Maersk hikes Med/U.S., Asia/Latin America rates

Maersk hikes Med/U.S., Asia/Latin America rates Maersk Line said it would increase freight rates from the Mediterranean to all points in North America and from Asia to Latin America.
   On April 1, container rates will be increased $200 on 20-foot dry container and $250 on 40-foot, high-cube, 45-foot and refrigerated containers. The increase applies from all origin points in Italy, Spain and Portugal to all U.S. destinations.
   Maersk Line also said it will increase freight rates for containers moving from Asia to Latin America, saying carriers operating in the trade “have experienced unacceptable rate levels which are unsustainable for the rest of 2009.”
   Also, effective April 1, it said it would institute an increase of $500 per TEU between Asia and the East Coast of South America, and $300 per TEU between Asia, the West Coast of South America, Central America and the Caribbean.