Escalating conflict in the Middle East has triggered significant new cost pressures for Australian exporters, with global container lines introducing "war" and "emergency conflict" surcharges of up to US$4,000 per refrigerated container on cargo moving to and from key Gulf markets.
The article in The Australian, written by Eli Greenblat, reports that carriers including CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd have implemented new levies at short notice, in some cases applying retrospectively to cargo already booked or on the water. The immediate impact is financial — particularly for agricultural exporters reliant on refrigerated containers — with limited opportunity to adjust pricing in contracts agreed months or years in advance.
Freight & Trade Alliance General Manager – Freight Policy & Operations, Tom Jensen, described the move as deeply concerning for Australian exporters:
"From our perspective it doesn't give exporters a fighting chance to remain commercially viable and adjust their pricing because they have been blindsided by it."
Read the article HERE
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