Maersk Adds New Trans-Pac Rate Hikes

Maersk Line will make several changes in its trans-Pacific services in September and October as it adjusts capacity to lower demand and tries to push rates back up to what it described as sustainable levels. The company said Tuesday it will increase rates on two trans-Pacific lanes, suspend one service and revise two others.

Maersk Line will increase rates on its West Coast of South America services to Vietnam, effective Sept. 1. From the West Coast of South America to Ho Chi Minh City, rates will increase $70 per 20-foot equivalent unit and $150 per 40-foot equivalent unit or high cube. From the West Coast of South America to Haiphong, rates will go up $150 per TEU and $300 per FEU.

The carrier will also increase eastbound rates from Asia to the West Coast of South America beginning on Sept. 19. Rates will go up $300 per TEU and $600 per FEU.

As Maersk adjusts capacity to meet anticipated lower demand during the upcoming slack season, it will temporarily suspend the trans-Pacific 10 (TP10) service and revise the trans-Pacific 7 (TP7) and trans-Pacific 3 (TP3) services to cover the port calls.

The final TP10 eastbound departure will be from Busan, South Korea on Oct. 4 with the last westbound call from Miami on Oct. 31.

“Should the trans-Pacific trade develop a need for increased capacity, services can be added to meet the needs of our customers,” the company said.

The TP3 service will add an eastbound port call at Ningbo, China, previously offered as a part of the temporarily withdrawn TP10. Export cargo from the U.S. East Coast will be carried on the TP3 via Tanjung Pelapas. The revised TP3 service will continue to travel the Suez Canal eastbound and this rotation is as follows: Shanghai, China; Ningbo, China; Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Yantian, China; Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia; Newark, USA; Norfolk, USA; and Savannah, USA.

The westbound rotation remains unchanged and serves Newark, USA; Norfolk, USA; Savannah, USA; Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia; Hong Kong; Yantian, China; Shanghai, China; and Busan, South Korea. The expanded TP3 service will commence Sept. 30 at Shanghai.

The revised TP7 service will include an eastbound call at Busan, South Korea and features a new port offering at Da Chan Bay, China, offering expanded port coverage and quicker access for customers moving cargo to and from the Pearl River Delta in Guangzhou Province. The TP7 will also bring Qingdao cargo to the U.S. East Coast via Yokohama with the revised TP3 service accommodating export cargo to Qingdao via Tanjung Pelepas.