Neptune Pacific has set a revised Low Sulphur Recovery (LSR) surcharge that will apply to South Pacific sailings from April 1, 2026, the company told customers in a March 17 notice. The updated levy — aimed at recouping higher fuel and bunker costs — will hit transshipment trades from Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East and replaces an earlier pricing announcement issued on February 27.
Under the new structure, Neptune Pacific will charge US$242 (FJ$538.15) per dry twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) and US$363 (FJ$807.22) per reefer TEU. The March 17 notice follows an initial advisory sent to customers on March 5 and makes the precise rates and the April 1 start date official, giving shippers a narrow window to budget for the extra per-container costs.
In explaining the change, Neptune Pacific cited the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and a continued escalation of global fuel and bunker prices. The company said it will monitor bunker prices monthly and will notify customers if further adjustments to the LSR are required, signalling the possibility of additional short-notice changes if market conditions remain volatile.
The LSR is a pass‑through fee carriers levy to offset the premium for low‑sulphur marine fuels and related bunker costs. Although low‑sulphur standards have been a feature of global shipping since the IMO 2020 sulphur cap, sudden spikes in crude and bunker markets — often driven by geopolitical instability — have prompted shipping lines to rework surcharges to protect operating margins.
The revised charge is likely to affect the landed cost of goods in South Pacific markets, where many island economies rely heavily on transhipped container services for imports and exports. For businesses and freight forwarders in Fiji and neighbouring islands, the change increases the per‑container cost baseline, particularly for temperature‑sensitive cargo that will now attract the higher reefer LSR.
Neptune Pacific closed the notice by thanking customers for their understanding and urged those with questions to contact their Neptune Pacific representatives for details. With the April 1 implementation only days away, importers, exporters and logistics providers are being advised to review contracts and shipping plans to accommodate the new surcharge and to watch for any further monthly revisions.
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