Freight Rate, Surcharge Update for Week of April 2-6

Mediterranean Shipping Company will seek a general rate increase on westbound trade from India to North Europe and the Mediterranean.

The planned increase, effective May 1, will be $200 per 20-foot container and $300 per 40-foot container.

This is the fourth GRI the Geneva-based container carrier has announced this year on India-Europe trade lanes. The carrier imposed GRIs of the same amounts as of Jan. 23, March 1 and April 2.

The move comes after OOCL and APL announced plans to boost rates by $450 per TEU on Asia-Europe routes, also effective May 1.

Hapag-Lloyd plans to raise its rates on East Asia services as part of a new rate restoration program.

The German carrier will impose a two-phase rate restoration on trade from East Asia, excluding Japan, to the Red Sea region, with rates going up by $400 per 20-foot equivalent unit, starting April 15, followed by a $300 per TEU increase, effective May 1.

All cargo from East Asia to the east coast of South America will attract an increase of $500 per TEU, starting April 23.

From East Asia, excluding Japan, to destinations in North Europe and the Mediterranean, Hapag-Lloyd’s planned increase will be $400 per TEU, effective May 1.

From Canada to East Asia, the Indian Subcontinent and the Middle East, rates on dry and refrigerated cargo will increase by $80 per 20-foot and $100 per 40-foot container, effective May 10. The Subcontinent region includes ports in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Hapag-Lloyd said the rate restoration is necessary to “provide customers with sustainable services in the Far East Asia trades”.