WITASS sets rate increase, peak season reefer surcharge

WITASS sets rate increase, peak season reefer surcharge    Carriers of the London-based Association of West India Trans-Atlantic Steam Ship Lines, said they plan to increase eastbound rates to cover “exceptionally high system costs.”
   From Jan. 1 eastbound rates will increase $200 per dry 20-foot container and $300 per dry 40-foot box. Rates for 20-foot and 40-foot reefer containers will rise $500.
   At the same time, WITASS will add a peak season surcharge of $350 per container on all eastbound refrigerated shipments from Jan. 1 to May 31.
   “Volumes of reefer cargoes destined to Europe far exceed the westbound reefer trade. This imbalance is particularly extreme during the first five months of the year when lines have to position an extraordinary amount of empty equipment to serve the demands of the export trade,” WITASS said.
   Carrier members of WITASS are CMA CGM, Compania Sud-Americana de Vapores, Hamburg-Sud, and Hapag-Lloyd.