Maersk lifts emergency fuel surcharge to 20% amid Middle East tensions

Maersk announced a rise in its emergency fuel surcharge to 20% effective Oct 12, citing the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

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The Danish shipping giant said the surcharge increase applies to all export collections and import deliveries. The move follows heightened worries about oil supply after recent attacks on vessels in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, as well as a U.S. production cut linked to a hurricane. Maersk will monitor the situation and adjust the surcharge as needed.

Why it matters

Higher surcharges raise shipping costs for global trade, affecting importers and exporters worldwide.

How this story developed

Sep 14 US claims Hormuz traffic improving as oil prices surge amid regional attacks
Sep 21 Fire on the tanker was extinguished after the projectile strike.
Sep 23 A cargo ship was struck by an unknown projectile, igniting a fire and forcing crew evacuation.
Sep 24 Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other Gulf producers have rerouted oil through spare pipeline capacity and a U.S.-protected corridor, keeping global supply steady despite higher prices.
Sep 29 Brent crude rose about 4% to just over $107 a barrel after Donald Trump’s contradictory statements and the US announced the final withdrawal of its forces from Iraq.
Oct 2 The administration emphasized managing public expectations about a rapid settlement with Iran.
Oct 3 A second tanker was hit east of Oman, adding to the earlier incident in the strait.
Oct 5 The G7 announced a release of diesel and crude from emergency reserves.
Oct 5 A U.S. naval blockade has caused a backlog of hundreds of trucks at the Gürbulak crossing, with waits up to five days.
Oct 7 The number of reported tanker attacks in the Strait of Hormuz rose to at least nine this October.
Oct 8 A tanker north of Qatar was hit by multiple projectiles, causing casualties.

In this story

Synthesised by Briev

Updated 08 Oct 2026, 12:29 UTC