WTSA carriers plan to increase refrigerated cargo rates

WTSA carriers plan to increase refrigerated cargo rates    Shipping lines of the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement said they plan to increase rates for refrigerated cargo moving from the United States to Asia, effective March 1.
   The discussion agreement recommended increases of $300 per 40-foot container and $240 per TEU, with proportionate increases for cargo otherwise rated. The increase applies to all refrigerated cargo not already covered under seasonal, commodity-specific rate programs for 2004.
   The WTSA said the increase covers 'the relatively high direct costs for equipment and monitoring of perishable shipments.' These costs include dealing with the 'more than 4-to-1 ratio in refrigerated cargo moving outbound from the U.S. to Asia, relative to the inbound direction from Asia.' This means containers return empty, carrying dry cargo at discounted rates or diverted to other Asia trade, the WTSA said.
   Members of the WTSA are APL, China Shipping, COSCO Container Lines, Evergreen Marine, Hanjin Shipping, Hapag Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant marine, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Orient Overseas Container Lines, P&O Nedlloyd and Yangming Marine.