Maersk Line Oct. 18 imposed an emergency draft surcharge of $500 per 20-foot container for all shipments to Manaus, Brazil, after a sharp drop in water levels in the Amazon River forced shipping lines to reduce their capacity by up to 50 percent.

The capacity cuts have led to an "immense" cargo buildup in Panama and disrupted normal trade flow, the Danish carrier said.

"We look forward to lifting the surcharge as soon as the cargo buildup eases and the situation improves," Maersk said.

The Journal of Commerce Online