Maersk Will Adjust Intermodal Fuel Fees in Europe
Shippers operating in the DACH region, Benelux, and Poland face updated inland fuel surcharges starting September 28.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Transportation
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Maersk is set to implement revised intermodal fuel fee percentages for inland transport services from September 28 through October 12, 2026. This adjustment affects IHI and IHE charges across the DACH region, Benelux, and Poland.
Why it matters
The carrier is responding to ongoing fuel supply uncertainty and rising energy prices, which directly impacts the landed cost of goods for businesses relying on these inland transport networks. These adjustments reflect Maersk's strategy to pass variable energy costs onto customers through a bi-weekly surcharge review.
Maersk reviews its inland fuel surcharge every two weeks to account for energy market conditions. The update governs EFS and IFS codes, which apply to IHI and IHE charges within the specified European territories.
The players
Maersk
An integrated container logistics company managing global supply chains and freight transport.
The details
The surcharge mechanism relies on periodically updated percentages applied directly to the base IHI and IHE inland charges. This approach allows the carrier to track energy price fluctuations rather than maintaining fixed-rate pricing. Operators must monitor these bi-weekly changes to accurately forecast logistics expenses and manage margin volatility for shipments moving through these three regions.
Timeline
• The temporary intermodal fuel fee was initially implemented on 16 March.
• Revised fuel fee percentages take effect on 28 September 2026.
• The current adjustment cycle concludes on 12 October 2026.
Market Landscape
This move follows a broader industry trend of carriers isolating inland fuel costs as a variable surcharge to manage energy price volatility. The policy mirrors the carrier's efforts to align regional operational costs with unstable energy supply conditions originating in the Middle East.
Logistics managers should factor these bi-weekly fluctuations into their short-term transport budget forecasts for European inland moves. Review existing IHI and IHE contract terms to determine how these surcharge adjustments impact your landed cost per unit.
The takeaway
Energy market uncertainty is forcing more frequent adjustments to inland freight pricing. Operators should establish a tracking cadence for EFS and IFS surcharge codes to ensure logistics costs are updated in real-time within their internal accounting systems.
What happens next
The next surcharge review period is scheduled to follow the conclusion of this current cycle on 12 October 2026.
Further reading
For more on how logistical shifts impact operational costs, visit Transportation.
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