TACA CARRIERS TO RAISE WESTBOUND RATES TWICE NEXT YEAR

TACA CARRIERS TO RAISE WESTBOUND RATES TWICE NEXT YEAR    The Trans-Atlantic Conference Agreement has announced a plan to increase westbound transatlantic freight rates twice next year, in April and in October.
   For shipments to or via U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coast ports, rates will go up by $240 per 20-foot container on April 1 and by another $240 on Oct. 1, 2001. Rates for 40-foot and 45-foot boxes will increase by $300 on April 1 and by another $300 on Oct. 1. For breakbulk cargoes, the increase will be $15 per freight ton twice, on the same dates.
   For transatlantic cargoes shipped to or via Pacific coast ports, the rate increases will be $360 per 20-foot container on April 1 and another $240 per 20-footer on Oct. 1. For longer containers, rates will go up by $500 per 40- or 45-foot container on April 1 and $300 per container on Oct. 1. Breakbulk rates for Pacific coast shipments will increase by $25 per freight ton on April 1 and $15 on Oct. 1.
   “These TACA tariff/service contract matrix increases are required as part of the need to improve rate level viability relative to service provided to the trade,” a spokesman for the conference said.
   TACA will also restructure its westbound class tariff from Dec. 1, 2000, but this will not result in rate increases, the conference said.
   The transatlantic carrier group will also revise its quarterly bunker adjustment factor, effective Jan. 1. The bunker charge for the quarter will be $55 per 20-foot and $110 per 40-foot container to, from and via Atlantic and Gulf ports, and $83 per 20-foot and $166 per 40-footer to, from and via Pacific ports.
   No increases in the weaker eastbound transatlantic trade were announced by the conference.
   The TACA conference now increases westbound freight rates twice a year, replacing the previous system of annual increases effective from January of each year.
   The carriers of the TACA conference are Atlantic Container Line, Hapag-Lloyd, Mediterranean Shipping Co., Maersk Sealand, NYK, OOCL and P&O Nedlloyd.