Hapag-Lloyd has announced a fresh round of tariff hikes on the North Europe–Latin America trade, increasing ocean freight rates by EUR 300 per container as carriers continue to recalibrate pricing amid higher costs and capacity pressures.
The German line said the revised tariff applies to dry, reefer and special equipment moving from North Europe (including key ports such as Rotterdam, Hamburg and Antwerp) to Central and South American destinations, effective for sailings starting 1 April 2026. The increase is understood to be EUR 300 per 20-foot and 40-foot unit on top of existing base rates, according to market reports.
This latest adjustment comes as Hapag-Lloyd has also notified shippers of rate increases on North Europe trades to North America, India, the Middle East and other regions, against a backdrop of European emissions compliance costs and ongoing volatility on key deep-sea corridors. For exporters and importers on the Europe–LatAm lane, the higher tariffs add to rising logistics bills just as demand shows signs of recovery across reefer-heavy segments like perishables and foodstuffs.
