containersGlobal ocean box carriers are gearing up for general rate increases (GRIs) to be levied on Asian shipments starting next month.

Hapag-Lloyd announced a GRI effective May 15 for all cargoes and container types from Asia to the Caribbean, East Coast of Central America, and Panama. The rates will go up by US$700 per 20-foot container and $1,000 per 40-foot container.

From Asia to the East Coast of South America, the GRI for all cargoes and all container types will is $700 per TEU. The new rate will also be implemented starting May 15.

On the Asia-Mexico/West Coast of Central America/West Coast of South America trade lane, the rates will be hiked by $700 per 20-foot-equivalent unit (TEU) effective May 15.

Hapag-Lloyd will also be imposing a rate recovery program of $500 per TEU for all shipments and container types from Northeast Asia to Australia effective May 15.

On the other hand, CMA CGM said its rates from all Asian ports to Jeddah, Ain Sukhna, Aqaba, Djibouti, Port Sudan, Aden, and Hodeidah will be boosted by US$300 per TEU effective May 1.

A similar GRI looms for all cargoes from all Asian ports to the Middle East Gulf ports. The rate hike is $300 per TEU effective May 1.

From all Asian ports (excluding Japan) to Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and West India, all CMA CGM-carried shipments will have a GRI of $150 per 20-foot container and $200 per 40-foot unit. Effective date of implementation is May 1.

From May 15, there will be another rate hike for the Asia (excluding Japan)-Sri Lanka/ Pakistan/West India route for all cargoes of $150 per 20-foot unit and $200 per 40-foot container.

Shipments bound from all Asian ports to North Europe will go up in rate by $500 per TEU effective May 1.

The French box shipping line is also levying a GRI on all cargoes from all Asian ports to the West Mediterranean, Adriatic, East Mediterranean, Black Sea, and North Africa. The rates will inch up $500 per TEU. Shipments to Syria will have freight rates higher by  EUR385 per standard container. These new rates take effect from May 1.

Meanwhile, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) also bared plans to collect higher fees for all cargoes on the Asia-Panama/Caribbean/Central America East Coast/Venezuela/Cartagena effective May 15.

Freight rates by MSC will be higher by US$700 for the ACTA Scope, by $1,000 for Panama, and by $1,000 for San Juan.

Photo: Roger Wollstadt

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