Maersk's Latest Move: Steep Hike in Cargo Insurance and Cargo Care Fees at Middle East Ports Amid Escalating Risks

Ocean carrier Maersk has issued an official advisory regarding the review and upward adjustment of fees for its Maersk Cargo Insurance and Maersk Cargo Care services. This decision applies to ocean freight shipments with loading or discharge points at port systems in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Lebanon, and Israel.

Regarding the implementation timeline, the updated tariffs will officially take effect on April 13, 2026, for non-FMC trade lanes. For trades subject to Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) regulations (FMC-regulated trades), the new rates will be activated on May 13, 2026, and will remain in place until further notice.

According to the carrier's explanation, this price hike directly reflects the escalating risk of cargo damage in the affected markets. This has compelled Maersk to implement fee increases across all insurance tiers to ensure effective risk management.

Detailed Structure of the Updated Cargo Insurance Fees

Under the new tariff structure, cargo insurance services will be segmented based on cargo type and geographical region, depending on the selected insurance package:

●    For dry shipments: The fee range fluctuates from $290 to $1,596 for the Saudi Arabian and Lebanese markets; whereas the Israel and UAE regions will see rates ranging from $309 to $1,696.

●    For temperature-controlled cargo: The fees are pushed higher, ranging from $480 to $2,599 for Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, and from $499 to $2,699 for the Israel and UAE trades.

Additionally, the Property Insurance categories within the Cargo Insurance framework have also been adjusted. Basic packages are now set at $1,214 and $1,259, while premium packages are priced at $1,909 and $1,969, depending on the port of origin and port of destination.

Adjustments to Cargo Care Service Fees

Similar to insurance, the tariff for Maersk Cargo Care services also records an upward trend:

●    For dry cargo packages: Ranging from $268 to $1,368 (Saudi Arabia and Lebanon), and from $287 to $1,468 (Israel and UAE).

●    For temperature-controlled cargo packages: The fee spectrum spans from $280 to $1,679 (Saudi Arabia and Lebanon), and from $299 to $1,779 (Israel and UAE).

Specifically, property-related cargo care packages are currently priced between $770 and $1,110 for Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, and between $815 and $1,170 for the Israeli and UAE markets.

Regulations on Price Calculation Dates and Associated Surcharges

To ensure transparency in pricing, Maersk has clarified the tariff application mechanism as follows:

●    For non-spot bookings: The fee is determined based on the Price Calculation Date. Specifically, for non-FMC trades, this corresponds to the scheduled departure date of the first ocean leg. For FMC-regulated trades, the milestone is the last container gate-in date.

●    For spot bookings: The applicable fee will be based directly on the booking confirmation date.

Concurrently, Maersk also noted that these revised tariffs remain subject to other prevailing surcharges (including local charges and contingency surcharges) and are entirely independent of any tariffs filed in accordance with the regulatory requirements of local authorities.

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Source: Phaata.com (According to Container News)

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