NORTH EUROPE/CANADA CONFERENCES PLAN THIRD WESTBOUND RATE HIKE

   The two conferences in the trade from northern Europe to Canada have announced that they plan to implement additional westbound rate increases next April.
    The increases of the Continental Canadian Westbound Freight Conference and the Canadian North Atlantic Westbound Freight Conference will amount to $320 (U.S.) per 20-foot container and $400 per 40-footer.
    The conferences already introduced two westbound rate increases recently, on Aug. 15 and Oct. 1, as a result of the strong westbound market.
    A spokesman for the rate-making agreements said that that they are giving shippers as much notice as possible.
    The conferences warned that terminal handling and other ancillary charges may also be increased.
    No increase in ocean rates has been announced for eastbound shipments.
    The members of the northern Europe/Canada conferences are Atlantic Container Line, Canada Maritime, Cast, Hapag-Lloyd and OOCL.