Kenyan Importers Brace for Higher Costs as Maersk Raises China Shipping Charges

Maersk will raise its peak season surcharges for shipments from China and Hong Kong to Kenya from November 9, 2026, with the revised rates remaining in effect until further notice. Importers will pay USD 1,000 for a 20-foot container and USD 2,000 for a 40- or 45-foot container. Maersk set surcharges for Dar es Salaam at USD 1,200 for a 20-foot container and USD 2,000 for 40- and 45-foot containers; charges are generally collected at origin and are separate from other shipping expenses. Kenya imported goods worth Ksh671.2 billion from China in 2025 and exported goods worth Ksh16.9 billion, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.