Rising fuel costs are driving a new round of surcharge increases. According to Chinese financial media (Cailian Press, October 8), Maersk raised its Emergency Fuel Surcharge (EFS) to 20% across all export pickup and import delivery services, effective October 12, 2026, citing higher fuel costs amid the Middle East conflict.
Intra-Asia trades are affected too. Drewry's Intra-Asia Container Index (IACI) report notes that Brent crude has stayed above USD 100 per barrel since early September, pushing up carrier operating costs; CMA CGM has applied a USD 75 per TEU emergency fuel surcharge on all intra-regional trade lanes from October 1. The index itself slipped 1% week over week, but Drewry expects fuel surcharges to underpin rates in the near term.
Impact on China-Japan lanes: intra-Asia fuel surcharge adjustments tend to pass through into spot quotes and BAF/EFS formulas on Japan-bound services. Combined with tight peak-season space, total cost swings are increasingly driven by surcharge line items rather than base ocean freight itself.
Three practical steps for shippers: 1) ask forwarders to itemize BAF/EFS/PSS and their effective dates in writing, and confirm whether fuel is included or extra; 2) if your sailing date straddles a surcharge effective date, confirm which rate applies in advance; 3) compare carriers and routings on a total landed-cost basis — ocean freight plus surcharges plus destination charges.
Our Japan line quotes itemize ocean freight, surcharges, customs and delivery separately — no low-ball pricing. Use the buttons below for rate calculation, tracking or online consultation, or click sales@ruixincargo.com to send your cargo details and receive a clear cost breakdown from our team.