ONE's September Surcharge Rise: Why It Matters & How SARR Can Help You.
A date to put in your diary: 16 September 2026. That is when Ocean Network Express ONE updates its Emergency Fuel Surcharge for the third time since the charge was first introduced in March of this year. For UK businesses with shipments moving on ONE services, the change has direct cost implications. For those with bookings that straddle the cutover date, there is an additional detail that requires careful attention.
At SARR Logistics, we have recently secured a direct commercial account with ONE, which means we can now access and price their services for our clients. This blog explains who ONE are, why the EFS exists, what changes on 16th September will effect you, and how we can help you manage the impact.
Who Is Ocean Network Express?
Ocean Network Express known throughout the industry simply as ONE is one of the world’s largest container shipping lines. The company was formed in 2017 as a joint venture between three of Japan’s most respected shipping groups: Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line). ONE began commercial operations on 1 April 2018 and has since established itself as a major force in global container freight, operating across all the major trade corridors connecting Asia, Europe, the Americas, and beyond.
Their distinctive magenta coloured vessels are now a familiar sight in ports worldwide, and their network spans key routes directly relevant to UK importers and exporters including Asia to Europe, transpacific, and transatlantic services. Following their Emergency Fuel Surcharge update on 20 July 2026, ONE confirmed that it will update the EFS quantum on 16th September 2026.
Emergency Fuel Surcharge & Why ONE Introduce it?
A fuel surcharge is a separate charge applied by a shipping line on top of base ocean freight rates to recover costs that have risen unexpectedly and significantly above normal operating assumptions. An Emergency Fuel Surcharge (EFS) is specifically applied when those increases are driven by sudden external events rather than gradual market movement.
ONE introduced its Emergency Fuel Surcharge in March 2026 in direct response to the ongoing security situation in the Middle East, which disrupted a number of its services and caused fuel procurement costs to rise significantly across multiple regions and trade lanes. One-line
As we covered in our earlier blogs on the Strait of Hormuz crisis, the closure of that critical waterway and the sustained disruption across Middle Eastern shipping routes has forced carriers to reroute vessels over dramatically longer distances primarily around the Cape of Good Hope. That rerouting burns significantly more bunker fuel per voyage. The costs do not disappear. They pass through to shippers in the form of surcharges.
The EFS is ONE’s mechanism for recovering those costs transparently, and it has been updated as the situation has evolved first in April, then in May, again on 20 July, and now with a further revision effective September.
What Changes on 16 September The Numbers.
ONE’s updated Emergency Fuel Surcharge rates, effective 16 September 2026, are as follows.
All figures are per TEU (twenty foot equivalent unit):
| Scope | Equipment | Current rate (from 15 Aug) | New rate (from 16 Sep) | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long haul head haul | Dry | $75 | $120 | +$45 |
| Long haul head haul | Reefer | $100 | $160 | +$60 |
| Long haul back haul | Dry | $38 | $60 | +$22 |
| Long haul back haul | Reefer | $50 | $80 | +$30 |
| Short sea | Dry | $38 | $60 | +$22 |
| Short sea | Reefer | $50 | $80 | +$30 |
Source: ONE advisories dated 20 July 2026 and 17 August 2026.
The most significant change falls on long haul head haul cargo the primary direction of trade on routes such as Asia to Europe and Asia to the Americas. Dry container shippers on these routes will see the EFS rise by $45 per TEU to $120. Reefer operators face a $60 per TEU rise to $160.
To put that in practical terms: a standard 40 foot container counts as 2 TEU. A UK importer bringing in a single 40 foot dry container from Asia on a long haul head haul service will see the EFS element of their invoice increase by $90 on September 16 compared to the August 15 rate. Multiple containers multiply that figure accordingly.
Short sea and back haul cargo sees a smaller but still meaningful rise $22 per TEU for dry and $30 per TEU for reefer on both categories.
An Important Detail for Bookings Around the Cutover
If you have ONE bookings in place that involve cargo moving around 16th September, there is one thing you must check before assuming which rate applies.
ONE’s public advisory specifies the effective date of the new EFS quantum. What it does not specify is which shipment event gate in date, loading date, sailing date, or bill of lading date determines whether a given container is assessed at the old rate or the new one.
This matters in practice. A booking made before 16 September does not automatically mean the August rate applies. Equally, a vessel sailing before 16 September may still generate invoices at the new rate if the governing event falls after the cutover. The only way to be certain is to check the applicable tariff, quotation, or service contract for the specific governing date language.
If you are unsure, contact your freight forwarder before the change date not after you have received the invoice.
How SARR Logistics Can Help
When Aditi Khopkar, our Freight Operations Specialist, secured a direct commercial account with Ocean Network Express earlier this year, it immediately changed what SARR Logistics can offer our clients. There is no third party involved. We have the account, we have the relationship, and we can access and price ONE’s services directly on your behalf.
That means if you are moving container freight on routes where ONE operates, we can now quote you directly, manage the booking, and help you understand exactly what surcharges apply and why. As the EFS continues to evolve with market conditions, having a freight partner who monitors these changes in real time and can advise you before they hit your invoices is not a small advantage.
For Aditi, securing this account is a genuine milestone. She joined the SARR team in April 2026 and has already demonstrated exactly the kind of initiative and commercial drive that makes a real difference to what a growing freight forwarder can deliver. Our clients are the direct beneficiaries.
The World Shipping Council, whose annual research tracks global container freight trends and surcharge dynamics across all major trade lanes, provides useful context on how fuel cost structures affect the broader shipping market. You can explore their research at worldshipping.org.
One Final Thought
Surcharges are a fact of life in container freight. The Middle East disruption that triggered ONE’s EFS has not resolved and until it does, fuel procurement costs for carriers on the affected routes are unlikely to fall significantly. Planning your supply chain costs around the current surcharge environment, rather than pre-2026 assumptions, is the commercially sensible approach.
SARR Logistics is here to help you do exactly that. Call us on +44 333 2241 224 or email [email protected] and we will walk you through what the September change means for your specific shipments.
FAQ
What is ONE’s Emergency Fuel Surcharge?
The Emergency Fuel Surcharge (EFS) is a separate charge introduced by Ocean Network Express in March 2026 to recover fuel cost increases caused by Middle East disruption and the rerouting of vessels around the Cape of Good Hope.
What are ONE’s new EFS rates from 16 September 2026?
Long haul head haul dry cargo rises to $120 per TEU and reefer cargo to $160 per TEU. Long haul back haul and short sea rates rise to $60 per TEU for dry and $80 per TEU for reefer.
How do I know which rate applies to my booking?
ONE’s public advisory confirms the September 16 effective date but does not specify which shipment event governs the rate for individual containers. You need to check the governing date in your specific tariff, quotation, or service contract. Contact your freight forwarder for guidance.
Can SARR Logistics book shipments directly with ONE?
Yes. SARR has recently secured a direct commercial account with Ocean Network Express. We can now access and price ONE services directly for our clients across all relevant trade lanes.
How do I get a quote for ONE services through SARR?
Call us on +44 333 224 1224 or email [email protected]. Our team will review your requirements and provide a competitive quote covering all applicable surcharges.
