In 2026, export activity is affected by volatility in the sea freight market, fuel prices, local container shortages and adjustments from carriers. Beyond the main Ocean Freight, many businesses must also pay additional surcharges that push total logistics costs up considerably.
In particular, on some routes such as Asia - US - Europe, carriers have adjusted or added certain surcharges depending on the situation. Businesses therefore need to stay informed so they can budget accurately and avoid unplanned costs. The article below summarizes the important surcharges to watch in 2026.
What Are Sea Freight Surcharges?
A surcharge is an additional cost on top of the basic freight rate, collected by carriers or logistics providers to offset expenses that arise during transport. Depending on the route, the type of goods and the timing, each shipment may incur several different surcharges.
Why Do Surcharges Change Constantly?
Surcharges are usually adjusted based on:
- Fuel price fluctuations.
- Seasonal shipping demand.
- Port congestion.
- Shortages of empty containers.
- Exchange rate fluctuations.
- International environmental regulations.
- Geopolitics and the global supply chain.
1. BAF (Bunker Adjustment Factor) - Fuel Surcharge
BAF is a surcharge that offsets the carrier's fuel costs. When oil prices rise, BAF is usually adjusted upward accordingly. It is one of the surcharges with the greatest impact on total shipping costs.
2. LSS (Low Sulphur Surcharge)
LSS is a surcharge applied due to regulations requiring the use of low-sulphur fuel to reduce emissions. This charge has now become a common cost on many international shipping routes.
3. PSS (Peak Season Surcharge)
PSS is applied during peak season when shipping demand rises sharply. Common periods include:
- May to September.
- The run-up to Christmas.
- Before Lunar New Year.
- The agricultural export season.
In 2026, many carriers have applied or increased PSS on the Asia - US route during peak season.
4. EFS (Emergency Fuel Surcharge)
EFS is an emergency fuel surcharge. It is usually applied when:
- Fuel prices spike suddenly.
- An energy crisis occurs.
- Geopolitical developments affect vessel operating costs.
Some carriers have adjusted EFS on the trans-Pacific route in 2026.
5. GRI (General Rate Increase)
GRI is a general freight rate increase. It is not always applied, but when shipping demand rises or vessel supply falls, carriers may announce a GRI a few weeks before it takes effect.
6. CIC (Container Imbalance Charge)
CIC arises when there is a container imbalance between regions. For example:
- Regions that export a lot but import little.
- A shortage of empty containers at the port of loading.
This charge offsets the cost of repositioning empty containers.
7. THC (Terminal Handling Charge)
THC is the container handling charge at the port. It applies to almost every FCL shipment and is usually charged separately at the port of departure and the port of destination.
8. PCS (Port Congestion Surcharge)
PCS is a port congestion surcharge. If a port is overloaded, vessels must wait longer to load and unload, and carriers may apply PCS to offset the resulting costs. Amid continued supply chain volatility, PCS appears more frequently on some international routes.
9. Documentation Fee
This is the fee for processing and issuing documents such as: Bill of Lading, Shipping Instruction, Manifest, transport documents and more. The rate may differ between carriers or forwarders.
10. CFS Fee (Container Freight Station)
For LCL (Less than Container Load) cargo, businesses may have to pay: consolidation fees, deconsolidation fees, CFS storage fees and more. This is a charge specific to consolidated cargo.
11. Route-Specific Surcharges
Beyond the common charges, some routes also incur:
- War Risk Surcharge.
- Security Surcharge.
- Heavy Weight Surcharge.
- Equipment Imbalance Surcharge.
- Emergency Operational Surcharge.
These charges are not applied regularly; they depend on the specific route, the specific carrier and market conditions.
What Should Businesses Do to Control Surcharges?
Request a Detailed Quote
Don't just ask, "How much is the freight?" You should request a quote that includes: Ocean Freight, THC, CIC, BAF, PSS, Documentation Fee, Local Charges, other surcharges (if any) and more.
Monitor Carrier Announcements
Many surcharges are only announced a few days to a few weeks before they take effect. Businesses should stay updated regularly to adjust their export plans.
Book Early
Booking early not only secures space on the vessel but also limits the risk of peak-season surcharges or last-minute rate changes close to the sailing date.
Choose a Reputable Freight Forwarder
An experienced logistics provider will:
- Provide transparent quotes.
- Clearly explain each charge.
- Update changes from the carriers.
- Propose the optimal shipping solution.
This helps businesses better control their total logistics costs.
Common Mistakes
Some businesses often:
- Focus only on freight and overlook surcharges.
- Do not check the validity period of the quote.
- Do not clarify Local Charges at the destination port.
- Close the contract before confirming all the costs.
- Do not keep up with surcharge adjustment notices from carriers.
These mistakes can make the actual total cost considerably higher than the initial estimate.
Conclusion
In 2026, in addition to sea freight, import-export businesses need to pay attention to surcharges such as BAF, LSS, PSS, EFS, GRI, CIC, THC, PCS and other local charges. Understanding each charge helps you budget costs, limit surprises and improve the efficiency of your import-export operations.
In addition, regularly following carrier announcements, tracking market movements and choosing a reputable Freight Forwarder are key ways to optimize the budget and ensure delivery on schedule. If you are looking for a reputable, high-quality provider of turnkey customs declaration services, contact Embassy Freight now via Hotline: 0936 911 656 for the fastest consultation and quote!
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