Maersk expects container shipping to become significantly more expensive in the third quarter of 2026. The Danish shipping company plans to pass on rising fuel prices in full to customers. As a result, the pressure on the logistics sector is increasing again.
According to top executive Vincent Clerc, high oil and lng prices are currently causing hundreds of millions of dollars in extra costs every month. As long as oil prices continue to hover around $100 a barrel, these costs will continue to weigh heavily on the shipping industry.
The rising energy costs will be passed on directly to customers, according to Maersk. That means shippers and ultimately consumers will have to reckon with higher prices.
Fuel is one of the biggest cost items in container shipping. When oil and gas prices rise sharply, it affects freight rates and surcharges almost immediately.
Maersk says it usually has little trouble passing on additional costs. With that, it seems likely that the market will feel the price increases.
...fuel costs are one of the main factors determining container rates.
Although higher rates may depress demand for container transport, Maersk remains relatively optimistic about the market development. For now, the shipping company is still counting on growth of 2 to 4 per cent in 2026.
This confidence is partly because global trade continues to turn despite geopolitical tensions. At the same time, the market remains sensitive to developments in the Middle East and the energy market.
For logistics companies, this means that cost control and flexibility will become more important than ever. After all, higher energy costs affect the entire supply chain.
Higher transport costs are also expected to eventually show up in consumer prices. Products that depend on international transport may therefore become more expensive.
For shippers and forwarders, this means that price agreements and fuel clauses will be re-examined. The logistics sector continues to adapt to the volatile energy market.
Read more about international container flows and transport solutions on the ocean freight page.
The coming months will show how strongly energy costs actually affect the container market and whether this reduces demand for container transport.