CMA CGM surcharge Nigeria 2025 to add $500 per container from Asia to West Africa, raising concerns among Nigerian importers and freight agents

CMA CGM surcharge Nigeria 2025 is set to increase the financial burden on Nigerian importers, as the French shipping giant has announced a $500 Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) per container on all cargo headed for West African ports, including Nigeria.

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The surcharge, effective from September 15, 2025, will apply to twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of both dry and reefer cargo originating from North-East Asia, South-East Asia, China, and Hong Kong & Macau SAR.

The charge will remain in place “until further notice” and is applicable only to short-term contracts, according to a statement on CMA CGM’s official website.

“In a continued effort to provide our customers with reliable and efficient services…$500 per TEU… from Asia to West Africa,” the company said.

Industry experts have slammed the surcharge as exploitative and warned it will worsen Nigeria’s already high cost of doing business at the ports.

Former interim National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Mr. Pius Ujubuonu, criticized the move, saying:

“That is absolute exploitation. Instead of enjoying the boom in business, they want to punish their customers… We will call the attention of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) to it.”

He also condemned the NSC for what he described as a lack of proactive oversight in protecting Nigerian stakeholders from excessive charges imposed by foreign shipping lines.

Echoing similar concerns, Mr. Segun Musa, Deputy President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), emphasized the economic impact of the surcharge:

“It might look small, but $500 per TEU adds up quickly. This frustrates government efforts to reduce the cost of doing business at the ports.”

The surcharge comes at a time when Nigeria is already grappling with high logistics costs, volatile exchange rates, and rising inflation factors that compound the challenge for importers trying to remain competitive in a tight market.

The new CMA CGM surcharge is the latest in a string of price adjustments by global shipping lines targeting African routes during periods of peak demand.

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It raises questions about fair pricing, transparency, and the balance of power in global trade logistics, especially for emerging economies like Nigeria.