There seems to be a spike in the prices of imported goods as importers in Nigeria are faced with a new challenge of possibly paying N1 million more in additional charges as the French shipping giant, CMA CGM, added a Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) on cargos coming to Nigeria and some West African ports.

The company in an official statement said beginning from September 15, 2025, importers will be required to pay an additional $500 per 20-foot container for dry and reefer cargo from North East Asia, South East Asia, China, Hong Kong and Macau SAR “until further notice.”

Not much explanation was made by the company for the development aside calling it a “continued effort to provide our customers with reliable and efficient services.”

Surcharges temporary measures by shipping lines involved in the shipment of goods worldwide to address peculiar challenges of shipping at destination and are subject to removal when the situation normalises, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The $500 per TEU PSS from CMA CGM is different from the fees that go into the freight invoice including the freight rate, Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF) which covers fuel price fluctuations and the Currency Adjustment Factor (CAF) which accounts for exchange rate volatility.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC) said it will take up the matter with the shipping company for a possible resolution.

“There are two ways to address this surcharge issue. Either for them to finally drop the surcharge, looking at some economic indices and parameters, or we ask for a reduction,” said Director of Consumer Affairs at the NSC, Celestine Akujobi.