WTSA adopts new cotton rates

WTSA adopts new cotton rates    Container shipping lines in the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA) say they intend to increase their guideline minimum rates on U.S. cotton shipments to Asia by $90 per 40-foot container, effective Dec. 1, 2004.
   The rate increase will apply to containers shipped between all U.S. origins and their Asian destinations. “Most of the increase is related to higher fuel costs during the past year, which have not been broken out into separate surcharges in most cotton service contracts,” WTSA said in a statement.
   Inland point rates will increase by a further $50 per 40-foot-container, with the exception of four origin points: Memphis, Tenn.; Dallas, Houston and Lubbock, Texas.
   Rates to Hong Kong, China, and ports in Indonesia will include destination terminal handling charges (DTHC), while the rate to Karachi, Pakistan, will be subject to a prepaid DTHC, WTSA explained.
   All other rates are subject to destination terminal handling charges under the terms included in individual carrier tariffs.
   WTSA is a voluntary discussion and research forum of 13 container shipping lines serving the trade from ports and inland points in the U.S. to destinations throughout Asia. For more information, see www.wtsacarriers.org.