Maersk Advances Gender Diversity and Adjusts Rates Amid Rising Market Demand

In a significant step toward promoting diversity and inclusion, Maersk has transformed one of its warehouse facilities at the Chennai Ponneri Container Freight Station (CFS) into a women-operated site. This 11,613-square-meter facility is now staffed entirely by women in operational roles, including loading, unloading, picking, measuring, security, housekeeping, administration, and forklift operations.

This initiative increases the female workforce at CFS from 3% to 13% of the total labor force, with women making up 21% of the workforce in the newly revamped warehouse. The move builds on the success of Maersk's first fully women-operated warehouse in Dadri, India, which demonstrated improvements in productivity and operational efficiency. It also aligns with India's broader goal of creating equal employment opportunities for women, particularly in traditionally male-dominated industries.

Maersk has announced rate adjustments effective December 2024. Freight charges for shipments from Asia to Rotterdam will increase to $3,900 for small containers and $6,000 for large containers, reflecting an uptick of $750 and $1,500, respectively, compared to the previous rates. Additionally, a Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) will be levied on shipments from the Far East to Australia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands, starting next month.

Peak Season Surcharge Imposed on China-Cambodia Routes  

Maersk has further announced the implementation of a PSS on dry and refrigerated containers departing from China's eastern ports—including Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Fuzhou, and the Yangtze River region—to Sihanoukville, Cambodia. The new surcharge of $500 per container, applicable to all box types, will come into effect on December 6, 2024.

This adjustment underscores Maersk's efforts to manage increasing market demand while maintaining the stability and sustainability of its shipping services.