Maersk Implements 7% Fuel Surcharge on El Salvador Intermodal Services

A. P. Moller – Maersk will implement a 7% intermodal fuel surcharge on landside transportation services to El Salvador beginning April 15, 2026 for non-FMC shipments and May 15, 2026 for FMC shipments, citing the need to offset surging global energy costs and secure vendor capacity. The surcharge, presented on invoices as "EFS" (Export Fuel Surcharge) and "IFS" (Import Fuel Surcharge), reflects mounting pressure on logistics operators from volatile international fuel markets. According to Maersk, recent developments in the Middle East have disrupted worldwide fuel availability, with approximately 20% of global fuel transiting through the Strait of Hormuz—a chokepoint increasingly vulnerable to supply disruptions. "We understand the impact these measures may have on your operations," Maersk stated in its notice to customers, positioning the adjustment as a temporary, cost-reflective measure necessary to maintain service continuity and safeguard cargo integrity. The timing of the surcharge underscores persistent vulnerabilities in global energy markets. Oil price movements tied to geopolitical risk in the Middle East have created what Maersk describes as an "unprecedented cost environment" affecting intermodal and inland transportation operations worldwide. For carriers managing Central American trade lanes, where overland trucking comprises a significant portion of total logistics costs, such fuel adjustments directly cascade to shippers' bottom lines. The implementation differs for FMC (Freight Motor Carrier) and non-FMC shipments, with the price calculation date determined by vessel departure estimates for non-FMC cargo and possession dates for FMC loads. FMC shipments become subject to the surcharge starting April 22, 2026. Maersk's announcement signals the shipping industry's continued struggle with volatile fuel costs despite freight rate normalization. While container rates have stabilized from pandemic peaks, fuel surcharges—historically applied during periods of extreme market stress—indicate carriers view current energy conditions as sufficiently acute to warrant additional revenue recovery mechanisms. The surcharge appears focused on Central American operations, suggesting Maersk is managing regional cost pressures selectively rather than implementing carrier-wide adjustments. Competitors operating similar routes may follow suit if energy costs persist or escalate further. Critically, Maersk noted that "further adjustments may be required as conditions evolve," signaling this may not be the final iteration. Shippers routing cargo through El Salvador should anticipate potential additional cost increases and plan accordingly for second and third-quarter 2026 operations. For importers and exporters using El Salvador as a transshipment point or final destination, the 7% surcharge represents a material cost increase on truck linehaul. When combined with existing port congestion and drayage premiums, the cumulative effect on total logistics costs warrants immediate review of routing alternatives and carrier negotiations.