Maersk announced that it is closely monitoring the situation surrounding the possible resumption of transit through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal amid progress in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations, emphasizing the priority of the safety of crews, fleet, and cargo. The company also reminded customers of key changes: the Emergency Contingency Surcharge for shipments from Oceania to Europe will end on December 15, 2025, and updated demurrage and detention rates in the Baltic and Scandinavian countries will come into effect on January 1, 2026.
European ports continue to transition to digital procedures: Germany completely abandoned PIN codes in favor of a “secure release order” in November, and Belgium will implement the new TSD customs clearance format on December 1, which Maersk will begin to use on January 5, 2026. Meanwhile, protests in Belgium have been suspended, and Maersk’s Geneva terminal in Switzerland has been closed, with customer service relocated to Frankendorf, Basel, and Birsfelden. The company also warned of seasonal weather risks in Europe and updated land surcharges in Morocco for 2026.
Maersk also noted that the European Union is accelerating the abolition of the €150 de minimis threshold for e-commerce parcels – the changes could come into effect as early as 2026, so shippers are advised to review their customs clearance strategies. Amid high seasonal demand for air cargo, the company urged customers to plan capacity in advance, reminding them of the availability of its global network, which covers more than 75,000 trade routes.