Maersk announces Europe/Oceania, Asia/Africa rate restoration plans

Maersk announces Europe/Oceania, Asia/Africa rate restoration plans Maersk Line has announced its 2007 rates restoration plans for the southbound Europe to Oceania and Asia to West Africa trades to help shippers with their 'long-term planning.”
   From the United Kingdom, North Europe, Scandinavia, the Baltics, and Mediterranean to Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific islands, Maersk will implement the following increases:
   * April 1 — $200 per TEU.
   * July 1 — $200 per TEU.
   * Oct. 1 — $200 per TEU.
   A peak season surcharge of $140 will be imposed on container shipments from Europe to Australia with start dates to be announced by June 30.
   Starting in January, Maersk will end direct calls between Europe and Oceania by making its Oceania service become a direct connection to and from Australia and New Zealand to the U.S. East Coast. All cargo between Europe and Oceania will instead go through Maersk’s Malaysian hub at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas.
   Maersk said in a statement that the rate increases are 'a consequence of the rate erosions we experienced in 2006.' The carrier intends to 'restore the rates to a level where we can address the cost increases and continue to offer a reliable and efficient coverage for the entire trade.'
   From Japan and Korea to West Africa (excluding Gambia, Guinea, Liberia,
Mauritania, Mali, Senegal, and Sierra Leone), Maersk will implement the following rate increases:
   * April 1 — $200 per TEU.
   * Oct. 1 — $200 per TEU (Korea) and $100 per TEU (Japan).
   From Mainland China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia to West Africa (excluding Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Mauritania, Mali, Senegal, and Sierra Leone) the rate restoration plans are:
   * April 1 — $100 per TEU.
   * June 1 — $200 per TEU.
   * Sept. 15 — $200 per TEU.
   Between July 1 and Dec. 31 a peak season surcharge of $200 will be applied to all cargo from Japan and Korea, while from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia the same amount will be levied between August and Chinese New Year 2008.
   “Transportation costs have increased significantly these last years,' Maersk said. 'The announced rate increases will assist in compensating for these increases and enable us to continue to maintain and develop our second-to-none services on the Asia-West Africa trade.'