Maersk’s South Africa Dry-Container PSS Quadruples: What to Check Before 9 November

If you are shipping from Asia to South Africa in early November, the date you check an invoice against matters as much as the rate itself. Maersk’s peak season surcharge (PSS) from Far East Asia to South Africa and Mauritius rises to US$1,000 per 20ft and US$2,000 per 40ft from 9 November, four times the dry-container level it set on 15 October. Hapag-Lloyd’s US$500 per TEU to Durban and Cape Town applies to cargo loaded on board from 3 November. CMA CGM has announced a US$750 per TEU Far East–Durban PSS from 22 October and a separate China–South Africa update from 1 November. Overlapping notices make the charge on a particular China-origin booking worth checking directly with the carrier.

The notices use different dates. For non-spot bookings outside FMC trades, Maersk uses the first water leg’s scheduled departure at booking confirmation. Hapag-Lloyd specifies cargo loaded on board, while CMA CGM specifies loading date. A change in the loading date can move a Hapag-Lloyd container into a new PSS window; for Maersk, a later actual departure alone does not necessarily change the pricing date. Booking terms and amendments still need to be checked.

November PSS Levels From Asia to South and East Africa

Carrier	Origins	Destination	Per 20ft	Per 40ft	Effective	Date that sets the level
Maersk	China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asian countries named in the notice	South Africa, Mauritius	US$1,000	US$2,000	9 Nov 2026 (10 Nov for Vietnam)	Scheduled first-leg departure at booking confirmation (non-spot)
Maersk	China, Hong Kong	Kenya	US$1,000	US$2,000 (45ft: US$2,000)	9 Nov 2026	Scheduled first-leg departure at booking confirmation (non-spot)
Maersk	China, Hong Kong	Dar es Salaam	US$1,200	US$2,000 (45ft: US$2,000)	9 Nov 2026	Scheduled first-leg departure at booking confirmation (non-spot)
Hapag-Lloyd	China, Korea, Japan, Oceania*	Durban, Cape Town	US$500	US$1,000	3 Nov 2026	Loaded on board
CMA CGM	Far East	Durban	US$750	US$1,500	Since 22 Oct 2026	Loading date; China overlaps with other notices
CMA CGM	China	South Africa and other named destinations	US$300	US$600	1 Nov 2026	Loading date; short-term contracts

Published PSS levels as of 28 October 2026. Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM publish per TEU; the 40ft column shows two TEU. CMA CGM’s China-specific Durban windows (US$1,050 per TEU from South China, US$1,150 per TEU from North and Central China) end on 31 October. Confirm how overlapping CMA CGM notices apply to each booking; do not automatically add the amounts. *Hapag-Lloyd’s notice does not explicitly name Southeast Asia; confirm its scope with the carrier.

Maersk to South Africa and Mauritius. For dry containers, the new published level compares with US$250 per 20ft and US$500 per 40ft, effective from 15 October for eligible non-spot bookings. That is US$750 more per 20ft and US$1,500 more per 40ft. The origin list covers China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. Japan and South Korea are not named in the notice.

Maersk to Kenya and Dar es Salaam. From China and Hong Kong, the Kenya level moves to US$1,000 per 20ft and US$2,000 per 40ft or 45ft, up from US$950 and US$1,900 set on 19 October. Dar es Salaam moves to US$1,200 per 20ft and US$2,000 per 40ft or 45ft; Maersk’s notice does not state the previous Dar es Salaam level. The earlier Kenya notice said the PSS did not apply to spot bookings. Maersk’s earlier South Africa and Mauritius dry-container notice also excluded spot bookings. Both November notices include a pricing rule for spot bookings.

Hapag-Lloyd to Durban and Cape Town. US$500 per TEU for all container types, on cargo loaded on board from 3 November until further notice. Hapag-Lloyd’s notice names China, Korea, Japan and Oceania; it does not explicitly name Southeast Asia. Confirm the scope with the carrier. The notice does not give the level it replaces.

CMA CGM to Durban. The US$750 per TEU Far East–Durban notice took effect by loading date on 22 October until further notice. Higher China-specific Durban windows end on 31 October. On 27 October, CMA CGM announced a further US$300 per TEU PSS from China to South Africa and other named destinations, effective 1 November by loading date for all cargo on short-term contracts. The notice does not name Durban individually or explain how this charge interacts with the Far East–Durban notice. Ask CMA CGM which level applies to the booking and whether any charges are separate; do not assume the amounts should be added. The full sequence of CMA CGM’s Durban notices since August is in our CMA CGM Durban PSS breakdown.

Durban congestion fee. Separate from PSS, Maersk is increasing its Congestion Fee Destination for Durban from 1 November (8 November for South Korea and Taiwan origins). The new amounts are US$400 per 20ft and US$800 per 40ft from China, and US$450 and US$900 from the rest of Far East Asia. The latter amounts also cover the Indian subcontinent and Middle East.

Which Date Each Carrier Uses

Maersk: Set When the Booking Is Confirmed

For non-spot bookings outside FMC trades, Maersk applies the level in force on the Price Calculation Date (PCD). Its notices define that as the scheduled departure date of the first water leg at the time of booking confirmation. On that wording, a later actual departure alone does not change the PCD: a booking confirmed on a first water leg scheduled for 7 November would still use that scheduled date if the vessel departed on 11 November. A first water leg scheduled for 12 November at confirmation falls after the new effective date. Check the applicable equipment, quotation, contract and any amendment before determining the amount payable.

