Shipping Weekly – 5 Nov 2026 | All but ZIM Head for Suez, Southwest Africa PSS Covers Japan

In the week of 29 October to 5 November 2026, the timetable for almost every major carrier’s return to Suez on Asia–Europe fell into place. The Loadstar reported that ZIM is set to be the only major carrier still routing around the Cape, and Yang Ming’s MD1 (10 November) and MS2 (16 November) dates were confirmed in an ONE customer advisory. On surcharges, Hapag-Lloyd has been applying a USD 800/TEU PSS from Asia and Oceania, explicitly including Japan, to Southwest Africa since 25 October, and Maersk will quadruple its Far East to South Africa and Mauritius PSS from 9 November. The Drewry WCI fell for the first time in four weeks and the Asia–Europe rebound stalled. After the US midterm elections, Brent crude fell below USD 100 for the first time since the conflict began, although attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz continue.

Key points this week

• Almost every carrier except ZIM heads back to Suez on Asia–Europe. The Loadstar (3 Nov) reported that the main operators are set to return all Asia–North Europe and Asia–Mediterranean services to Suez. Evergreen’s first eastbound (Europe to Asia) transit now looks set for 7 November (Ever Eon), later than the 4 November originally reported. Yang Ming’s MD1 departs Ningbo on 10 November and MS2 departs Qingdao on 16 November (ONE customer advisory), although Alphaliner gives 14 and 28 November, so the dates still vary.
• A Southwest Africa PSS that covers Japan. Hapag-Lloyd applies a USD 800/TEU PSS on cargo from China, South Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia and Oceania to Southwest Africa, including Luanda, Pointe-Noire and Douala, for cargo loaded from 25 October (all container types, until further notice).
• South Africa surcharges keep coming. Maersk will raise its Far East to South Africa and Mauritius PSS to USD 1,000 per 20ft and USD 2,000 per 40ft from 9 November, four times the previous level (reported scope: China, Southeast Asia and others). Hapag-Lloyd’s USD 500/TEU South Africa PSS, which covers Japan, took effect on 3 November.
• Rates fall for the first time in four weeks; oil drops below USD 100. The Drewry WCI (29 Oct) was USD 4,429 (down 3%). Shanghai–Rotterdam rose 1% and Shanghai–Genoa was flat, so the Europe rebound has stalled. Brent closed at USD 94.62 on 4 November (Reuters).

Container rates and market

The Drewry WCI is published on Thursdays (UK time). The 5 November figure was not yet available when this article was written, so the 29 October figure is shown. The fall in the composite came mainly from the transpacific (Shanghai–Los Angeles down 6%), and Drewry expects further softening as US import demand slows. On Asia–Europe, Shanghai–Rotterdam rose 1% and Shanghai–Genoa was flat, so the three-week rebound has effectively stalled. Asia–Europe blank sailings fall from eight to four next week, and the return to Suez will release more capacity. Shippers should plan for softer Europe and Mediterranean rates towards the year end and be cautious about locking long-term contracts at current levels (how ocean freight costs and quotes break down).

Carrier earnings, however, remain strong. COSCO Shipping Holdings reported third-quarter net profit of CNY 17.23 billion (up 81% year on year, per Chinese press), and ONE raised its full-year net profit forecast from USD 0.9 billion to USD 2.0 billion. Even as rates start to fall, a shift to aggressive price competition looks likely to be gradual.

In ports, West Africa improved across the board (Kuehne+Nagel, 27 Oct–3 Nov). Tema improved from 7.56 to 6.77 days (Japan to Tema route) and Abidjan to 3.0 days, although full yards and truck shortages at Tema are expected to last through November. Durban worsened to 7.54 days, with 17 vessels and about 85,000 TEU of capacity waiting as of 2 November. Kuehne+Nagel describes the congestion as structural and does not expect meaningful improvement before the end of Q1 2027 (Japan to Durban route). Mombasa was calm at 1.67 days (Japan to Mombasa route).

Africa surcharges: three things shippers should check

• Check whether Japan is in scope, carrier by carrier. Hapag-Lloyd’s Southwest Africa (USD 800/TEU) and South Africa (USD 500/TEU) surcharges name Japan. Maersk’s South Africa PSS (from 9 Nov) and CMA CGM’s China to West Africa PSS (USD 700/TEU for Nigeria and others, from 1 Nov) do not include Japan in the reported scope.
• The gap with China-origin cargo is widening. CMA CGM’s China to West Africa PSS has risen from USD 200 to 350 to 700/TEU in three weeks. The more surcharges apply to China but not Japan, the smaller the total cost gap for Japan-origin cargo. Compare these alongside base freight.
• The loading date changes the total. Effective dates are 25 October (Hapag-Lloyd Southwest Africa), 3 November (Hapag-Lloyd South Africa), 9 November (Maersk South Africa) and 15 November (CMA CGM Réunion, USD 300/TEU from the Far East). Always match quote validity against the loading date.

