<p data-path-to-node="5">Reacting to a sharp spike in marine bunker fuel costs triggered by renewed geopolitical friction near the <b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="126">Strait of Hormuz</b>, French container shipping carrier <b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="178">CMA CGM</b> has announced an <b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="203">Emergency Fuel Surcharge (EFS)</b> across all Middle East long-haul and intra-regional trade routes, effective <b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="310">August 1, 2026</b>.</p><p data-path-to-node="6">The third-largest ocean carrier globally confirmed that the surcharge will add between <b data-path-to-node="6" data-index-in-node="87">$65 and $165 per TEU</b> (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) to container shipping rates until further notice, reflecting escalating operational costs for ocean transport and inland logistics across the Middle East.</p><h3 data-path-to-node="8"><b data-path-to-node="8" data-index-in-node="0">Tiered Surcharge Matrix Targets Long-Haul Headhauls, Backhauls, and Intra-Regional Loops</b></h3><p data-path-to-node="9">CMA CGM's official advisory (#12) details a structured surcharge breakdown depending on cargo type, route direction, and equipment:</p><ul data-path-to-node="10"><li><p data-path-to-node="10,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Long-Haul Headhaul Trades:</b> Shipments moving on primary headhaul routes will face an EFS of <b data-path-to-node="10,0,0" data-index-in-node="91">$150 per TEU</b> for dry containers and <b data-path-to-node="10,0,0" data-index-in-node="127">$165 per TEU</b> for refrigerated (reefer) units. Corresponding euro tariffs have been fixed at <b data-path-to-node="10,0,0" data-index-in-node="219">€130</b> and <b data-path-to-node="10,0,0" data-index-in-node="228">€145 per TEU</b>, respectively.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="10,1,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">Long-Haul Backhaul Trades:</b> For backhaul cargo, the carrier will levy <b data-path-to-node="10,1,0" data-index-in-node="69">$75 per TEU</b> for dry containers and <b data-path-to-node="10,1,0" data-index-in-node="104">$90 per TEU</b> for reefer equipment (<b data-path-to-node="10,1,0" data-index-in-node="138">€65</b> and <b data-path-to-node="10,1,0" data-index-in-node="146">€80 per TEU</b>).</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="10,2,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,2,0" data-index-in-node="0">Intra-Regional Middle East Loops:</b> All intra-regional trades within the Middle East will incur the baseline rate of <b data-path-to-node="10,2,0" data-index-in-node="115">$75 per TEU</b> for dry cargo and <b data-path-to-node="10,2,0" data-index-in-node="145">$90 per TEU</b> for reefers, regardless of direction.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="10,3,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,3,0" data-index-in-node="0">Bunker Volatility Impact:</b> The carrier noted that recent naval incidents and military alerts around the Strait of Hormuz the choke point carrying over a fifth of global petroleum supply reversed recent fuel price declines and driven marine fuel prices up sharply, increasing marine insurance premiums and operational contingency expenses.</p></li></ul>