---
title: Hapag-Lloyd Announces Another Freight Rate Increase on Shipments to North America
description: Hapag-Lloyd announces a new freight rate increase on shipments from the Indian Subcontinent, Pakistan, and the Middle East to North America.
---

[Trade News](https://blog.coleintl.com/tradenews)

# [Hapag-Lloyd Announces Another Freight Rate Increase on Shipments to North America](https://blog.coleintl.com/tradenews/hapag-lloyd-announces-another-freight-rate-increase-on-shipments-to-north-america)

 Written by [Cole Marketing](https://blog.coleintl.com/tradenews/author/cole-marketing) | May 8, 2026, 12:00:01 PM

*The new General Rate Increase/General Rate Adjustment applies to shipments from the Indian Subcontinent, Pakistan, and the Middle East to Canada and the U.S.*

Hapag-Lloyd has announced a [new freight rate increase](https://www.hapag-lloyd.com/en/services-information/news/2026/05/gri-gra-from-isc-pakistan-and-middle-east-to-north-america.headless.html) on shipments from the Indian Subcontinent, Pakistan, and the Middle East to North America.

The General Rate Increase (GRI)/General Rate Adjustment (GRA) is set at USD 1,000 per container and applies to cargo moving to Canada and the U.S. in 20' and 40' dry, reefer, and special containers. This includes high cube equipment.

The increase takes effect for containers gated in full from June 1, 2026, and will remain in effect until further notice.

The Hapag-Lloyd announcement follows a series of recent carrier cost adjustments affecting shipments to North America.

[Disruption around the Strait of Hormuz](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/02/strait-of-hormuz-crisis-us-iran-israel-war-shipping-trade-oil.html) in late February 2026 led Hapag-Lloyd, as well as major container lines Maersk, MSC, and CMA CGM, to temporarily adjust services or [suspend vessel transits](https://www.hapag-lloyd.com/en/services-information/news/2026/02/suspension-of-strait-of-hormuz-transits-due-to-security-closure.html) through the waterway for crew and cargo safety.

The disruption contributed to higher shipping costs, including bunker fuel, war risk insurance premiums, and vessel rerouting expenses.

## **Carriers respond with freight rate increases**

In March, several ocean and air carriers [introduced or adjusted surcharges](https://blog.coleintl.com/tradenews/shipping-costs-rise-as-middle-east-unrest-disrupts-air-and-ocean-freight) as Middle East unrest continued to affect freight operations.

Hapag-Lloyd introduced a [War Risk Surcharge](https://www.hapag-lloyd.com/en/services-information/news/2026/03/shipping-from-upper-gulf--arabian-gulf--and-persian-gulf--a-war-.html) of USD 1,500 per TEU for standard containers and USD 3,500 per container for reefers and special equipment on shipments to and from the Upper Gulf, Persian Gulf, and Arabian Gulf, effective March 2, 2026.

The carrier also introduced an [Emergency Fuel Surcharge](https://www.hapag-lloyd.com/en/services-information/news/2026/03/emergency-fuel-surcharge--efs--implementation.html), effective March 23, 2026, excluding FMC-regulated U.S. cargo.

## **Shipping surcharges continued through April**

In April, [additional shipping surcharges](https://blog.coleintl.com/tradenews/new-shipping-surcharges-come-into-effect-in-april-2026) came into effect.

MSC began applying an Emergency Fuel Surcharge on cargo moving from Asia to Canada and the U.S. on April 9, 2026, with an additional increase announced for May 1, 2026.

Amazon also announced a 3.5% fuel and logistics-related surcharge on fulfillment fees for third-party sellers using Fulfillment by Amazon in Canada and the U.S., effective April 17, 2026.

## **How we can help**

At Cole International, we offer [trade consulting](https://www.coleintl.com/services/trade-consulting/) and [freight forwarding](https://www.coleintl.com/services/freight-forwarding)<https://www.coleintl.com/services/freight-forwarding> services to help Canadian businesses assess the impact of freight rate increases on their supply chains.

Reach out to one of [our trade professionals](https://www.coleintl.com/contact-us) to discuss your shipping strategy and how to keep your freight moving.

[View full post](https://blog.coleintl.com/tradenews/hapag-lloyd-announces-another-freight-rate-increase-on-shipments-to-north-america)

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