Tropical to raise rates in April

Tropical to raise rates in April    Caribbean specialist liner Tropical Shipping said Thursday it is raising rates from North America beginning April 3.
   The increases are $100 per 20-foot container, $200 per 40-foot container, and $225 for containers larger than 40 feet, and are 'due to the increasing cost of non-fuel-related operational expenses,' Tropical said.
   The increase is applicable to shipments between the Continental United States or Canada and Nassau, Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent, Trinidad, Dominican Republic, Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico.
   Earlier this week Tropical’s parent company, Nicor, said shipping operating income in 2010 was $14.4 million, less than half the $29.9 million recorded in 2009. Tropical’s revenue was $184 million in 2010 compared to 193.5 million in 2009.
   Tropical moved 170,700 TEUs in 2010 compared to 176,600 in 2009.
Average revenue per TEU was $2,022 in 2010, up from $1,997 in 2009.