New rate structure covers North Europe, West Med, East Med, Adriatic, North Africa and Black Sea destinations; applicable for a limited period until December 14, 2025
GENEVA: Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), one of the world’s leading container shipping lines, has announced a revised Freight All Kinds (FAK) rate structure for shipments originating from Far East ports and destined for North Europe, the Mediterranean region, North Africa and Black Sea markets.
According to the customer advisory issued by MSC, the new freight rates will take effect from December 1, 2025, and remain applicable until further notice, but not beyond December 14, 2025.
The revised pricing applies to cargo moving from all Far East ports, including, but not limited to, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asian countries. The announcement covers shipments to North European destinations, West Mediterranean, East Mediterranean, Adriatic, North African ports and the Black Sea region.
Revised FAK Freight Rates
Under the newly announced tariff, MSC has established different freight rates depending on the destination and container size. The revised base port-to-base port rates, quoted in US dollars, are as follows:
| Destination | 20 DV (USD) | 40 DV/HC (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| North Europe | 1,860 | 3,100 |
| West Mediterranean | 2,975 | 3,950 |
| Adriatic | 2,975 | 3,950 |
| East Mediterranean | 2,800 | 3,800 |
| Black Sea | 2,850 | 3,900 |
| Algeria | 4,175 | 5,950 |
| Libya | 3,825 | 5,350 |
| Morocco (Casablanca) | 3,675 | 4,950 |
| Tunisia | 3,975 | 5,750 |
The rates are applicable for base port-to-base port movements, while shipments involving out-ports will be subject to the usual Transhipment at Origin (TAO) and Transhipment at Destination (TAD) charges, as applicable.
Applicable Surcharges and Other Charges
MSC has clarified that the announced rates include the ocean freight base rate along with specified surcharges, including the Global Fuel Surcharge (GFS) and Emission Control Area (ECA) charges.
The applicable GFS is set at USD 79 per TEU, valid for December 2025.
The ECA surcharge will be applicable at USD 15 per TEU for Mediterranean and North European destinations, covering Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and France. For other Nordic and Baltic countries, the ECA surcharge will be USD 52 per TEU.
Additionally, the following surcharges will apply, as specified in the advisory:
- Carbon Limitation Surcharge (CLS): USD 20 per TEU.
- Carbon Review Surcharge (CRS) – North Europe (NEUR): USD 57 per TEU.
- Carbon Review Surcharge (CRS) – Mediterranean (MED): USD 85 per TEU.
These additional charges are subject to the applicable terms and conditions.
Exclusions and Other Conditions
MSC has specified that the announced FAK rates exclude all IMO Category commodities and high-value commodities. Terminal Handling Charges (THC) and any other applicable local or operational charges may also be levied separately.
Customers are advised to contact their respective MSC local agencies for detailed information regarding applicable charges, booking conditions and shipment-specific requirements.
The company’s standard agency terms and conditions, including MSC’s standard Bill of Lading provisions, will continue to govern the shipments.
Focus on Far East–Europe Trade
With this latest announcement, MSC has outlined its freight pricing for a broad range of trade destinations connecting the Far East with major European, Mediterranean, North African and Black Sea markets.
The revised FAK tariff provides exporters, importers, freight forwarders and logistics service providers with updated ocean freight benchmarks for planning their container shipments during the first half of December 2025.
