Hapag-Lloyd to update Marine Fuel Recovery surcharge starting in October

Hapag-Lloyd has announced a new update to its Marine Fuel Recovery (MFR) surcharge, effective for shipments from October 1, 2025. The mechanism, which offsets fluctuations in bunker fuel prices, applies to all of the company’s routes and appears as a separate surcharge on invoices and Bills of Lading.

According to the company, the MFR calculation on certain routes now takes into account not only updated fuel prices but also the increased distances traveled due to sailings around the Cape of Good Hope — an alternative adopted by some services in place of the Suez Canal.

In addition to the MFR, Hapag-Lloyd emphasized that base FAK rates, security surcharges, peak season surcharges (when applicable), and Terminal Handling Charges (THCs) remain in effect. Other local charges and possible contingency surcharges may also be applied, depending on the region.

The carrier also reiterated that this policy is part of its strategy for compliance with IMO 2020, which limits the sulfur content in marine fuel. More information on the pricing mechanism and the company’s sustainability policy can be found through Hapag-Lloyd’s official channels.