CMA CGM has announced a Rate Restoration Initiative (RRI) covering cargo moving from Türkiye and a wide range of Mediterranean-region ports to the US East Coast. The new rates take effect on November 1, 2026, and will apply across both tariff and service contract shipments.

What Is Changing

The RRI introduces two tiers of rate increases depending on origin. Cargo originating in Türkiye and associated inland points will see the largest increase, while cargo from a broader list of other Mediterranean and Black Sea origins will be subject to a lower, though still significant, increase. CMA CGM has not described this as a surcharge tied to a specific cost driver, but as a restoration of rates to a prior, higher level.

Rate Details

For Türkiye and its associated inland points, the increase amounts to US$750 per 20-foot container and US$1,500 per 40-foot, 40-foot high-cube, or 45-foot container. For the second group of origins, the increase is US$500 per 20-foot container and US$1,000 per 40-foot, 40-foot high-cube, or 45-foot container.

Which Origins Are Covered

The second, lower-tier rate applies to a long list of origins across several sub-regions. In the East Mediterranean, this includes Greece, Lebanon, Malta, Syria, Egypt and Cyprus. In the Black Sea region, it covers Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania and Ukraine. The Adriatic group includes Albania, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia and Italy. North African origins covered are Algeria, Libya and Tunisia. Together with Türkiye, this gives the RRI a very broad geographic reach across the Mediterranean and adjoining regions.

Scope of the Increase

The RRI applies to cargo destined for the US East Coast as well as inland destinations reached through East Coast ports served by CMA CGM. According to the announcement, the increase covers all cargo types moving on these routes, with the single exception of out-of-gauge shipments, which are excluded from the RRI.

What This Means for Shippers

Shippers and cargo owners booking space on CMA CGM services from Türkiye, the East Mediterranean, the Black Sea, the Adriatic or North Africa to the US East Coast should expect higher freight costs starting with cargo moving on or after November 1, 2026. Because the increase applies to both tariff rates and existing service contracts, companies with contracted rates on these lanes should check how the RRI interacts with their current agreements and confirm with their carrier representative whether contract rates are adjusted automatically or require renegotiation.

For budgeting purposes, shippers moving standard dry containers should plan for the higher per-container costs outlined above, while those shipping out-of-gauge cargo will not see this particular increase applied, though other surcharges may still apply. Given the wide range of origin countries covered, freight forwarders and importers sourcing from multiple Mediterranean markets should review all relevant bookings rather than assuming the increase applies only to shipments originating in Türkiye.

As with past rate restoration announcements, it is worth monitoring whether other carriers operating similar Mediterranean to US East Coast services introduce comparable increases in the coming weeks. Shippers with flexibility in routing or carrier choice may want to compare quotes before the November 1 effective date, while those locked into existing bookings should confirm invoicing details once the new rates take effect to avoid billing discrepancies.

Sources: container-news.com