Maersk revises PSS rates, raising costs for goods shipped from East Asia to Maldives and Sri Lanka

Maersk, one of the world’s largest shipping companies, has increased the peak season surcharge (PSS) on containers importing goods from East Asian countries to Maldives and Sri Lanka.

Maersk announced that it will charge an additional USD 400 per container, applicable to all 20-foot and 40-foot containers, as well as 45-foot high-cube dry containers. The surcharge is uniform across all equipment sizes.

The fee applies to goods imported from China, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, Brunei, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Timor-Leste and South Korea.

The surcharge will take effect on 31 August for most origins. However, it will be applied to exports from Vietnam starting 1 September, and to exports from South Korea starting 4 September.

Peak season surcharges are additional fees charged by shipping companies during periods of high demand. Shipping experts note that PSS is used to cover increased operational costs, address shipboard space shortages, and manage container shortages. These fees are typically imposed during the year-end holiday freight season.

According to Maersk, the revised surcharge applies only to non-spot bookings. It does not apply to Maersk’s “spot” bookings, online bookings that secure space with immediate payment. Spot booking is a service that allows importers to confirm container space instantly at the prevailing market rate. As a result, importers using advance contracts will be affected by the new surcharge.

Maersk’s decision will increase the cost of bringing goods to Maldives. As Maldives imports most of its goods, higher shipping costs can push up retail prices for the general public. With East Asian countries being a major import market for Maldives, the impact of this change is expected to be widespread.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecast in April that inflation would rise to 5.0 percent this year due to higher import costs. The World Bank projected inflation at 6.0 percent in a June report. Inflation rose by 0.26 percent in June compared to the previous month, according to the Maldives Statistics Office. Rising oil prices and unrest in the Middle East have also contributed to higher freight costs.

Sri Lanka, another import-dependent country, will also be affected by the surcharge, potentially worsening the strain on its public amid ongoing economic challenges.

Maersk said the surcharge will remain in place until further notice.