East African importers on standby as Maersk rolls out steep $2,000 container surcharges on critical China trade routes

Importers across East Africa are bracing for an economic hurdle as global maritime carriers roll out steep price hikes on cargo arriving from China and Hong Kong.

Danish shipping titan A.P. Moller-Maersk, which handles a dominant share of sea freight entering the region, officially revised its Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) for routes connecting China and Hong Kong to East Africa.

According to Maersk’s official advisory, the new rates take effect on June 15, 2026, and target non-spot container bookings bound for critical maritime gateways, including Kenya’s Port of Mombasa and Tanzania's Port of Dar es Salaam.

Under the new tariff structure, the surcharge for a 20-foot container bound for Kenya or Tanzania will tick upward to $1,000 (approx. Sh130,000).

The most severe blow lands on larger operations; the surcharge for a 40-foot container heading to Kenya will skyrocket to $2,000 (approx. Sh260,000).