Several global box lines—CMA CGM, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd, COSCO, and Hanjin Shipping—have announced a series of rate increases and peak-season surcharges effective December 2011 and January 2012.
France-based CMA CGM will increase freight rates from Asia to Mexico and the west coast of Central America and the west coast of South America by US$600 per 20-foot equivalent unit (TEU) from December 15.
Also on the same date, rates from Asia to the Caribbean will go up $560 per TEU and $800 per 40-foot equivalent unit (FEU), while Asia-West Africa rates will be $250 higher per TEU. A peak-season surcharge of $150 per TEU will also be imposed from Asia to the Mediterranean from December 15.
Starting January, CMA CGM implements a rate restoration from Asia to the United States and Canada. Rates will rise by $320 per TEU, $400 per FEU, $450 per 40-foot high cube, $510 per 45-foot container, and $640 per 53-foot container.
Swiss-Italian MSC slates a rate increase of $500 per TEU on its Panda and Wallaby services from South Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan to Australia from January 1.
Hapag-Lloyd of Germany will levy a $560 increase per TEU and $800 per FEU on all cargo and container types from East Asia to the Caribbean and Panama on December 18.
The company likewise schedules a peak-season surcharge from East Asia to Canada and the United States from January at $320 per TEU, $400 per FEU, $450 per 40-foot high cube, and $506 per 45-foot high cube.
China’s COSCO slates rate increases of $600 per TEU and $1,200 per FEU, including reefers, from the Far East to east coast South America from December 15. Cargo from Asia to Europe, including northern Europe, the Mediterranean and Black Sea, will also carry higher rates of $225 more per TEU effective December 26.
Korea’s Hanjin Shipping will enforce a rate restoration for Asia-Europe lanes from December 23. Rates will swing up by $200 per TEU and $400 per FEU for all container types from Asia to Europe and West Africa excluding Japan.
For Asian cargo bound for the Mediterranean, Hanjin will lift rates by $175 per TEU and $350 per FEU.
