CMA CGM adds US$900 per TEU to southern West Africa from 1 November

Market Context & Direct Impact

CMA CGM is set to add peak season surcharges across its Africa trades from 1 November. The revised charges cover West, East and Southern Africa, per Container News. The highest, US$900 per TEU, applies to dry and reefer cargo from China and its SARs to the southern range of West Africa, but only under short-term contracts. Central West Africa, including Nigeria, faces US$700 per TEU. Hapag-Lloyd separately applies a US$500 per TEU surcharge from Asia and Oceania to Durban and Cape Town from 3 November, remaining until further notice. These are carrier charges, not government rules, which suggests they can be managed through contract terms.

Compliance gates are tightening on the same corridors. Kenya's Advance Cargo Declaration became a requirement for containerised imports from 3 August, and CMA CGM says strict enforcement has applied since 1 September. On the Suez side, the Saudi Maritime and Logistics Congress reported that container capacity transiting the canal exceeded half its 2023 level in early October, with a 36% share. Freightos expects full Red Sea container transits in the first quarter of next year, which suggests today's peak charges are a seasonal cost rather than a lasting rate change.

Core Executive Takeaways

• Short-term cargo pays moreCMA CGM's US$900 per TEU charge reaches dry and reefer boxes booked on short-term terms to southern West Africa.
• Kenya code before loadingCMA CGM warns that a missing ACD reference can push cargo onto a later vessel.
• Suez return reshapes pricingFreightos expects Red Sea container transits to fully recover in the first quarter of next year, so plan for a window, not a settled rate.

Strategic Playbook

1. 1
   Re-quote Africa lanes

   Before 1 November, split Africa volume into contract and short-term bookings, then ask each carrier whether its surcharge applies to every booking.

2. 2
   Gate bookings on ACD

   Add a Kenya ACD check to the pre-loading step, and confirm the 15-digit reference appears on the final bill of lading.

Filed 10:06 GMT, 29 October 2026, for the first edition of 29 Oct.
As agents only.

Sources

1. CMA CGM announces new Asia-Africa surcharges for NovemberContainer News, published 28 October 2026
2. Hapag-Lloyd updates PSS from Asia and Oceania to South AfricaContainer News, published 27 October 2026
3. Saudi Arabia demonstrates resilience and new opportunities as industry gathers for Saudi Maritime and Logistics CongressSeatrade Maritime, published 21 October 2026
4. Red Sea container traffic set for full return in Q1 - October 20, 2026 UpdateFreightos, published 20 October 2026
5. Kenya enforces mandatory Advance Cargo Declaration for container importsContainer News, published 20 September 2026

Claims ledger: 10 facts and where each comes from

• CMA CGM's revised Asia-Africa surcharges take effect on 1 November 2026 and cover shipments to West, East and Southern Africa.¹
• For dry and reefer cargo under short-term contracts, CMA CGM applies a surcharge of US$900 per TEU from 1 November, based on the loading date.¹
• Shipments from China and its SARs to central West Africa, including Nigeria, carry a peak season surcharge of US$700 per TEU.¹
• Hapag-Lloyd will apply a US$500 per TEU surcharge from Asia and Oceania to Durban and Cape Town on cargo loaded from 3 November 2026.²
• Hapag-Lloyd's South Africa surcharge will remain in effect until further notice.²
• Kenya's Revenue Authority introduced the Advance Cargo Declaration requirement from 3 August 2026, and it covers containerised imports.⁵
• Shippers must obtain a 15-digit ACD reference code before cargo is loaded, and the code must appear on the final bill of lading.⁵
• CMA CGM says strict compliance with the Kenyan requirement has been enforced since 1 September, and shipments without a valid ACD reference may be rolled to another vessel.⁵
• In the first two weeks of October, container ship capacity transiting the Suez Canal exceeded half its 2023 level for the first time since disruption began, with 36% of capacity choosing the canal over the Cape route.³
• Freightos estimates that container transits through the Red Sea will fully recover during the first quarter of the coming year.⁴

Every figure above is tied to a cited source that was checked on the day of filing. Found an error? Tell the desk.