ACL REPORTS 82-PERCENT FALL IN NET PROFIT

   Atlantic Container Line reported a fall of 82 percent in its net profit for the first nine months, to 35 million Swedish krona ($4 million), compared to SKr191 million in the same period of 1998.
    ACL said that freight rates have remained depressed and have stabilized at low levels.
    Container and roll-on/roll-off utilization factors were down on last year, while utilization of the carrier’s car capacity was unchanged.
    Operating revenue for the first nine months was SKr1.63 billion ($198 million), down 11 percent on the corresponding period of 1998.
    Operating profit before interest was SKr100 million ($12 million), as compared to SKr307 million last year.
    ACL said that volumes in the Atlantic container market have increased by 5 percent westbound and 2 percent eastbound during the first nine months of the year.
    Container volumes westbound are now "at satisfactory levels or even beyond capacity certain weeks," the carrier said, adding that significant westbound container rate increases have been announced.
    ACL said that it expects its fourth quarter to the best quarter this year.