Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) has announced the postponement of its planned eastbound trans-Pacific peak season surcharges to August.
The Hong Kong-based container shipping and logistics company said it will schedule for August 1 its planned increase of $320 per 20-foot container, $400 per 40-foot container, $450 per 40-foot high-cube container, and $505 per 45-foot high-cube container.
OOCL’s move comes on the heels of pronouncements by other carriers of peak season surcharge delays due to overcapacity and declining volumes.
The Transpacific Stabilization Agreement, which represents most of the carriers offering eastbound Pacific routes, originally announced a peak season surcharge of $400 per 40-foot container from June 15 to November 30. But many of the carriers have since announced delays in implementing their surcharges until 15 July.
Industry analysts have predicted that carriers would not be able to apply peak season surcharges on the eastbound Pacific trade due to a supply-demand imbalance. They also forecast a shorter peak season this year, from late August into October.
Meanwhile, Zim Integrated Shipping announced on 12 July that it will move its planned general rate increase (GRI) of $275 per 20-foot container from July 1 to August 1.
The Israel-based company said the GRI applies to westbound cargo from Asia and Indian subcontinent to West Mediterranean, Adriatic and North Europe destinations.
