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CMA CGM: new China–West Africa PSS from 21 Sep; Mauritius $200/TEU; Durban $350 from 25 Sep

Container News (21 Sep 2026) reports CMA CGM Peak Season Surcharge updates taking effect between 21 September and 15 October. From 21 Sep (loading), China–West Africa short-term dry/reefer PSS includes USD 50/TEU to Nigeria/Côte d’Ivoire/Benin/Equatorial Guinea (ex-Ghana/Togo), USD 150/TEU to Ghana and Togo, USD 200/TEU to several North Range ports, USD 100/TEU to Senegal, and USD 75/TEU to Angola/Congo/DRC/Namibia/Gabon/Cameroon. Separately: USD 200/TEU China/NE Asia/SE Asia–Port Louis (Mauriti

Container News reported on 21 September 2026 that CMA CGM has announced Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) updates covering trades to Africa, Mauritius, Europe and the United States, with measures taking effect between 21 September and 15 October depending on the trade. For China to West Africa, from 21 September loading date on short-term dry and reefer contracts, the paper lists USD 50 per TEU from Central and South China to Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin and Equatorial Guinea (excluding Ghana and Togo); USD 150 per TEU from China and its SARs to Ghana and Togo; USD 200 per TEU to Liberia, Mauritania, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe (Guinea and Senegal excluded from that band); USD 100 per TEU to Senegal; and USD 75 per TEU to Angola, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, Gabon and Cameroon.

Separately, CMA CGM will apply USD 200 per TEU from China, Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia to Port Louis, Mauritius, from 21 September. From 25 September, a USD 350 per TEU surcharge applies on shipments from China to Durban, South Africa, for all cargo until further notice. Container News notes that for shipments originating in China, the relevant surcharges will be subject to filing with the Shanghai Shipping Exchange and/or included in ocean freight.

The same roundup also flags a North Europe–US PSS03 postponement (now from 1 October: USD 1,000/20′ and USD 2,000/40′/40′HC/45′) and other non-China trades; for China-origin procurement, the actionable clocks are the 21 September West Africa and Mauritius loading dates and the 25 September Durban step-up. Importers should refresh rate sheets by destination cluster rather than applying a single Africa average.

Source: Container News (CMA CGM)

Topics

  • logistics
  • freight-rates
  • africa
  • cma-cgm
  • surcharges
  • procurement

178 China Section 301 exclusions expire Nov 10 unless USTR extends

FreightFigures (16 Sep 2026) notes all 178 remaining China Section 301 product exclusions (164 product-specific plus 14 solar-manufacturing equipment lines) expire at 11:59 p.m. ET on 9 Nov 2026. Entries or bonded withdrawals for consumption on or after 10 Nov lose heading 9903.88.69 and face the underlying list rates again (25% on Lists 1-3, 7.5% on List 4A) unless USTR acts. As of mid-September, no Federal Register comment request matching prior extension cycles had appeared.

Maersk Qilin: 10 Asia–Australia sailings add Hong Kong; Melbourne/Sydney alternate

Maersk (21 Sep 2026) will temporarily adjust the Qilin Asia–Australia service for 10 sailings (641S–650S), starting with GSL ELIZABETH 641S (Shanghai proforma ETA 9 Oct 2026). Rotation becomes Shanghai–Hong Kong–Melbourne/Sydney, with Melbourne and Sydney alternating on consecutive sailings and Hong Kong added as a connection port. Maersk cites prolonged vessel waiting times and weather-related disruption around Shanghai; cargo can connect via Hong Kong between Qilin and Dragon.

China August solar equipment exports fall 39% by weight; fourth straight YoY drop

Reuters (18 Sep 2026) reports Chinese customs data showing August solar power equipment exports down 39% year on year by weight after removal of an export tax rebate — a fourth consecutive monthly decline. China exported 840,000 metric tons of solar cells and panels in August (slightly above July’s 830,000 tons), valued at USD 2.25 billion (−23.1% YoY). On a unit basis, shipments fell 37.8% to 924.9 million cells and panels.

China-Gulf box rates at records: Jeddah $10,870 / Khor al Fakkan $10,626 FEU

The Loadstar (15 Sep 2026), citing Xeneta, reports China-Jeddah and China-Khor al Fakkan average spot rates at $10,870 and $10,626 per 40ft, up 256% and 479% since 28 February after more than six months of effective container closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Gulf importers continue to rely on Red Sea and UAE bypass landbridges; haulage from those gateways is also historically expensive, with longer transit and weaker reliability.

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