FEFC RAISES ASIA/EUROPE WESTBOUND RATES

   The Asia Westbound Rate Agreement, a regional unit of the Far Eastern Freight Conference, said that it will increase rates next April and August as part of a rate restoration program for the year 2000.
   On April 1, westbound rates from Asia except Japan to northern Europe will increase by a minimum of $150 per TEU.
   On Aug. 1, rates from Asia except Japan to northern Europe will rise by $250 per TEU.
   The conference said that its shipping line members will reflect these rate rises in their year 2000 freight contracts when current contracts do not expire at the same time as the proposed dates of the increases.
   An increase in rates is necessary to assist conference carriers’ endeavours to meet the service requirements of their customers, a spokesman for the conference said.
   Asia Westbound Rate Agreement carriers are APL, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, CMA CGM, National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia, DSR-Senator, NYK, Hapag-Lloyd, OOCL, Hyundai Merchant Marine, P&O Nedlloyd, "K" Line, Maersk Line, Sea-Land Service, Yangming Marine Transport and Malaysia International Shipping Corp.
   The FEFC has not yet announced rate increases for next year for shipments from Japan to northern Europe.