WTSA plans sweeping rate increases on agriculture products, hay

WTSA plans sweeping rate increases on agriculture products, hay Member shipping lines in the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement said Tuesday they intend to raise freight rates for hay, and adopt a second-stage increase for dry agriculture product cargoes, as part of the WTSA's 2007 revenue and cost recovery program.
   The lines said the increases are needed to address ongoing higher cargo handling, equipment and other operating costs in the transpacific market. Effective July 1, individual member carriers plan to raise hay rates by $100 per FEU from California ports, and by $200 per FEU from Pacific Northwest ports.
   Effective Aug. 1, WTSA lines say they will increase ag product rates by $100 per FEU and $80 per TEU for inland point and mini-landbridge intermodal shipments, and by $50 per FEU and $40 per TEU for port-to-port cargo.
   The increase applies to a list of commodities including, but not limited to, soybeans and related products; cotton by-products; grain and grain products; and peas beans and lentils. Non-seasonal cargoes include meal, flour, corn products, starches, animal feed (except pet food), seeds and food additives. An earlier ag products increase was implemented in April. Lines divided a larger scheduled increase into two parts to lessen the impact to customers throughout the year.