Global shipping major Maersk has announced a sharp increase in its Emergency Contingency Surcharge (ECS) for container cargo moving from India to Northern Europe, effective August 1, 2026, a move expected to significantly increase freight costs for Indian exporters. The revised surcharge comes amid continued disruptions to global shipping caused by the prolonged Gulf conflict, resulting in route diversions, congestion, vessel delays and equipment shortages. The Emergency Contingency Surcharge (ECS) is an additional freight charge imposed by shipping lines to offset extraordinary operational costs arising from disruptions such as route congestion, bottlenecks, missed sailings and equipment imbalances.
