Pakistan exporters shipping chilled or frozen cargo to the UAE in early November have one more cost to budget. Hapag-Lloyd has announced a peak season surcharge (PSS) of US$500 per 20ft reefer and US$500 per 40ft high-cube reefer. It applies to reefer containers from Karachi and Port Qasim to six UAE ports, on sailings from November 1 to November 15, 2026.
Quick answer: If your reefer booking with Hapag-Lloyd sails to Khor Fakkan, Sharjah, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain, Ras al Khaimah or Ajman inside that two-week window, expect US$500 extra per container. Check your sailing date, confirm the charge in writing with your booking, and agree with your buyer who pays it before the cargo is stuffed.
Illustrative AI-generated image. It does not depict a specific terminal, carrier or shipment.
Who this applies to
This surcharge matters most to exporters of perishables on the short Gulf run. That includes fruit and vegetables, chilled and frozen meat, seafood, dairy and other temperature-controlled food moving in reefer containers to the northern and eastern UAE. It applies only to reefer equipment on the listed origins and destinations. Dry containers are not mentioned in the advisory as reported. It is also a Hapag-Lloyd charge, so other carriers' Pakistan–UAE pricing is separate and must be checked on its own.
The trade is short-transit and price-sensitive. For many UAE buyers, US$500 on one reefer is a noticeable share of the total delivered cost, so the charge is worth planning around rather than discovering on the invoice.
Step 1: Check whether your sailing falls inside the window
The surcharge is reported as applying to sailings from November 1 through November 15, 2026. The public reporting does not say whether "sailing" means vessel departure, booking date or cargo cut-off. That detail decides whether a container stuffed on October 30 but loaded on November 2 is caught.
Action: Ask your forwarder or the carrier's local customer service which date governs the surcharge on your specific booking. Get the answer in writing on the booking confirmation.
Step 2: Confirm your UAE destination port is on the list
The six destinations reported are Khor Fakkan, Sharjah, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain, Ras al Khaimah and Ajman. Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi are not on the list as reported. Do not assume they are free of the charge, or that other surcharges do not apply there. Confirm the current tariff for your exact port pair.
If your buyer can receive cargo at more than one UAE port, compare the total delivered cost, not just ocean freight. Inland trucking within the UAE and destination handling can outweigh a surcharge difference.
Step 3: Add the surcharge to your quotes now
Exporters quoting on CFR or CIF terms pay the ocean freight, so any carrier surcharge becomes their cost. For goods sold FOB, the buyer arranges and pays the main carriage, so the surcharge normally sits with the buyer. Even then, it can delay a booking if the buyer's nominated forwarder questions it.
| Sales term | Who normally pays ocean freight and surcharges | What to do this week |
|---|---|---|
| FOB Karachi / Port Qasim | Buyer | Tell the buyer about the PSS so their forwarder books with the cost known |
| CFR / CIF UAE port | Exporter (seller) | Add US$500 per reefer to quotes for sailings in the window, or agree a surcharge clause |
| Contract with fixed delivered price | Depends on contract wording | Check whether the contract allows carrier surcharges to be passed on |
Our import-export team can help review which side carries the cost under your sales terms.
Step 4: Compare timing and carrier options
The surcharge is time-limited. If your cargo and your buyer can wait, a sailing after November 15 may avoid it. If they cannot, compare other carriers' all-in reefer rates for the same week. A lower base rate with a surcharge can still be cheaper than a higher rate without one.
For perishables, timing is rarely free. Holding produce in cold storage, or moving harvest dates, costs money and shelf life. Weigh the US$500 against those costs, not against zero. Our earlier article on Pakistan produce exports and cold chain challenges covers the handling side.
Step 5: Protect the cold chain while you plan
A cheaper sailing is no saving if the cargo arrives out of temperature. Before booking, confirm:
- the set temperature and ventilation settings
- pre-trip inspection of the reefer unit
- plug-in availability at the terminal
- the cut-off time for reefer gate-in
Make sure temperature records will be available if the buyer raises a quality claim on arrival.
Frequently asked questions
Does the surcharge apply to dry containers to the UAE?
As reported, the advisory covers 20ft reefer and 40ft high-cube reefer containers only. Dry cargo pricing should be checked separately with the carrier.
What if my container rolls from November 14 to a later sailing?
If the surcharge depends on the actual sailing date, a rolled container could move outside the window, or into it if it rolls from late October into November. Ask the carrier which date applies and how rolled cargo is treated before you rely on either outcome.
Is this charge the same for all carriers on the Pakistan–UAE route?
No. This is a Hapag-Lloyd surcharge. Other carriers set their own rates and surcharges, and some may have no PSS for the same period. Compare all-in quotes.
Where can I confirm the exact terms?
Hapag-Lloyd directs customers to the tariff section of its website and to its local customer service team. Your forwarder can also confirm the charge on a booking-by-booking basis.
Conclusion
A US$500 reefer surcharge for two weeks is not a market shock, but on the short, competitive Pakistan–UAE perishables trade it is real money per box. Check your sailing date and destination port, put the cost into this week's quotes, and agree who pays it before cargo is stuffed. Then exporters can keep shipping through early November without margin surprises. For the wider picture on carrier pricing from Pakistan, see our update on Hapag-Lloyd's Pakistan–Europe rate changes. Our sea freight and clearing and forwarding teams can compare reefer options and handle export clearance at Karachi and Port Qasim.
Sources and reporting notes
- Hapag-Lloyd: Shipping from Pakistan to the UAE? A PSS is coming up (October 2026): the carrier's customer advisory.
- IndexBox: Hapag-Lloyd Peak Season Surcharge, Karachi & Port Qasim to UAE Reefer Shipments (October 28, 2026): amounts, ports and validity dates.
Information checked October 29, 2026. Carrier surcharges, validity and applicability can change; confirm current terms for your booking directly with the carrier or your forwarder. This article is general shipping information, not a rate quote.
Shipping reefers from Karachi or Port Qasim to the UAE? Contact Falcon Global Logistics with your cargo type, container count and target sailing week so the available options can be compared.