Shipping Weekly – 22 Oct 2026 | West Africa via Mediterranean Hubs, PSS Spreads to East Africa

The week of 16–22 October 2026 was defined by carriers converging on the Strait of Gibraltar transshipment hubs. Maersk rebuilt its West Africa network around Algeciras and Tanger Med (from the third week of December), launching WAF1 as a dedicated link to Dakar and WAF5 to five ports including Lagos. In the same week, Gemini (Maersk/Hapag-Lloyd) announced the new SE5, routed via Suez directly to Algeciras and Tanger Med (first call Shanghai, 22 November). Together they form a route from Asia to West Africa that avoids the Cape of Good Hope entirely within a single carrier network. On surcharges, CMA CGM announced PSS of $1,235/TEU from the Far East to Port Louis and $1,000/TEU from South China/Hong Kong to Mombasa, extending the wave of increases from West Africa to East Africa and the Indian Ocean. According to Alphaliner, 63% of Asia–Europe capacity is already back on Suez-routed services, leaving Evergreen and ZIM as the only top-10 carriers yet to return. Meanwhile, attacks around the Strait of Hormuz continued at a record pace, and Brent crude hit $110 on 16 October.

Key Points This Week

• An “Asia–Suez–Gibraltar–West Africa” transshipment chain takes shape. On 19 October Maersk announced WAF1 (to Dakar) and WAF5 (Monrovia, Abidjan, Takoradi, San Pedro, Lagos) out of Algeciras/Tanger Med, added Tema, Onne and Pointe-Noire to WAF3 and Cotonou to WAF6, effective the third week of December. On 20 October Gemini announced the new SE5, sailing via Suez to Algeciras and Tanger Med (first call Shanghai, 22 November).
• The PSS wave reaches East Africa and the Indian Ocean. On 21 October CMA CGM announced a PSS of $1,235/TEU from the Far East to Port Louis, Mauritius (effective 28 October) and $1,000/TEU from South China and Hong Kong to Mombasa, Kenya (effective 25 October). Its Far East–Durban PSS rose from $550 to $750/TEU (effective 22 October). West Africa PSS from CMA CGM (22 October) and Maersk (26 October) also take effect this week and next.
• 63% of Asia–Europe capacity is back on the Suez route. Alphaliner (21 October) found that of 8.70 million TEU deployed on Asia–Europe between 15 September and 15 October, 5.50 million TEU was on services using the Red Sea (Mediterranean 70%, North Europe 58%). Only Evergreen and ZIM among the top 10 carriers have yet to return.
• Hormuz attacks at a record pace. UKMTO confirmed at least 12 ships attacked in the week to 16 October alone, making the first half of October the worst period since the war began. Another tanker was hit off Bukha, Oman, on 21 October. Brent crude reached $110 on 16 October, its highest since May.

Container Rates and Market

Drewry publishes the WCI on Thursdays (UK time), and the 22 October assessment had not been released at the time of writing, so the table shows the 15 October figures. Xeneta’s separate data (16 October) points the same way, with Far East–North Europe up 2.5% and Far East–Mediterranean up 3.2%, so the Asia–Europe rebound was not confined to a single index. However, as Alphaliner’s count shows, more than 60% of Asia–Europe capacity is already back on the Suez route, and Xeneta expects the released capacity to weigh on rates into 2027. Carriers are defending rate levels by cutting capacity (MSC has blanked two November Britannia sailings on Asia–North Europe), but the case for a lasting rebound is weak, and shippers should be cautious about locking in long-term contracts at current levels (understanding ocean freight cost).

At the ports, Tema worsened for the first time in four weeks (5.87 days), and Pointe-Noire, with yard utilisation near 95%, suspended fixed-window and first-come-first-served berthing. Conakry improved slightly to 12.2 days but remains the longest wait in the survey. Durban worsened to 7.33 days, and some carriers are skipping the port, so cargo transshipped at Durban for East Africa and the Indian Ocean needs extra lead time and free-time margin (Japan to Durban, demurrage and detention basics). Dakar, at 2.2 days, is a positive sign as the end point of Maersk’s new WAF1 (Japan to Dakar). Higher oil prices will feed into November bunker surcharge revisions, so check whether November quotes straddle the revision date.

Transshipment Converges on Gibraltar — Three Things Shippers Should Watch

This week Maersk, Gemini and Yang Ming all made moves at Algeciras/Tanger Med.

• SE5 and WAF1/WAF5 connect from mid-December. SE5 (Shanghai, Xiamen, Tanjung Pelepas → Suez → Algeciras, Tanger Med) first calls Shanghai on 22 November, and the new West Africa set-up starts in the third week of December. From January loadings, shippers can compare direct Cape routings with Mediterranean hub routings side by side.
• Tangier transshipment is concentrated on SE5. In the same reshuffle, SE2 and NE1 drop their Tangier calls and SE1 replaces Algeciras with Port Said. When booking, confirm the service code, not just “Gemini”.
• Watch for congestion right after hub upgrades. Pointe-Noire, newly added to WAF3, has already suspended first-come-first-served berthing. Yang Ming has also started a weekly Tangier–Casablanca shuttle, making Tangier’s transshipment capacity and congestion the next point to check.

Carrier by Carrier

Red Sea and Hormuz: The Operating Assumptions

On the Red Sea (Bab el-Mandeb) side, no new attacks on merchant ships were confirmed this week, following the Chrystal Sky incident on 4 October. The return to Suez is accelerating, and Linerlytica expects a full return by Q1 2027. Capacity crossing Bab el-Mandeb reached 448,000 TEU per week on 5 October, double the late-August level and 48% of August 2023.

