What is a peak season surcharge?

An extra per-container charge a shipping line adds to ocean freight on a trade when demand runs ahead of capacity, announced with an amount and an effective date.

When is peak season in shipping?

It varies by trade and year; surcharges follow market conditions rather than a fixed calendar. Maersk's 2026 surcharges ran from August into October on different trades.

Does the PSS apply to my booking?

If your shipment's price date falls in the surcharge period. On US trades Maersk uses the last container's gate-in date; elsewhere, the first vessel's scheduled departure.

Term

Peak season surcharge (PSS)

A peak season surcharge (PSS) is an extra charge per container that shipping lines add when demand outruns capacity on a trade. It is part of the ocean freight, announced weeks ahead with an amount and a start date. In September 2026 Maersk's PSS from the Gulf to the US East Coast was USD 6,000 per 40ft dry.

Also called PSS, peak season surcharge shipping, peak surcharge, congestion surchargeUpdated 13 October 2026

Why lines add it

Maersk introduces its surcharges in response to prevailing market conditions, including capacity constraints, and says the PSS forms part of the applicable ocean freight charges. It is not a fixed season: it follows the market on each trade. Maersk publishes each one as a rate announcement weeks ahead, naming the trade, the container types, the amount and the date it takes effect.

Maersk's 2026 examples

Trade	Surcharge	When
Gulf (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and others) to US East and Gulf coasts	USD 6,000 per 20ft and 40ft dry, then USD 4,000	From 15 September 2026, announced 12 August
North Europe to the US	USD 1,000 per container; not on spot bookings	From 19 August 2026
East Africa to Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland	USD 500 per 20ft and 40ft dry	Price calculation date 17 September 2026

Worked example: which date counts

Maersk prices by a price calculation date. Outside FMC trades it is the scheduled departure of the first sea leg; on US (FMC) trades it is the date the last container gates in. So on a North Europe–US booking, a container gated in on 20 August 2026 pays the USD 1,000 PSS even if the booking was made in July.

The mistake people make

Budgeting on the quoted base rate alone in a tight market. A PSS can be larger than the base rate, as the Gulf–US figure shows, and applies by gate-in or sailing date rather than booking date; ask whether any announced surcharge falls inside your shipping window.

FAQ