The first water leg matters for transshipped cargo. On the notice’s wording, this can mean the feeder’s scheduled departure at confirmation rather than the later mother vessel ETD. Confirm the applicable itinerary and PCD with Maersk.

Two points are left open by the notices. For spot bookings, both print two options, booking confirmation date or first vessel ETD at booking confirmation, without saying which one applies. Neither notice says what happens when a booking is moved to a different vessel; if a roll produces a fresh confirmation, the PCD may move with it. Maersk discusses PCD in other tariff notices too, as covered in our breakdown of its October terminal handling charges.

Hapag-Lloyd: The Day the Container Is Loaded

Hapag-Lloyd’s surcharge applies to cargo loaded on board from 3 November. The trigger is the loading event. A container planned for loading on 1 November but actually loaded on board on 4 November crosses into the new published PSS window. Check the booking and contract terms when assessing the amount billed; the vessel’s departure date alone does not establish when the container was loaded.

CMA CGM: Loading Date and Overlapping China Notices

CMA CGM’s Durban notices use loading date. Its Far East–Durban notice states US$750 per TEU from 22 October until further notice. The 27 October China–South Africa notice states US$300 per TEU from 1 November for short-term contracts, without explaining its relationship to the Durban notice. Confirm the rate and any separate charges for each China-origin booking before quoting. CMA CGM also states that its ex-China PSS is subject to Shanghai Shipping Exchange filing and/or included in ocean freight, so it may not appear as a separate line.

Where Mixed-Carrier Invoice Checks Go Wrong

Take a forwarder moving Shanghai to Durban cargo with both Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, on bookings confirmed this week. The Hapag-Lloyd container is planned to load on 1 November but is actually loaded on board on 4 November. It crosses into the published US$500 per TEU window, equivalent to US$1,000 for a standard 40ft container, subject to its booking terms. The Maersk container is a non-spot 40ft dry booking confirmed on a first water leg scheduled for 7 November that actually leaves on 10 November. On the notice’s wording, the later departure alone does not change its PCD. Maersk’s earlier published dry-container level was US$500 per 40ft; confirm its applicability to the booking and any amendment before challenging an invoice.

The two invoices need different evidence. For Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM, it is the loading event recorded for each container at the origin port. For Maersk, it is the scheduled first-leg ETD on the booking confirmation, plus a record of any vessel change after it. Checking only the actual 10 November departure could lead the team to overlook the 7 November scheduled date on the booking confirmation. Use that record alongside the quotation, contract and amendment history to query the applicable charge.

If your team is reconciling surcharge invoices across carriers by pulling loading dates and booking confirmations one container at a time, discuss how your team can improve shipment visibility across carriers.

What to Check Before 3 November and 9 November

Carrier and trigger per booking. Map every open booking to South Africa, Mauritius, Kenya or Dar es Salaam to its carrier and the date that carrier uses.
Maersk scheduled departures. Pull the first-leg scheduled departure from each confirmation and flag any on or after 9 November (10 November for Vietnam origin). Keep the confirmation as the record for the invoice check.
Maersk rolls and amendments. Ask Maersk in writing whether moving a booking to another vessel re-confirms it and shifts the PCD, for any booking scheduled close to 9 November.
Maersk spot bookings. Confirm whether the booking confirmation date or the first vessel ETD at confirmation sets the level.
Hapag-Lloyd boxes near 3 November. Flag containers planned to load on 1 or 2 November. Flag any whose actual loading on board moves to 3 November or later, and check the booking terms.
CMA CGM China origins. Before the China-specific Durban windows end on 31 October, ask how the US$300 short-term-contract notice interacts with the US$750 Far East–Durban notice for loadings from 1 November, and whether any charges are separate.
Durban add-ons. Include Maersk’s increased Congestion Fee Destination from 1 November (8 November for South Korea and Taiwan) when comparing Durban quotes.
Ex-China quotes. Check the carrier’s filing language, whether the PSS is included in ocean freight, and which level the quote reflects. Maersk’s notice also specifies conditions for quotations or surcharges that differ from its tariff.
Total cost, not surcharge lines. Base freight differs by carrier, so compare the full freight and surcharge total per container rather than the PSS alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Maersk’s Asia to South Africa PSS change?

Maersk’s PSS from Far East Asia to South Africa and Mauritius moves to US$1,000 per 20ft and US$2,000 per 40ft from 9 November 2026, or 10 November for Vietnam origin, until further notice.

Which date decides Maersk’s PSS on a booking?

For non-spot bookings outside FMC trades, it is the Price Calculation Date: the scheduled departure date of the first water leg at the time of booking confirmation. For spot bookings, Maersk’s notice names the booking confirmation date or the first vessel ETD at confirmation without specifying which.

Does a delayed sailing change which Maersk PSS level applies?

Under the notice’s definition, the level follows the departure scheduled at booking confirmation, so a later actual departure does not by itself change it. The notice does not address bookings moved to a different vessel; confirm with Maersk how an amendment is treated.

Which date decides Hapag-Lloyd’s South Africa PSS?

Hapag-Lloyd’s US$500 per TEU PSS to Durban and Cape Town applies to cargo loaded on board from 3 November 2026.

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