Suez Canal hikes transit surcharges as MSC adds peak‑season fee for West Africa

The Suez Canal Authority issued a navigation circular effective July 15, raising temporary surcharges for most vessel categories. Crude oil and petroleum product tankers face a 37% surcharge, LPG carriers 32%, LNG carriers 19%, dry bulk carriers 22%, and containerships 12%, among others. The fee increase comes as major carriers such as Maersk and Hapag‑Lloyd cautiously resume transits through the canal after months of routing around the Cape of Good Hope.

At the same time, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) announced a Peak Season Surcharge of up to $3,000 per container for cargo from the Indian subcontinent to Nigeria and West Africa. The surcharge applies to 20‑foot and 40‑foot dry and reefer containers, reflecting strong demand and higher operating costs. It adds to existing import fees and affects key imports such as pharmaceuticals and motorcycles that dominate trade from India to the region.