Middle East Tensions: Maersk Imposes Global Fuel Surcharges

Escalating fuel prices, driven by the fallout from the Middle East crisis, are pushing global inland and intermodal transport costs sky-high.

A.P. Moller - Maersk has officially issued a decision to apply temporary fuel surcharges across several key regions. The ocean carrier cited the direct cause as disruptions in the global fuel supply, particularly due to the instability surrounding the Strait of Hormuz - a vital chokepoint handling approximately 20% of the world's transit fuel volume.

Sudden Spikes in the Australian and New Zealand Markets

Facing mounting cost pressures, Maersk activated the Intermodal Fuel Surcharge, officially effective from March 16, 2026.

In Australia, the surcharge has been sharply adjusted upward across all major states:

● Victoria: +17%

● New South Wales: +17%

● Queensland: +17%

● Western Australia: +17%

● South Australia: +16%

In New Zealand, the inland transport cost picture also recorded an across-the-board increase:

● Truck: +13%

● Rail: +13%

Maersk noted that these surcharges will be reviewed on a monthly basis given the unpredictable volatility of fuel prices.

Surcharge Wave Spreads to Northern Europe

The fuel fever hasn't stopped in the Southern Hemisphere; it has now spread to Northern Europe. Maersk has been forced to implement an Emergency Inland Energy/Fuel Surcharge across all Nordic and Baltic countries.

This surcharge applies to inland transport shipments in:

● Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland.

● Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania.

Specific surcharge levels fluctuate depending on the country. Among them, Estonia bears a record hike of up to 15.5%, while Norway sees a milder adjustment at 1.5%.

Supply Chain Pressures Persist

Regarding this fee hike, Maersk representatives stated that the core objective of these measures is to maintain service reliability and secure transport capacity for customers. Simultaneously, the shipping giant issued a warning that further adjustments are entirely possible if the macroeconomic situation continues to deteriorate.

The global logistics network is clearly operating under immense pressure. Fuel shortages, coupled with exorbitant operating costs, will continue to create ripple effects along the supply chain, stemming from the endless geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

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Source: Phaata.com (According to Container-News)

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