Global shipping company, CMA CGM, has announced that from June 15, 2025, it will begin charging a $1,200 Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) per twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) on all cargoes headed to West Africa, including Nigeria, from Asia. This surcharge, the company said, is part of its response to increased cargo volumes and operational pressures along the busy Asia–Africa trade corridor.
The surcharge will be applied to all dry cargo containers shipped under short-term contracts from Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, China, as well as the Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions. In a notice to its customers, the French shipping line explained that this fee is separate from the basic freight charges and will not cover other applicable costs such as bunker-related fees, terminal handling charges (THC), and safety or security surcharges.
Apart from Nigeria, the affected countries in the West Africa Central Range include Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Ghana, Togo, and Equatorial Guinea. CMA CGM also extended the surcharge to the South Range, which comprises Angola, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Gabon, and Cameroon.
In addition to this, the company announced a separate surcharge for shipments from China to the West African North Range, which includes Liberia, Senegal, Mauritania, Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe. For these destinations, the surcharge has been set at $1,600 per 20-foot container, while rates for 40-foot containers remain unchanged.
CMA CGM stressed that all surcharges are in addition to base freight rates and are exclusive of other fees. The company described the new surcharge policy as a necessary adjustment to handle peak season market pressure. It added that such measures were essential to continue offering reliable and efficient services across one of the busiest and most important shipping lanes in the world.
The surcharge announcement comes at a time when global shipping lines are under pressure from fluctuating fuel prices, port congestion, and seasonal demand surges. Analysts say the move by CMA CGM reflects broader changes in the maritime logistics sector, where cost recovery is becoming a priority for carriers amid rising operational expenses.
For Nigerian importers and businesses dependent on goods from China and other Asian regions, the new charges may lead to increased landing costs. The surcharge could impact prices of goods coming into Nigerian ports, especially during a time when the country is dealing with inflation and rising consumer costs. Businesses in Lagos, Port Harcourt, and other port cities are likely to feel the effects of these surcharges as they plan for the busy import season.
Industry experts have advised businesses to prepare for the cost adjustments and factor in the new surcharge when making shipping arrangements. With more international carriers likely to implement similar charges, the West African import market could experience a shift in freight dynamics during the second half of the year.
CMA CGM concluded that these surcharge changes form part of its wider strategy to cope with the global supply chain challenges while maintaining stability and service quality on the Asia–West Africa route. The company is one of the world’s top five shipping firms and plays a critical role in Nigeria’s international trade flow.
