MSC hikes rates to Europe, Med

MSC hikes rates to Europe, Med    Mediterranean Shipping Co. said Thursday it will implement a general rate increase for exports from North America to Europe and the Mediterranean, effective April 1.
   MSC said the increase is necessary “to preserve the existing comprehensive range of services it provides in these areas as well as to advance freight rates toward a sustainable level.”
   From Canada to Northwest Continent and the United Kingdom including Scandinavia and the Baltic region, as well as the western Mediterranean region, rates will increase $200 per 20-foot container and $350 per 40-foot container.
   From the United States and Mexico to the Northwest Continent and the United Kingdom, including Scandinavia and the Baltic region, as well as the western Mediterranean, rates will increase $150 per 20-foot container and $250 per 40-foot container.
   MSC also said it will raise rates on what it calls “relay movements” from North America on April 1. These refer to shipments from the United States, Canada and Mexico to Israel, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Greece, Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus, Egypt, Ukraine, Georgia, Bulgaria, Russia, Romania, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., Yemen, Jordan, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Djibouti, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, Algeria, Angola Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Gambia and Guinea.
   The increases are $150 per 20-foot container and $250 per 40-foot container from U.S. and Mexican ports, and $200 per 20-foot container and $350 per 40-foot container from Canada.
   Finally, MSC also said that on March 15, it will begin rolling a previously announced peak season surcharge on shipments from Asia to Europe into the general rate. The carrier began charging the $100 surcharge Feb. 1.
   The line said “all ocean freights will be increased by the quantum of the (peak season surcharge). The PSS will therefore be suspended as of March 15, 2010 until further notice.”