PSS, Road Taxes in Europe, and EU ETS

Increased PSS Rates from the Far East

Shipping companies have decided to raise prices for sea freight from the Far East, citing continued high pressure on volumes ahead of the upcoming holidays and Chinese New Year, which falls on January 28, 2025. This necessitates an adjustment to our Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) for sea freight from Asia, effective from ETD December 1. We will keep you updated on any future changes.

New PSS Rates:

• Sea: USD 104 per w/m for LCL, USD 2,750 per 20’, and USD 4,650 per 40’ for FCL.
• Rail: USD 120 per w/m for LCL and USD 3,500 per 40HC for FCL (effective from ETD October 1).

Our primary focus, as always, is to ensure that your cargo is dispatched as quickly as possible once it’s ready for transport. In some cases, it may be necessary to consider alternative solutions outside the standard freight terms, which could affect the cost structure.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or comments. We’re here to help you navigate all your logistical needs.

Road Taxes in Europe

Several European countries are reviewing their road tax systems:

• Denmark – Starting January 1, a new Danish road tax will apply to our transports to and from Denmark, as well as transit shipments through the country. The tax amount will depend on various factors, such as the emission class and the maximum technically permissible weight of the vehicle. Costs will increase for transports passing through environmental zones. The road tax will apply to part of the road network, including state roads. Danish authorities have not yet decided on the exact fee.
• Poland – As of November 1, Poland has expanded its taxable road network. The extent of the adjustment is still unclear, and we are awaiting further information.
• Austria – Austrian authorities have announced that road tolls will increase by up to 12.5% by 2025, including a CO2 tax and inflation adjustments. Here too, we lack definitive information on the amounts and the exact timing of the adjustment.

These changes result in additional costs for the trucking companies we collaborate with, and ultimately for us as well. Our transit road taxes will also be affected by the adjustments made in these countries. We will adjust our tariffs accordingly and publish updates on our website.

We reserve the right to implement these government-imposed charges as soon as they come into effect.

ETS for Maritime Transport as of January 1, 2025

We would like to inform you of significant changes within the Emission Trading System (ETS), an EU initiative, that will impact transportation costs in 2025.

The rollout of ETS occurs in three stages:

• January 1, 2024 – The first stage took effect, covering 40% of emission allowances.
• January 1, 2025 – The second stage will increase the EU requirement from 40% to 70% of emission allowances. This means shipping companies must purchase more allowances to meet the new requirements.
• January 1, 2026 – The final stage will require 100% coverage.

These changes will increase costs for shipping companies, affecting primarily sea freight but also road freight when ferries are part of the transport. We will provide an updated cost structure, which will be implemented for shipments with ETA from January 1, 2025.

Thank you for your continued support!

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