GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 22, 2026
Peak season surcharge
A peak season surcharge (PSS) is a temporary additional charge levied by shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders when seasonal demand for transport capacity significantly outpaces available space.
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Source: https://www.freightos.com/freightpedia/peak-season-surcharge/
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A peak season surcharge (PSS) is a temporary additional charge levied by shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders when seasonal demand for transport capacity significantly outpaces available space. It surfaces most visibly around the pre-Christmas shipping rush, the weeks before Lunar New Year, and major retail procurement cycles – affecting both ocean and air freight lanes. Shippers booking cargo during these windows must factor the PSS into their landed cost calculations, as it is billed on top of the base freight rate. Unlike a congestion surcharge, which reflects port or terminal bottlenecks, the PSS is purely demand-driven. Rates vary by carrier, trade lane, and how far in advance the booking is made.
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