Freight Rate, Surcharge Update for Week of Feb. 20-24

Maersk will raise its rates on containerized shipments from India to South Africa, starting March 12. The planned increase on dry and refrigerated cargo will be $150 per 20-foot container and $300 per 40-foot container. “While we are continuously endeavoring toward serving customers to the best of our capabilities, prevailing rates are proving to be difficult to sustain, especially in the current market scenario,” Maersk India said.

CMA CGM imposed general rate increases on cargo moving on its services from India to ports in East/West Africa, starting March 1. The planned increase on dry cargo from India to East Africa will be
$250 per 20-foot container and $500 per 40-foot/high cube container. From India to West Africa, rates will go up by $150 per 20-foot container and $300 per 40-foot/high cube container.

“In order to maintain the high level of reliability and efficiency of our services to meet the needs of customers, we have decided to implement such rate increases,” CMA CGM India said.

The move follows a $200 per-TEU GRI on India-East Africa trade lanes the French ocean carrier applied as of Feb. 1.  Other recent GRI notices on India-Africa trades include: a $200 per-TEU by Mediterranean Shipping and Emirates Shipping Line, both effective Feb. 1; and a $150 per-TEU by Maersk Line, starting March 1.

Middle East-based ESL also plans to impose a GRI of $250 per TEU on the Middle East-Africa trades, effective March 1.

Maersk Line imposed a new round of general rate increases on its Far East Asia services, effective March 15. The planned increase on cargo shipped from Far East Asia to the west coast of South America, Central America and Mexico will be $400 per 20-foot container and $800 per 40-foot/high cube container. Rates from Far East Asia to the Caribbean will go up by $560 per 20-foot container and $800 per 40-foot/high cube container.

From Far East Asia to the east coast of South America, the GRI will be $600 per 20-foot container. Cargo from Far East Asia to East Africa will attract an increase of $150 per 20-foot container and $300 per 40-foot container. From the west coast of South America to Far East Asia, the Danish carrier will apply increases of $150 per 20-foot and $300 per 40-foot/high cube dry container, and $500 per 40-foot reefer container. The move follows a series of similar GRIs the world’s largest liner operator implemented Jan. 1 on the same trade lanes.

Separately, Maersk said it will increase rates on shipments from North Europe to the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent, also effective March 15.  The increase will be $150 per 20-foot/40-foot container.

Hamburg Sud plans to move calls by ships in its Atlantic Express service in the Port of New York and New Jersey to Global Marine Terminal in Jersey City from the New York Container Terminal on Staten Island. The German carrier said it will make the change with the arrival of the OOCL California on March 12. The last vessel to call at New York Container Terminal will be the Cap Stephens on March 6.
 
The business at NYCT has been hurt by the steep increase in truck tolls that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey implemented on Sept. 18, when the toll paid by a typical five-axle port truck increased from $40 to $70 in peak hours on the Goethals Bridge connecting New Jersey with Staten Island.