Vietnamese exports to West Africa face additional $800 per container surcharge

The new peak season surcharge (PSS), effective November 4, applies to both 20-foot and 40-foot containers, including dry and refrigerated containers, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

The fee comes on top of regular freight rates and excludes local charges and other additional costs.

VASEP warned that the surcharge could squeeze profit margins for exporters operating under fixed-price contracts if they are responsible for shipping costs.

Passing the additional expense on to buyers, meanwhile, could make Vietnamese products less competitive in West African markets.

The surcharge comes amid continued volatility in global container shipping, with freight rates moving in different directions across major routes.

Freight rates for 40-foot containers from Ho Chi Minh City to Shanghai, China have fallen six percent to $44.

On the Ho Chi Minh City-Laem Chabang route to Thailand, shipping a 40-foot refrigerated container costs approximately $569, but the total listed cost, including certain export-related surcharges, reaches $967.

Meanwhile, the World Container Index (WCI) compiled by UK-based maritime consultancy Drewry rose two percent to $4,585 per 40-foot container on October 22, with rates on the Shanghai-New York route reaching $10,166.

Exporters also face potential delivery disruptions, as shipping lines are expected to cancel 56 of 714 scheduled sailings between weeks 44 and 48 of 2026, accounting for nearly eight percent.

Changes to shipping routes through the Red Sea and Suez Canal could further affect sailing schedules and transshipment arrangements.

Against this backdrop, VASEP advised seafood exporters to review freight quotations carefully, book shipping space early, and account for all logistics expenses.

For frozen seafood shipments, delays could also result in additional container storage, electricity, and refrigeration costs.