MSC to raise U.S.-to-South America rates

MSC to raise U.S.-to-South America rates    Liner carrier Mediterranean Shipping Co. said this week it plans to hike rates on shipments from the United States to the West Coast of South America.
   The increases are:
   ' $250 per 20-foot container and $500 per 40-foot container from U.S. East and Gulf coasts ports to West Coast South America base ports.
   ' $150 per 20-foot container and $300 per 40-foot container from U.S. West Coast ports to West Coast South America base ports.
   ' $150 per 20-foot container and $300 per 40-foot container from all U.S. coasts to Cartagena and Santa Maria.
   The increases are due to be applied from Oct. 1.
   Also on Oct. 1, the line plans to impose a rate increase of $150 per TEU on shipments from northern Europe to the Indian Subcontinent.
   MSC also said it has abandoned peak season surcharge increases on Asia to West Med and Adriatic shipments it had planned to implement from Sept. 15. The line said it plans to keep the surcharge at $125 per TEU to the West Med on Sept. 15 until further notice, while it will stop assessing a peak season surcharge to the Adriatic from Sept. 15.