FREIGHT FORWARDERS RAISE CONCERNS OVER WAR RISK SURCHARGES
Over the past week, The Loadstar has repeatedly reported growing frustration among freight forwarders over the introduction of war risk surcharges (WRSs) and other surcharges by major container lines. Forwarders argue that these surcharges are not only excessive in level, but also lack transparency and critically do not provide any additional protection, priority, or service benefit for shipments.
Several forwarders quoted point out that, in practice, the surcharge functions as a pricing mechanism rather than a genuine risk-mitigation tool. While carriers price in the risk, they do not assume it, leaving cargo interests fully exposed unless separate insurance cover is arranged. Concerns have also been raised about a lack of standardisation and clarity around what exactly is being charged for. More broadly, forwarders question the proportionality of these surcharges, particularly where they exceed base freight rates, suggesting that pricing may be driven more by market conditions and capacity constraints than by actual risk exposure.
These concerns are not limited to isolated voices. Similar feedback is heard from CLECAT members calling for greater transparency and fairness in pricing practices.