 November 2026: The surcharge extension to all remaining ports takes effect.
Market Landscape
The surcharges extend cost pressure first created by Red Sea and Suez Canal transit disruptions that began after attacks on commercial shipping in late 2023. Extending the charges across the Mediterranean and Black Sea shows the disruption now shaping pricing well beyond the original routes.
Shippers moving Asian cargo into Mediterranean and Black Sea ports will pay an extra US$91 per TEU from mid-November. Those costs may be passed on to retail prices for imported goods.
The takeaway
Importers serving Mediterranean and Black Sea markets should factor the US$91 per TEU surcharge into freight budgets from 15 November. Monitoring MSC's notices will help track whether the charges change.
What happens next
The surcharge extension to all remaining ports takes effect on 15 November 2026.
Further reading
Track broader freight cost changes in our Transportation coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Container News.
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