Maersk reaffirms rate hike plan

Maersk reaffirms rate hike plan    Maersk said Friday it will further raise transatlantic rates on Oct. 1, as part of a plan announced at the end of last year.
   The routes and rate increases are:
   ' North Europe/United States, eastbound and westbound, $250 per 20-foot dry container, $350 per 40-foot dry container, and $500 for 40-foot reefer boxes.
   ' North Europe/Canada, eastbound and westbound, $250 per 20-foot dry container, $350 per 40-foot dry container, and $350 for 40-foot reefer boxes.
   ' From the United States and Canada to the Mediterranean, $200 per container of all sizes.
   ' Westbound from the Mediterranean to the United States and Canada, also $200, but effective Oct. 15.
   Maersk said rates had stabilized in the Atlantic markets this year, “but despite such partial rate recovery, the current market rates continue to be unsatisfactory. Maersk Line is experiencing increased costs as we are working to improve container availability during a period of general equipment shortage, while keeping focus on maintaining our high level of reliability in the broad Maersk Line service portfolio. Therefore, we continue to see the need to proceed with our already announced rate increases.”
   Maersk said in the fourth quarter it would announce plans for 2011 “to allow our customers to plan their shipments with full understanding of the expected rate levels required to sustain service in the Atlantic trades.”