Maersk has announced a reduction in the Emergency Contingency Surcharge (ECS) applied to its B1S trade lane, which connects the Indian Subcontinent to the West Coast of Latin America. The surcharge will drop by US$500 across all container types starting from the Price Calculation Date of October 10, 2026. The change affects cargo moving to the West Coast of South America, as well as the Caribbean and Central America.

What Is Changing

The ECS reduction applies uniformly across container categories, including standard dry containers, high-cube and 45-foot units, and 40-foot high-cube reefers. The revised charges also extend to out-of-gauge (OOG), shipper-owned containers (SOC), and non-operating reefers (NOR). For 40-foot flat racks, open tops, and NOR equipment, the new rates will mirror those set for 40-foot dry containers.

Regional Rate Breakdown

The surcharge reduction is structured by origin region within the Indian Subcontinent. Northwest India and Pakistan will see rates of US$3,250 for 20-foot dry containers, US$3,050 for 40-foot dry, high-cube and 45-foot units, and US$3,450 for 40-foot high-cube reefers. South and East India will carry slightly higher charges at US$3,450 for both 20-foot and 40-foot dry equipment, and US$4,050 for reefers. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives will have the lowest rates in the group, at US$2,350 for 20-foot dry containers, US$2,150 for 40-foot dry and related equipment, and US$3,950 for reefers.

Ports and Origins Covered

Maersk has specified which ports fall under each origin region. Northwest India includes Mundra, Jawaharlal Nehru, Hazira and Pipavav. South and East India covers a wider set of ports, including Ennore, Chennai, Kattupalli, Tuticorin, Visakhapatnam, Kolkata, Cochin, Mangalore and Haldia. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives form their own regional category with separate, lower rates.

Conditions and Timing

The rate changes are not yet final in every market. Maersk has noted that the revisions remain subject to regulatory approval where required, as well as standard notice periods that carriers must observe before implementing surcharge changes. This means the effective date of October 10, 2026 could shift slightly depending on local requirements in the countries covered by the B1S trade lane.

What This Means for Shippers

For importers and exporters moving cargo between the Indian Subcontinent and Latin America, this surcharge cut translates into a modest reduction in total shipping costs, regardless of which port of origin is used. Because the reduction applies uniformly across equipment types, shippers using reefers, flat racks, or standard dry containers will all see the same dollar decrease built into their landed cost calculations.

Cargo owners should update their freight budgets ahead of the October 10 date, but should also confirm with their carrier or forwarder that the change has taken effect, since regulatory approvals and notice periods could delay implementation in some origin countries. Booking teams should watch for updated rate sheets from Maersk closer to the effective date to avoid discrepancies between quoted and invoiced charges.

This surcharge adjustment does not appear to affect transit times or service schedules on the B1S route, so shippers relying on this corridor for West Coast South America, Caribbean or Central America deliveries should not expect changes to routing or vessel calls. As with any surcharge change, it is worth confirming which specific origin ports apply to a given shipment, since the three regional categories carry different rate levels and any mistake in port classification could lead to unexpected costs at billing time.

Sources: container-news.com