King Ocean Replaces Canal Freshwater Surcharge with Higher Panama Crossing Fee
Shipping line King Ocean will replace its Panama Canal Freshwater Surcharge with a new Panama Crossing Surcharge for cargo moving to and from Ecuador and Peru, effective October 14, 2026. The new charge applies to both southbound and northbound shipments, and the freshwater surcharge expires when the new charge takes effect.
Under the new rates, the surcharge for a 20-foot container rises from US$125 to US$275, and for a 40-foot container from US$250 to US$550 — increases of US$150 and US$300 per container respectively. According to the carrier, the new surcharge reflects increased costs associated with transiting the Panama Canal.
The Panama Canal is the core waterway linking the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, and changes in its tolls and related surcharges feed directly into transport costs on routes between South America's west coast and the U.S. East Coast, Europe and beyond.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 集装箱船通过巴拿马运河，旁为巴拿马国旗。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons，Adam Jones 摄，CC BY-SA 2.0 授权
