From 1 January 2019, vessels operating in China’s Emission Control Areas, as well as in Taiwan, will be legally required to use fuel with a maximum 0.5% Sulphur content, in order to minimize emissions of Sulphur oxides from ships.

Consequently, to keep the service at the level required, MSC will extend the China Low-Sulphur (CLS) surcharge which is already applicable to all cargoes ex/via Ningbo/Shanghai to all cargoes outbound:

• Ex/via China and Hong Kong to all destinations worldwide.
• Ex/via Taiwanese ports [Keelung, Kaohsiung, Taichung] to all destinations worldwide.

The quantum is USD 20 per 20’/USD 40 per 40’/USD 51 per 45’ with effect from 1 January 2019 (Bill of Lading Date), with the exception of USA and Canada where the effective date is 2 January 2019 (Gate-in Date) until further notice.

For North American destinations, this CLS will be charged in addition to the Low-Sulphur Charge (LSC) already in place.

Please note that for EEA destinations*, this surcharge is also an additional charge and that all other charges listed in our EU Price Announcements still apply and remain unchanged. For your reference, we have inserted below a relevant extract of our EU Price Announcements valid as from 1 January 2019 (to North West Continent / West Med - Adriatic -North Africa / East Med- Black Sea), until further notice.

*Europe Economic Area (EEA) includes:

Member States of the European Union (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom) including their Outermost Regions (Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Reunion, Martinique, Mayotte and Saint-Martin (France), the Azores and Madeira (Portugal), and the Canary Islands (Spain)) + Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland.