Maersk sets USD 400 PSS: checks for Vietnam exports before 1 September

Maersk published a rate announcement on 17 August 2026 revising its Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) for Far East exports to Sri Lanka and the Maldives. For Vietnam-origin cargo, the stated effective date is 1 September 2026, until further notice.

The carrier's tariff table lists USD 400 under each of three equipment columns: ALL 20, ALL 40 and 45HDRY. This is a Maersk-specific announcement for the named origin, destinations and equipment groups. It is not evidence that every carrier has adopted the same charge or that every Vietnam export lane has become USD 400 more expensive.

What the notice says about booking type and timing

Maersk says the PSS does not apply to SPOT bookings. For non-SPOT bookings, the applicable tariff is retrieved using the Price Calculation Date (PCD). The notice defines PCD for non-FMC cargo as the scheduled departure date of the first water leg at the time of booking confirmation; for FMC cargo, it is the last container gate-in date.

The notice also says the charge follows the freight payment term and that other applicable local or contingency charges may still apply. That means the public table is a trigger for a quote review, not a complete landed-cost calculation.

Why it matters to Vietnam exporters

Vietnam Customs recorded USD 38.95 million of exports to Sri Lanka in April 2026 and USD 88.39 million for January–April. Those official figures establish that this is an active export market, but they do not indicate how much cargo moves with Maersk, in containers, or under SPOT versus non-SPOT terms. The customs table does not provide a comparable Maldives figure used in this article.

For an affected non-SPOT booking, the practical issue is whether the PCD falls on or after the Vietnam effective date and whether the quotation identifies the PSS separately. A booking confirmed before 1 September is not automatically exempt: the notice ties non-SPOT application to PCD, not simply to the day the shipper first requested a quote.

The impact can reach a sales margin, prepaid or collect freight arrangement, buyer approval and document timing. Its actual size still depends on the carrier's live quote, equipment, booking type, contractual terms and any other applicable charges.

Six checks before confirming cargo

• Confirm that the origin is Vietnam and the destination is Sri Lanka or the Maldives under the carrier's tariff scope.
• Ask whether the booking is SPOT or non-SPOT and obtain that classification in writing.
• Record the PCD and the first water-leg departure date shown at booking confirmation; do not substitute the booking-request date.
• Request an itemised quote showing the PSS, equipment group, currency, payment term and any local or contingency charges.
• Reconcile the charge with the chosen Incoterm and sales contract: identify whether seller, buyer or another party bears the freight adjustment.
• Recheck the current tariff and booking confirmation before gate-in because the notice says “until further notice” and rate structures can change.

Freight impact and confidence

The concrete news is narrow but actionable: Maersk has published USD 400 in the listed equipment columns for Vietnam exports to Sri Lanka and the Maldives with a 1 September effective date, subject to its booking and PCD rules. The safest response is to refresh the quote and cost allocation before cargo commitment.

Confidence is high in the carrier's amount, scope, effective date and SPOT/non-SPOT wording, and high in the dated Vietnam Customs export totals. Confidence is medium for any individual shipment until its live quotation, booking type, PCD and contract are checked. No universal market surcharge, fixed total freight increase, capacity shortage or delay is claimed.