Maersk’s New Cargo Fee Rocks Kenyan Trade, Higher Costs, Price Pressures

By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter

Kenya, December 1 2025 -East Africa’s largest port operator, Maersk, is introducing a new “Operational Cost Imports (OCI)” surcharge on cargo destined for Kenya, beginning December 1, 2025. The move has rattled traders and logistics stakeholders, who warn the extra fees could drive up import costs, hurt competitiveness, and push prices higher across the country.

According to Maersk’s client advisory, the surcharge will be applied per container, US $18

(about KSh 2,330) for a standard 20-foot dry container, US $33 (≈ KSh 4,270) for a 40-foot container, and higher fees for refrigerated containers used to ship perishables.

Maersk has said the fee aims to offset additional operational costs related to pre-arrival container inspections at the port. The introduction of the OCI surcharge follows recent regulatory changes at the port. Since July 2025, the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) has mandated that all container cargo, imports and exports, be made available for inspection, loaded or empty.

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Shipping companies and agents must share manifests in advance to facilitate this process. These inspections, meant to curb contraband and ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, have increased delays at port, and, as Maersk notes — raised the operational burden on carriers. The OCI fee is reportedly meant to help cover those extra costs.

The reaction from traders has been swift and sharp. The Shippers Council of Eastern Africa (SCEA) warned that the added fee will materially increase importation costs, especially for bulk importers and businesses that rely heavily on imports. Council CEO Agayo Ogambi said the new charge risks making Kenya one of the most expensive routes for imports and exports in the region, threatening supply-chain stability and pushing up prices for consumers.

Importers are already bracing for cost adjustments. They predict the surcharge will be passed down to consumers, raising retail prices of imported goods and raw materials, a move that could stoke inflation and hurt households.