Traders spooked as Maersk introduces new charge on Kenya cargo

Maersk introduces new container inspection fee at Mombasa Port, raising concerns over higher import and export costs for Kenyan traders.

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Danish shipping group Maersk, which controls more than 30 percent of cargo at the Mombasa Port, has introduced an operational cost imports (OCI) fee for cargo destined for the port, sparking concerns among traders who project higher business costs.

Kenya’s largest shipping line, which handles approximately 300,000 containers annually at the Mombasa port, this week announced it will introduce the OCI fee effective December 1 to cover additional expenses related to container inspections.