Around the Strait of Hormuz, attacks continued. UKMTO confirmed at least 12 ships attacked in the week to 16 October, with one sunk and two disabled. On 15 October the US said the container ship GFS Pride, reported sunk last week, was hit by an IRGC projectile rather than a mine, contradicting Iran’s account. Tankers were hit off Al Faw, Iraq, on 20 October and off Bukha, Oman, on 21 October. There are also reports that the US military has been told to prepare for larger strikes after the 3 November midterm elections. Even on routes that avoid Hormuz, higher oil prices (Brent at $110) will feed through to bunker surcharges, so shippers should check November revisions and war-risk insurance terms.

Practical Points for Shippers and Forwarders

• For West Africa, compare “direct via the Cape” with “via Mediterranean hubs” from January loadings. Once Maersk’s WAF1/WAF5 (from the third week of December) and Gemini’s SE5 (from 22 November) are in place, transit times and all-in costs can be compared.
• For East Africa and the Indian Ocean, re-quote with origin and transshipment port stated. CMA CGM’s Port Louis and Durban charges apply to “Far East” origins, while Mombasa applies to “South China and Hong Kong”. Durban congestion is also worsening.
• MSC’s Far East–Sub-Saharan Africa rates run until 31 October. Confirm revised rates for November loadings.
• Be cautious about how long the rate rebound will last. More than 60% of Asia–Europe capacity is back on Suez, and the extra capacity caps upside.
• Check November bunker surcharge revisions. Brent at $110 affects costs even on routes that avoid Hormuz.
• Plan Evergreen and ZIM cargo on Cape transit times. They are the only top-10 carriers not back on the Red Sea route.

What to Watch Next

• 22 OctNext Drewry WCI release (not yet published at the time of writing). CMA CGM China–West Africa PSS second stage and Far East–Durban $750 take effect.
• 25 OctCMA CGM South China/Hong Kong–Mombasa PSS $1,000/TEU takes effect.
• 26 OctMaersk China/Hong Kong/Taiwan–West Africa PSS ($800/$1,600) takes effect.
• 27 OctMaersk AE12’s Umm Qarn leaves Tanjung Pelepas — AE12’s first Suez transit.
• 28 OctCMA CGM Far East–Port Louis PSS $1,235/TEU takes effect.
• 29 OctCOSCO Q3 results.
• 31 OctMSC Far East–Sub-Saharan Africa rates (from 15 October) expire.
• 3 NovUS midterm elections; watch Hormuz developments afterwards.
• 5 NovMaersk Q3 results.
• 9 NovPremier Alliance FE1 (ONE Continuity) first westbound Suez transit.
• 22 NovGemini SE5 first sailing (Maersk Edirne from Shanghai).
• Mid-DecMaersk’s new West Africa set-up (WAF1, WAF5, WAF3, WAF6) begins.
• OngoingYang Ming MS2’s move to Suez, westbound Suez on Evergreen-operated ships, and West and South African port congestion (reading ETD, ETA and cut-off).

Sources

1. Drewry — World Container Index (15 October 2026)
2. Xeneta — Weekly ocean container shipping market update (16 October)
3. Safety4Sea — Alphaliner: 63% of Far East–Europe capacity deployed on services using Red Sea route
4. Seatrade Maritime — Full Suez return for container carriers expected by Q1 2027
5. Kuehne+Nagel — Port operational updates (14–20 October)
6. MSC — Schedule Update: Trade Asia to North Europe
7. MSC — PA Trade from Far East to Sub Saharan Africa and Indian Ocean
8. 7news Morocco — MSC cuts shipping rates to Casablanca but adds security charges
9. Maersk — Enhanced connectivity between the Western Mediterranean and West Africa
10. El Estrecho Digital — Maersk reorganizes four services with West Africa
11. Container News — CMA CGM announces new surcharges for Mauritius and Kenya shipments
12. Container News — CMA CGM announces new peak season surcharges on Asia–Africa trades
13. SCMP — Shipping giant Cosco launches new routes to ride out Iran war, climate risks
14. Container News — Hapag-Lloyd introduces new SE5 service in Far East–Europe network reshuffle
15. Times of Israel — Zim employees protest proposed sale to Hapag-Lloyd
16. Ship & Bunker — ONE, HMM and Yang Ming’s Premier Alliance to resume Suez routing
17. Cyprus Shipping News — ONE backs solar-powered clean water project in Nigeria
18. Baird Maritime — HMM approves $1.6b investment in 12 containerships
19. El Estrecho Digital — HMM orders eight 13,000-TEU container ships from HD Hyundai
20. Container News — Yang Ming adds Tangier–Casablanca shuttle
21. Logistics Manager — Yang Ming names 15,500 TEU YM Weight for MS2
22. Logistics Insider — Wan Hai halts Afghan, Central Asia cargo via Pakistan ports
23. Al Jazeera — US and Iran both claim control of Strait of Hormuz amid attacks on vessels
24. Al Arabiya — Projectile strikes tanker west of Oman’s Bukha

This article was compiled by the OCEAN FREIGHT JAPAN editorial team from carrier announcements and press reports (coverage period: 16–22 October 2026). Drewry WCI figures are from the 15 October assessment, the latest available at the time of writing, and port waiting times are from the Kuehne+Nagel update for 14–20 October. Rate and surcharge levels and conditions may change after announcement and can differ in practice by origin, cargo and contract terms. Always confirm applicability against each carrier’s official tariff and quotation.