CMA CGM announces $500 peak season surcharge on Nigeria-bound imports from Asia, sparking concerns among freight forwarders and shippers

CMA CGM peak season surcharge Nigeria is set to increase import costs as the French shipping giant announced a $500 fee on cargo bound for West African ports, including Nigeria.

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The surcharge, effective September 15, 2025, applies to twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of both dry and reefer cargo shipped from North-East Asia, South-East Asia, China, Hong Kong, and Macau SAR.

According to the company, the charge will remain in effect until further notice and covers only short-term contracts.

CMA CGM said the surcharge is part of its effort to maintain reliable and efficient services during peak trade periods.

However, stakeholders in Nigeria’s shipping and freight forwarding industry have raised concerns.

Former interim National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Pius Ujubuonu, described the surcharge as “absolute exploitation.”

“Peak Season Surcharge is supposed to benefit them since they’re having more transactions, but instead of enjoying the boom, they want to punish their customers,” he said.

Ujubuonu also criticized the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) for failing to respond effectively, likening the charge to the controversial War Risk Insurance Premium.

Similarly, the Deputy President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Segun Musa, warned that the surcharge would further raise the cost of doing business in Nigerian ports.

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“It might look small, but it is a lot of money when you add it to the cost of importing into Nigeria,” he cautioned, adding that stakeholders must meet to review the implications.