Introduction
A TEU from Shanghai to Beira, Mozambique, currently costs US$250 more than usual during peak season due to the introduction of the Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) by CMA CGM. The route, connecting East Asia to the eastern African coast, has seen a significant tariff increase starting July 15, 2026. The surcharge applies to all goods in transit from Far East origins to Beira and does not only concern maritime transport but also the entire physical supply chain leading to the Mozambican port.
The bottleneck occurs during the passage from the Suez Canal to the Indian Ocean, where congestion and volatility in operating conditions have increased operational risk. This tension is not related to a single contingent cause but represents a structural evolution of global logistics flows, in which each transit node is evaluated not only for efficiency but also for resilience against geopolitical disruptions. The additional cost is not simply a fuel surcharge: it is a mechanism to transfer the burden of exposure to logistical bottlenecks from the carrier to the shipper.
Alternative Routes and Systemic Reconfiguration
The increase in PSS (Port Security Supplement) has generated a reconfiguration of trade flows towards alternative routes, particularly transhipment through hubs in Southeast Asia or passage via Mexico. According to data from Xeneta, air freight rates have increased by 17% in the second half of 2026 due to the removal of 12% of global capacity for the war in the Middle East, making land connections more competitive. The tariff differential between a direct shipment via Suez and one with transhipment in Singapore is estimated at +38%, but transit time only increases by 12%.
Alternative routes are not only more expensive, but also more complex to manage. The Far East to Beira route requires an additional logistical operation with an average of two days in transhipment and an extra cost for temporary container storage. However, the risk of delays related to the conflict in the Red Sea has led companies to prefer longer but safer routes. According to Maersk’s analysis, volumes in transit via Vietnam have increased by 23% since the first half of 2026 compared to the same period of the previous year, while the route through the Panama Canal saw a 14% increase for the American region.
The New Logistics Hub: Beira and the Resilience Infrastructure
The increase in tariffs is not only a consequence, but also an incentive to invest in alternative infrastructure. The port of Beira is becoming a strategic hub for intercontinental trade, with the expansion of the container terminal and the creation of special economic zones that offer tax breaks to international suppliers. According to Rhenus, the company has already expanded its operations in the Philippines to meet the growing demand for modern and technologically integrated logistics services.
The change does not only concern carriers: local suppliers are also reconfiguring their supply chains. The use of 10% more containers at the transhipment level, combined with the increased capacity of internal terminals, has led to an average reduction of 28% in operational risk. The additional cost is not borne solely by the shipper: the value of the local infrastructure strengthens, and those who control the transit nodes in East Africa gain increasing logistical control.
Impact on Operating Margin
The increase in tariff costs has generated a significant deviation in the operating margin for companies shipping to East Africa. According to an internal analysis, the average logistics cost per TEU has increased by +47% compared to the period before the tariff reconfiguration. This resulted in a reduction in the operating spread from 18% to 9%, with consequent pressure on sales and investment capacity.
The difference is not offset by an increase in selling prices, as the African market remains sensitive to costs. The risk for companies is that working capital becomes immobilized at customs and in inland terminals for longer periods: the analysis shows an average of +32 additional days in the operating cycle compared to 2025. The net impact on company value is measurable as -18% in annual ROI for segments dependent on this route, indicating a clear trade-off: resilience at the cost of margins.
Photo by Ralf Leineweber on Unsplash
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