MSC is broadening a set of surcharges tied to piracy risk and Suez Canal transit to cover every remaining port it serves across the Mediterranean and Black Sea. The move follows a gradual rollout that began with a smaller group of ports in September and has now reached the full regional network.

Which Ports Are Covered

The expanded surcharges apply to the West Mediterranean, East Mediterranean, Adriatic, North Africa and Black Sea regions. This means ports in these areas that were not previously subject to the charges will now be included, giving MSC a uniform surcharge policy across the entire Mediterranean and Black Sea basin rather than a patchwork of selected destinations.

What Cargo Is Affected

The surcharges apply specifically to cargo moving from Asia into these Mediterranean and Black Sea ports. Shippers routing freight on these Asia-to-Mediterranean lanes should expect the additional charges to appear on their invoices once the new terms take effect.

Surcharge Amounts and Timing

MSC will apply two separate charges: a Piracy Risk Surcharge of US$55 per TEU and a Suez Canal Surcharge of US$36 per TEU, for a combined total of US$91 per TEU. The extension takes effect from 15 November 2026, based on the proforma date, and MSC has stated the charges will remain in place until further notice, with no set end date announced.

Why MSC Is Making This Change

MSC has linked the decision to ongoing security conditions and piracy risks around the Arabian Peninsula. The carrier says these conditions continue to influence how it operates vessels, plans transit routes and manages its broader service network. This is consistent with the earlier, more limited rollout of the same surcharges, which MSC first introduced for select East Mediterranean and Black Sea ports before expanding coverage further and now applying it across the entire region.

What This Means for Shippers

For companies moving cargo from Asia to Mediterranean, Black Sea, Adriatic or North African ports on MSC services, the practical effect is a cost increase of up to US$91 per TEU starting with the 15 November proforma date. Shippers and freight forwarders booking on these lanes should check whether their specific port of destination was previously exempt, since the expanded policy removes that distinction going forward. Those with existing contracts or quotes should confirm whether the new surcharges apply retroactively or only to new bookings made after the effective date.

Because MSC has not given a timeline for removing the surcharges, shippers should plan for these costs to remain a standing part of Asia-Mediterranean freight rates for the foreseeable future rather than treating them as a short-term adjustment. This also means total landed cost calculations for cargo on these routes need to be updated to reflect the combined $91 per TEU charge.

The surcharges are separate from transit time, so shippers should not expect changes to scheduled sailing times or routing as a direct result of this announcement; the Suez Canal Surcharge is explicitly tied to canal transit, while the Piracy Risk Surcharge reflects the broader security situation around the Arabian Peninsula that MSC says affects its service network more generally. Cargo owners tracking shipments on these lanes should watch for updated rate confirmations from MSC and their forwarders ahead of the 15 November implementation date, and factor the surcharge into budgeting for any new bookings on Asia-Mediterranean or Asia-Black Sea services.

Sources: container-news.com