Importers & Exporters Push Back Against Peak Season Shipping Surcharges

Importers and exporters in South Africa are mounting vocal opposition to peak season surcharges imposed by major shipping lines, signaling growing frustration with the practice of dynamic pricing during high-demand periods. The dispute reflects a broader tension in global ocean freight markets where carriers employ capacity-driven rate increases to manage congestion and maximize revenue during predictable seasonal peaks, yet trade communities view these charges as exploitative and economically unsustainable. This conflict has significant implications for supply chain professionals managing international trade flows.

Peak season surcharges—often ranging from 15-30% above baseline rates—directly compress margins for importers and exporters who operate on fixed customer contracts or negotiated pricing floors. The practice is particularly acute in emerging markets and smaller trading nations where negotiating power with global carrier alliances remains limited, creating structural cost disadvantages that undermine competitiveness. The broader context reveals a structural mismatch in ocean freight markets: shipping lines argue surcharges are necessary to incentivize equipment positioning and manage terminal congestion during seasonal rushes, while shippers contend that modern capacity planning and vessel scheduling should absorb normal seasonal demand variations.

As supply chain professionals navigate this environment, strategic responses include contract renegotiation with force majeure clauses, modal shifts to air freight for time-sensitive goods, and supply chain diversification across ports and carriers to reduce dependency on any single shipping line or route.