Importers across East Africa are bracing for an economic hurdle as global maritime carriers roll out steep price hikes on cargo arriving from China and Hong Kong.

Danish shipping titan A.P. Moller-Maersk, which handles a dominant share of sea freight entering the region, officially revised its Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) for routes connecting China and Hong Kong to East Africa.

According to Maersk’s official advisory, the new rates take effect on June 15, 2026, and target non-spot container bookings bound for critical maritime gateways, including Kenya’s Port of Mombasa and Tanzania’s Port of Dar es Salaam.

Under the new tariff structure, the surcharge for a 20-foot container bound for Kenya or Tanzania will tick upward to $1,000 (approx. Sh130,000). The surcharge for a 40-foot container heading to Kenya will rise to $2,000 (approx. Sh260,000).

Because China is East Africa’s dominant trading partner, spikes in ocean freight rates heavily dictate local market realities. China supplies the lion’s share of consumer merchandise, household items, electronics, and clothing entering the regional market.

Logistics and forwarding experts warn that local merchants lack the financial padding to absorb these sudden multi-thousand-dollar shocks.

Consequently, these expenses will likely be passed directly down the supply chain, triggering a sharp rise in shelf prices for everyday consumers.

Beyond everyday retail, regional development projects face immediate friction. Major infrastructural works rely heavily on imported Chinese structural steel, heavy machinery, and raw industrial materials.

Government-led infrastructure plans, such as regional road networks and affordable housing developments, function on incredibly tight capital allocations. Squeezed by exploding container freight prices, project contractors are warning of inevitable development delays or widening deficits that will place an unexpected strain on national budgets.