Danish container line Maersk is increasing its low-sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) surcharges following big price rises in recent weeks.
All cargo is currently subject to Environmental Fuel Fee (EFF) and Quarterly Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF) levies, reassessed every month.
There is also an "exceptional trigger" clause activated by movements of more than $50 per tonne during a three-month period.
"In recent months, we have seen [LSFO] prices increase substantially and more so in recent weeks," Maersk said.
The LSFO price in Singapore for a period exceeded $700 per tonne, an increase of more than 20% compared to the previous bunker prices used for the BAF and EFF calculation.
"The average increase in January thus is expected to exceed $50 per tonne," the liner operator added.
As a result, from 1 March, all trades will see an increase to the EEF and BAF of between $50 and $200 per feu.
$2bn per year in extra costs
The actual increases per trade will be communicated by the end of January.
Other lines could now follow suit in raising surcharges.
Maersk Line has previously said its bunker costs will rise $2bn per year due to IMO 2020.
In December, analysts Alphaliner said it had found huge differences in the level of LSFO surcharges levied by boxship lines.
Its survey of surcharges on the Far East to North Europe route shows the lowest at $71 per teu and the highest nearly double that at $135 per teu.
2M partners MSC and Maersk have a big difference in their approach to the route.
MSC applies a global fuel surcharge of $71 per teu, while the Danish lines adds an EEF 63% higher at $116 per teu.