Carrier by carrier

Red Sea and Hormuz: the baseline

On the Red Sea (Bab el-Mandeb) side, no new attacks on merchant ships were reported again this week (five weeks since 4 October), and the carriers’ return to Suez continues.

In the Strait of Hormuz, five incidents were confirmed on 1–3 November (Riviera, 4 Nov). One crew member died on an Indian dhow and a UAE tug sank. The IMO counts 128 incidents and 24 seafarer deaths since the conflict began, and the strait remains effectively closed to commercial traffic. On 2 November US forces struck Iran’s Qeshm Island. In the 3 November US midterm elections, Democrats won both chambers, and President Trump said there were no “immediate” plans for new strikes. Brent fell to USD 94.62 on 4 November, below USD 100 for the first time since the conflict began (Reuters). The fall reflects political expectations rather than any improvement in the strait itself. Carriers review emergency fuel surcharges regularly, so shippers should check for changes ahead of December loadings.

Practical points for shippers and forwarders

• Central and Southwest Africa carry a PSS even from Japan. Hapag-Lloyd charges USD 800/TEU to Pointe-Noire, Douala, Luanda and other ports from 25 October loadings. Check that quotes include it.
• Compare South Africa totals carrier by carrier. Hapag-Lloyd applies USD 500/TEU including Japan (from 3 Nov), and Maersk raises its Far East level sharply from 9 November (confirm Japan-origin treatment with each carrier).
• Allow extra time for Durban into the new year. Kuehne+Nagel expects no meaningful improvement before the end of Q1 2027. The same applies to East Africa and Indian Ocean cargo transhipped at Durban (demurrage and detention basics).
• Europe and Mediterranean rates are heading lower. The rebound has stalled and Suez routing releases capacity. Carrier earnings are strong, though, so declines may be gradual.
• Check for room to lower fuel surcharges. Brent has fallen below USD 100, but the Hormuz situation is unchanged and the risk of a rebound remains.

What to watch next

• 5 NovNext Drewry WCI release and Maersk Q3 results (not yet released at the time of writing).
• 7 NovEvergreen’s Ever Eon (CES) eastbound Suez transit.
• 9 NovMaersk’s higher Far East to South Africa and Mauritius PSS takes effect. ONE Continuity (FE1) makes the first westbound Suez transit.
• 10 NovYang Ming MD1 returns to Suez (YM Trust, from Ningbo). October revenue from Evergreen, Yang Ming and Wan Hai.
• 12 NovHapag-Lloyd Q3 results. Evergreen restarts OGRD (China–Red Sea).
• 15 NovCMA CGM USD 300/TEU Far East to Réunion PSS takes effect.
• 16 NovYang Ming MS2 returns to Suez (ONE Synergy, from Qingdao).
• 18 NovZIM Q3 results.
• 22 NovFirst Gemini SE5 sailing (Maersk Edirne, from Shanghai).
• Dec wk 3Maersk’s new West Africa network (WAF1, WAF5, WAF3, WAF6) begins.
• OngoingStructural congestion at Durban, congestion at Tema (through November), Hormuz and oil prices (reading ETD, ETA and cut-off, Japan to Dar es Salaam route).

Sources

1. Drewry — World Container Index
2. Kuehne+Nagel — Port operational updates (27 Oct–3 Nov)
3. Kuehne+Nagel — Durban congestion remains severe
4. The Loadstar — Major liners set to resume all Asia-Europe services through Suez
5. PortNews — La Premier Alliance torna sul Canale di Suez
6. Container News — Hapag-Lloyd updates Southwest Africa surcharge
7. Container News — Maersk revises Far East Asia surcharge to South Africa and Mauritius
8. Maersk — China, Hong Kong to Kenya / Dar es Salaam PSS increase
9. Freight News — Maersk extends Durban import detention free time
10. Food Business MEA — Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd return ME1 to Suez
11. BusinessDay — CMA CGM $700 surcharge on China–Nigeria cargo
12. Container News — CMA CGM announces new Asia–Africa surcharges for November
13. Jiemian — COSCO Shipping Holdings Q3 results
14. El Estrecho Digital — ONE raises annual forecast to USD 2 billion
15. PR Newswire — ZIM to release Q3 2026 results on 18 November
16. FreightWaves — Hapag-Lloyd’s ZIM takeover heads for reset
17. Economic Daily News — Yang Ming Red Sea return
18. Riviera — Fresh Hormuz attacks leave seafarer dead and several vessels damaged
19. gCaptain — Trump plays down prospect of Iran strikes after midterm rout
20. Oil & Gas Middle East — Brent hits 4-week low on Iran talks

This article was compiled by the OCEAN FREIGHT JAPAN editorial team from carrier announcements and press reports (coverage period: 29 October to 5 November 2026). The Drewry WCI shown is the latest release at the time of writing (29 October), and port waiting times are from Kuehne+Nagel’s 27 October–3 November update. COSCO and ONE results figures are based on press reports and may differ in presentation from the companies’ own disclosures. Surcharge levels and conditions may change after announcement and may differ by origin, cargo and contract terms. Always confirm applicability against each carrier’s official tariff and quotation.