MSC is increasing its Emergency Panama Canal Surcharge to $100 per TEU effective October 1, 2026, applicable to all cargo routed through the canal on trades connecting the Western Mediterranean, Adriatic, Israel, Northwest Europe, and Scandinavia/Baltic with the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The move is a direct response to ongoing drought restrictions at the canal that continue to limit vessel capacity on transit routes.
For produce shippers routing European-origin or South American-origin fruit through the Panama Canal into North American ports, this adds measurable cost per container. Combined with the broader shipping disruptions reported across Asian ports and rising Transpacific rates, landed costs for imported produce are under pressure from multiple directions simultaneously.
Buyers importing citrus, grapes, or stone fruit from South America or Europe via Panama Canal routings should factor this surcharge into cost modeling for Q4. If drought conditions persist, further rate adjustments are possible. It's worth confirming with freight partners whether alternative routing options — Cape Horn or direct East Coast sailings — are being priced competitively.