Details of CMA CGM’s Freight & Surcharge Adjustment
 
On April 1, 2026, CMA CGM officially implemented a rate restoration program for its Europe-Latin America trade lanes. For short-term contracts valid for no more than three months, the carrier fully increased freight rates and surcharges, making it the first international shipping line to announce tariff hikes on Latin America routes in April.
 
Specific adjustments:
 
- From Northern Europe, the Baltic States and Scandinavia to the East Coast of Central America and the Caribbean: an increase of €325 per container.
- From the Western Mediterranean to the West Coast of South America, the Caribbean and Central America: an increase of €150 per TEU.
Both adjustments represent a rise of more than 20%.
 
Reasons for the Rate Increase
 
The price hike is driven by port congestion in Latin America, high fuel costs and tight capacity on major routes. Currently, yard utilization at key ports including Santos and Valparaíso on the West Coast of South America exceeds 90%, with loading and unloading delays of 3–5 days. Combined with CMA CGM’s rate increase, overall logistics costs from China to Latin America continue to climb, significantly impacting foreign trade enterprises and freight forwarders operating in the Latin American market.