A.P. Moller-Maersk has informed its customers in Spain about the activation of an extraordinary fuel surcharge as a consequence of the increase in energy component costs derived from the situation in the Middle East. The measure, which the company describes as exceptional, will come into effect on May 11 and will remain in place as long as the conditions that have caused the increase in operating costs persist.
The applicable rates for the period between May 11 and May 17, 2026, in Spanish territory are 16.6% for road transport and 4.2% for combined rail transport. The surcharge will be reflected in invoices under the codes EFS (Export Fuel Surcharge) for export operations and IFS (Import Fuel Surcharge) for import operations.
The main novelty regarding the usual mechanism lies in the frequency of the surcharge review. Maersk has replaced the monthly review system that it had been applying with a weekly update model, with each new adjustment communicated on Thursdays. Furthermore, during this period, the activation thresholds (triggers) that usually determine the entry into force of the supplement will not apply, granting the company greater flexibility to adjust the rates to the evolution of the energy market.
The shipping company has indicated that the review will be carried out country by country, which means that the rates may differ between markets and that additional increases in the coming weeks cannot be ruled out depending on the evolution of costs. With regard to the pricing calculation, the reference date for shipments not regulated by the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) of the United States is the estimated departure date of the first vessel in the latest booking confirmation, while for import shipments, the creation date of the shipment is taken as the reference.
Maersk's decision is framed within a context of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that have driven up maritime and land fuel prices in recent weeks. The application of extraordinary surcharges by major shipping companies is a common mechanism in response to episodes of volatility in energy markets, although the adoption of a weekly review cycle reflects a higher degree of uncertainty than previous adjustments.