French shipping giant CMA CGM has introduced a new peak season surcharge (PSS) of $500 per container on shipments to Nigeria and other West African ports, heightening concerns among shippers already burdened by rising freight costs and operational challenges.
The levy, which takes effect 15 September 2025 and remains in force until further notice, applies to dry and reefer cargo originating from North East Asia, South East Asia, China, and Hong Kong & Macau SAR, and will affect only short-term contracts.
This marks yet another surcharge on the West African trade lane, a trend industry players say has become routine. Nigerian importers and freight forwarders have frequently decried such charges as punitive and inflationary, warning that the costs are inevitably passed on to consumers through higher prices of goods.
Analysts caution that the latest surcharge could worsen inflationary pressures in Nigeria and the wider region, given their heavy reliance on imports and existing struggles with volatile exchange rates and high logistics costs.
The move also comes amid ongoing global shipping disruptions, including equipment shortages and capacity constraints on Asia–Africa routes, prompting carriers like CMA CGM to impose new levies as cost-recovery measures.
