Importers in Nigeria have been asked to pay $1,200 Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) per Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU). This was imposed by a shipping firm, CMA CGM on dry cargo from Asia to ports in Apapa, Lekki and other locations across the country. The Peak Season Surcharge will take effect from June 15, 2025, according to the shipping line in its newly released notice.
Other destination markets affected by the surcharge include key ports in West Africa’s Central Range, namely Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Ghana, Togo, and Equatorial Guinea as well as the South Range, which covers Angola, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Namibia, Gabon, and Cameroon
The company, in a notice issued to customers, said the surcharge reflects broader market dynamics as carriers respond to seasonal cargo surges and operational cost pressures along the Asia–Africa trade corridor.
According to the shipping company, the surcharge will apply to dry cargo transported under short-term contracts from Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, China, and the Hong Kong & Macau Special Administrative Regions.
The firm said the surcharge is in addition to basic freight rates and does not cover other applicable costs such as bunker-related fees, terminal handling charges (THC), and safety or security surcharges.
