ETS surcharge
An ETS surcharge is a fee that carriers add to freight invoices to recover the cost of EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) allowances. It is most common in ocean shipping, where container lines have charged it since maritime transport was added to the EU ETS in 2024.
What is an ETS surcharge called on a freight invoice?
Carriers use different names for it, such as 'emissions surcharge' or 'EU ETS surcharge'. Some carriers, such as Maersk, combine it with the cost of complying with FuelEU Maritime, a separate EU regulation, in a single emissions surcharge. The surcharge covers the allowances a carrier must buy under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS).
Why are ETS surcharges rising?
Shipping companies must buy and surrender allowances for a growing share of their emissions:
- 40% of emissions for 2024
- 70% of emissions for 2025
- 100% of emissions from 2026
The rules cover ships above 5,000 gross tonnage, with 100% of emissions counted on voyages within the EU and 50% on voyages into or out of the EU. From 2026, methane and nitrous oxide are included as well as CO₂. As a result, many carriers raised their surcharges in early 2026.
Will road freight get an ETS surcharge too?
A separate system, ETS2, will put a carbon price on fuels used in road transport and buildings. In late 2025, EU negotiators agreed to delay its start from 2027 to 2028. Under ETS2, fuel suppliers rather than hauliers buy the allowances. The cost is therefore likely to reach road freight through higher diesel prices and fuel surcharges, rather than through a separate ETS line on the invoice.
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