Matson announces freight rate increases for Hawaii and Guam

The fourth annual increase in a row is needed to offset rising operating costs and investments, the container carrier said.    Matson said it will increase westbound Hawaii service rates by $225 per container and eastbound rates $110 per container on Jan. 4.
   Rates vary from commodity to commodity, but Matson said the rate adjustment will result in shipping costs rising by an average of 5.4 percent.
   “This rate increase will help offset rises in operating costs and support ongoing investments in our Hawaii service,” said Dave Hoppes, senior vice president, ocean services.
   “The adjustment is consistent with our longstanding philosophy of implementing modest, incremental increases as necessary to maintain the highest levels of service, and is identical to increases implemented in 2012, 2013 and 2014,” he said.
   Matson also said it will raise rates by $225 for both eastbound and westbound containers moving between the mainland and Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands and Micronesia — including the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
   Hoppes said, “This is Matson’s second rate increase for Guam/CNMI and Micronesia in four years. During that time, our operating costs have continued to rise, necessitating this adjustment. The increase will also support ongoing investments in our service to the region.”
   The increases for domestic services will be filed with the Surface Transportation Board and for service to foreign countries with the Federal Maritime Commission.