China Shipping to raise rates, add midseason surcharges

China Shipping to raise rates, add midseason surcharges    Buoyed by “successful” freight rate increases earlier in the year, China Shipping Tuesday said it would introduce a variety of midseason surcharges and general rate increases across a number of its main trade lines.
   “The midseason is coming and according to the market information, container volume at various lines are further increasing, indicating further room for increase of freight rate,” China Shipping said.
   The surcharges and rates increases are:
   * South American East line — a second general rate increase of $200 per TEU, effective from Aug. 1, following the same rise June 16.
   * South American West line — a general rate increase of $300 per TEU, effective from Aug. 1, following a similar rise June 1.
   * Central America line — a further $300 per TEU midseason surcharge, effective Aug. 1. The carrier levied the same charge June 1. A general rate increase of $150 per TEU was added to the line in both May and July.
   * American East line — China Shipping will increase its midseason surcharge to $450 per TEU (from $375 per TEU), effective Aug. 15.
   * Europe Mediterranean line — a midseason surcharge of $90 per TEU sometime this month on top of the $220 per TEU war risk surcharge, levied July 24, for cargo calling at Israeli ports.
   * Australia line — a midseason surcharge of $250 per TEU from Aug. 15, and a general rate increase of $350 per TEU in September.