Container Shipping Quarterly

Special Report resolution is not helpful to anyone,” said Kevin Parkerson, a consultant and former logistics manager at retailers.“ Yes, it may impact overall capacity. Yes, it may impact fuel prices. But at this point, that shouldn’ t delay the process of contracting. Everybody seems to be proceeding cautiously.”

Securing capacity in the Asia – US West Coast trade is currently not a significant issue that would slow negotiations.

“ We now have seen an unpredictable shock to the global ocean market in like four of the last six years.”

Iran war reignites age-old debate over fuel surcharges

By Greg Knowler

“ Asia to the West Coast will be fine,” a second carrier executive told the Journal of Commerce, noting that if the war in the Middle East continues, East Coast routings from the Indian sub-continent could be impacted by the congestion that is already building at some ports in the region.

In the interim, most importers would be wise to secure the minimum quantity commitments in their contracts as soon as they have a handle on what their space requirements will be, a third carrier executive said.

“ Those BCOs who are slow-walking their negotiations to wait for better prices— it may backfire,” the source said.

email: bill. mongelluzzo @ spglobal. com

www. joc. com

The speed and severity of the jump in global oil prices amid the war in the Middle East have reignited longstanding suspicions by cargo owners that fuel surcharges levied by container lines are used as a revenue stream rather than a cost recovery mechanism.

Carriers defend the fees, which range from $ 30 to $ 300 per TEU, depending on the lane, arguing that what may be the most significant energy shock in history has forced them to recoup costs with fees beyond the lagging quarterly bunker adjustment factor( BAF). Bunker fuel prices contribute 15 % to 30 % of operating costs, depending on the year, according to carrier earnings reports.

April 6, 2026 | Journal of Commerce 17